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Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth |  | Authors: Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Papadimitriou
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
List Price: $22.95
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  50 reviews
Sales Rank: 216
Media: Paperback
Edition: Advance Reader's Edition
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.7 x 1.2
ISBN: 1596914521
Dewey Decimal Number: 192
EAN: 9781596914520
ASIN: 1596914521
Publication Date: September 29, 2009
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Amazon.com Review
Book Description
This exceptional graphic novel recounts the spiritual odyssey of philosopher Bertrand Russell. In his agonized search for absolute truth, Russell crosses paths with legendary thinkers like Gottlob Frege, David Hilbert, and Kurt Gödel, and finds a passionate student in the great Ludwig Wittgenstein. But his most ambitious goal--to establish unshakable logical foundations of mathematics--continues to loom before him. Through love and hate, peace and war, Russell persists in the dogged mission that threatens to claim both his career and his personal happiness, finally driving him to the brink of insanity.
Take a Look Inside
The creators of Logicomix introduce us to Bertrand Russell in 1939 during one of his public lectures. Russell explores the question, "What is logic?" by telling the story of "one of [logic’s] most ardent fans"--himself. The panels that follow (click each image to see the full page) reimagine the life of a brilliant young man with a passion for mathematics.
Product Description
An innovative, dramatic graphic novel about the treacherous pursuit of the foundations of mathematics. This exceptional graphic novel recounts the spiritual odyssey of philosopher Bertrand Russell. In his agonized search for absolute truth, Russell crosses paths with legendary thinkers like Gottlob Frege, David Hilbert, and Kurt Gödel, and finds a passionate student in the great Ludwig Wittgenstein. But his most ambitious goal—to establish unshakable logical foundations of mathematics—continues to loom before him. Through love and hate, peace and war, Russell persists in the dogged mission that threatens to claim both his career and his personal happiness, finally driving him to the brink of insanity. This story is at the same time a historical novel and an accessible explication of some of the biggest ideas of mathematics and modern philosophy. With rich characterizations and expressive, atmospheric artwork, the book spins the pursuit of these ideas into a highly satisfying tale. Probing and ingeniously layered, the book throws light on Russell’s inner struggles while setting them in the context of the timeless questions he spent his life trying to answer. At its heart, Logicomix is a story about the conflict between an ideal rationality and the unchanging, flawed fabric of reality.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 50
 Nice effort November 17, 2009
Sumit Saraswat (USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was expecting to understand the philosphy of Russel Bertrand through this book , major portion of this book is devoted to the life of Russel , his personal struggles etc rather than his work and philosophy and places where his phlosophy is explained it looked vague, probably i lack the maturity to understand it, some day i would give it one more try , though the Art and graphics are above average overall a nice and bold effort.
Nice Try November 16, 2009
James Klagge (Blacksburg, Virginia USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I gave this 4 stars for the attempt--though more like 2 or 3 stars for the execution. It is amazing to me that someone tried to do a graphic novel on this subject, and I want to celebrate that. And some of the issues were handled pretty well. But some were just odd. It never became clear why Russell's speech in 1939 made a useful pivot for the story line. While it seemed to be trying to integrate his logic and his politics, it never worked. While I appreciate the interest in life and work together, it didn't seem to amount to much here. The craziness of logicians seemed to be much exaggerated--Turing was quite sane (until persecuted for his homosexuality), as was Church, and many others. The oddest part of the "plot" was the use of the Oresteia. While I am quite familiar with Greek tragedy and with modern Logic, I saw no useful connection between them here.
 a fascinating work November 11, 2009
Dr. Kelly Nicholson
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A novel and entertaining story of the development of logic, presented in comic book format and told in terms of the personal lives of its main characters. I would enjoy seeing other philosophical themes treated in this manner. KN
Entertaining, Enlightening, Sublime November 6, 2009
Simon D. Levy (Lexington, VA USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Doxiadis and Papadimitriou (the latter already a giant in the field of theoretical computer science) have pulled off the seemingly impossible: they have provided an entertaining, informative, and beautifully executed introduction to and exploration of some of the greatest problems in Western philosophy. Unlike the many other popular treatments of these historical figures (Russell, Wittgenstein, Goedel, et al.), this one is inflected by the authors' Greek heritage, with a sub-plot about the creators' involvement in a production the Oresteia in their native Athens (where the plays were of course created and first performed). It all comes together in the end in a way that ties the intellectual themes to agonizing moral issues faced by all human beings, not just logicians and philosophers. Readers already familiar with these topics will be delighted by the subtle ways in which they are linked together (a young Kurt Goedel playing in the mud while Russell and Wittgenstein discuss set theory); other readers will benefit from an introduction difficult material that somehow manages not to oversimplify it. Logicomix is a triumph of humanistic scholarship and insight that will benefit readers young and old.
You don't have to be a mathematician or a logician to appreciate this book November 2, 2009
GraphicNovelReporter.com (New York, NY)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Quick--how much do you know about the life of Bertrand Russell? His childhood, his life, his loves...well, you're about to find out a lot more, in the form of a great new work called Logicomix. It's an intense journey, one that's filled with the huge allure of mathematics and logic, and it's--believe it or not--actually not dry or boring. And did I mention that for the most part, it's presented as a lecture given in a college hall? Really, I'm serious here--it's compelling, not dry.
It is, however, a little too twee in points. The creators--four of them--break into their own story quite often, and while it might seem somewhat charming to break the fourth wall this way at first, it gets old rather quickly. Aside from that overused device, though, Logicomix is a rather thorough biography of Russell and several of the other greatest thinkers of the 20th century.
A quite long afterword called "Logicomix and Reality" explains all the places in which the book differs from the real world (there are several, but don't let that put you off). The afterword is actually so long and thorough that it further informs the reader on a wider array of facts. Terms and definitions are explored, along with other great minds. It's fascinating, even if your head does start to spin after a while.
You don't have to be a mathematician or a logician to appreciate this book, which was a big bestseller in Greece last year. It begins in 1939, with Russell, on his way to speak to a group of university students, intercepted by war protestors who fully expect this man of peace to join their cause. Russell surprises them and invites them to attend his lecture as means of explanation. (That these rabid protestors, so angry and verbal, would sit quietly through such a long lecture is a little hard to believe, but it's beside the point.)
I was immediately drawn into the fun little world of Logicomix. If it doesn't take history too seriously, it certainly does mind its Ps and Qs when it comes to science. And if you thought a comic could never teach you just what the incredible world of logic holds for you, think again. You'll be drawn in too.
-- John Hogan
Showing reviews 1-5 of 50
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