James Gleick‘s “Chaos”[0] (history of chaos theory) and “The Information”[1] (history of information theory) are so beautifully and artfully written you might forget they’re technical. As close as (history of) science writing comes to poetry.
A lot drier but top marks for clarity: “Linear Algebra Done Right” by Axler.[2] It got me through both undergraduate and PhD math degrees. When something was confusing in a lecture or another textbook, I could always return to Axler for the most direct path from ignorance to understanding.
Hands down, the most fascinating book I read in 2021 (and I will have read for a long time!) is "The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood" by James Gleick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400096235
Those who have a computer science background will almost definitely love the book. It connects many dots that are previously seemingly unrelated. My jaw dropped for literally every few pages of most chapters.
I have not read any extensive studies of his work, but I have section regarding him in "The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood" [0], super cool. It is also a nice book overall IMHO.
The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood http://www.amazon.com/The-Information-History-Theory-Flood/d...
Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe http://www.amazon.com/Turings-Cathedral-Origins-Digital-Univ...
Nine Algorithms That Changed the Future: The Ingenious Ideas That Drive Today's Computers http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Algorithms-That-Changed-Future/dp...
Kurt Beyer's book on Grace Hopper gives a great perspective on the early days of computing: http://www.amazon.com/Invention-Information-Lemelson-Studies...
A very comprehensive view an lots of great stories in James Gleick's _The Information_:
A lot drier but top marks for clarity: “Linear Algebra Done Right” by Axler.[2] It got me through both undergraduate and PhD math degrees. When something was confusing in a lecture or another textbook, I could always return to Axler for the most direct path from ignorance to understanding.
[0]: https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Making-Science-James-Gleick/dp/... [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/1... [2]: https://linear.axler.net/
Those who have a computer science background will almost definitely love the book. It connects many dots that are previously seemingly unrelated. My jaw dropped for literally every few pages of most chapters.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/1...
The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood http://www.amazon.com/The-Information-History-Theory-Flood/d...
Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe http://www.amazon.com/Turings-Cathedral-Origins-Digital-Univ...
Nine Algorithms That Changed the Future: The Ingenious Ideas That Drive Today's Computers http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Algorithms-That-Changed-Future/dp...
A very comprehensive view an lots of great stories in James Gleick's _The Information_:
A good book on the subject is Gleick's The Information http://www.amazon.com/The-Information-History-Theory-Flood/d...