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The Big Idea: Scientists Who Changed the World
Turing And The Computer
Few concepts in the history of 20th-century thought are as rich with both philosophical and practical implications as the computer. And few people in the history of computing are as intellectually and personally complex as Alan Turing, the man whose brilliant mathematical imagination laid the foundation for computers as we know them. You could easily spend the rest of the millennium reading up on Turing and his ideas, but if you've only got an afternoon, this engaging, pamphlet-length summary of the man's life and work should get you nicely up to speed.
Author Paul Strathern sets Turing's accomplishments in their historical context. He starts with the long prehistory of the computer--its roots in devices such as the abacus, the slide rule, and Charles Babbage's remarkably sophisticated 19th-century "difference engine." Strathern then moves deftly through the great mathematical debates that led to Turing's formulation of the abstract "universal computing machine" in the mid-1930s. The author also lucidly presents Turing's contributions to turning that abstraction into a concrete mechanism, beginning with Turing's work on the Colossus machine, which cracked Germany's secret codes during World War II.
Strathern conveys with equal vividness the haunted private side of Turing's life--his furtive homosexuality, his difficult relationships, and his conviction in the early '50s on charges of indecency, a not-so-private scandal that apparently led to his suicide. The book owes its rich detail to the work of pioneering Turing biographer Alan Hodges, and Strathern graciously acknowledges the debt. But the accomplishment of packing Turing's big life and big ideas into such a compact package is entirely Strathern's own. --Julian Dibbell
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First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Paul Strathern
163 books538 followersPaul Strathern (born 1940) is a English writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, after which he served in the Merchant Navy over a period of two years. He then lived on a Greek island. In 1966 he travelled overland to India and the Himalayas. His novel A Season in Abyssinia won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972.
Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.
Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 17, 2019
Había una forma de saber si una máquina era inteligente o no: colocarla tras una pantalla y dejar que un ser humano le hiciera preguntas. La persona podría decidir entonces, basándose en respuestas escritas, si estaba tratando con un ser inteligente o una simple máquina. ¿Podría una máquina engañar a un ser humano en el «juego de la imitación» que Turing proponía (conocido actualmente como el «test de Turing»)?
Un vistazo rápido a la vida de uno de los padres de la Informática y los ordenadores. Desde sus primeros días en la escuela como un alumno díscolo, tartamudo, antisocial y desinteresado, hasta sus últimos días en Cambridge luego de haber sido estúpidamene detenido por "indecencia grave" debido a una de sus relaciones homosexuales.
Contribuyó en campos como el criptoanálisis, matemática, morfogénesis, lógica y ciencias de la computación. Desempeñó un papel importantísimo durante la segunda guerra mundial ayudando a descrifrar los códigos Enigma de la Alemania nazi. Tal vez uno de sus trabajos más importantes fue Computing machinery and intelligence, publicado en 1950 y en donde insistía que era posible enseñarle a un ordenador a pensar por sí mismo (las bases de lo que ahora se conoce como Inteligencia Artificial).
Un vistazo rápido a la vida de uno de los padres de la Informática y los ordenadores. Desde sus primeros días en la escuela como un alumno díscolo, tartamudo, antisocial y desinteresado, hasta sus últimos días en Cambridge luego de haber sido estúpidamene detenido por "indecencia grave" debido a una de sus relaciones homosexuales.
Contribuyó en campos como el criptoanálisis, matemática, morfogénesis, lógica y ciencias de la computación. Desempeñó un papel importantísimo durante la segunda guerra mundial ayudando a descrifrar los códigos Enigma de la Alemania nazi. Tal vez uno de sus trabajos más importantes fue Computing machinery and intelligence, publicado en 1950 y en donde insistía que era posible enseñarle a un ordenador a pensar por sí mismo (las bases de lo que ahora se conoce como Inteligencia Artificial).
October 30, 2017
This 100 page book can be read easily in one day. It is part of "The Big Idea" series about giants in science; Newton, Einstein and Hawking at the time of publication in 1997. It bears a resemblance to the "A Brief Introduction to..." series but is simpler. One can whiz through this book as one would a work of fiction. Strathern's prose is direct and conversational.
Turing was a genius, but a tragic character who was uneasy in his own skin. Homosexual when it was considered criminal in England to act on such desires, his necessity to the Allied war effort in the 1940's and tendency to stay to himself kept him out of trouble, but in the end his inability to find a lasting relationship with another man and the cruel drug treatment he was forced to undergo after being reported to the state for being gay ended in suicide.
Paul Strathern leaves no doubt that he holds the norms of British society in the middle of the 20th century in contempt while at the same time relating how Turing's bizarre behavior made the man difficult to deal with.
Turing was the man who came up with a machine that could decode the Nazi Enigma messages thought with good reason to be undecipherable by the Germans. Turing is also considered to be the father of modern computing. Toward the end of his life he began to think of himself as a computer in biological form. He is famous for "the Turing test" used to determine if a computer can pass for human - have people interact with the computer behind a curtain and see if they believe they are dealing with another human.
Profound ideas that occurred to Turing are described simply but accurately with just the right amount of background information to indicate how advanced they were. We owe him much, as we do many brilliant minds that have been obsessed to the point of distorting personal life beyond the ability to find much if any happiness in the company of others. A sharp beamed spotlight can pick out detail that a diffuse light would not allow to be seen. So it is with the mind where concentration in a narrow field allows discoveries that the thought of another mind, spread more broadly, will miss.
I am going to look for the other books in this series. There is something to be said for simplification.
Turing was a genius, but a tragic character who was uneasy in his own skin. Homosexual when it was considered criminal in England to act on such desires, his necessity to the Allied war effort in the 1940's and tendency to stay to himself kept him out of trouble, but in the end his inability to find a lasting relationship with another man and the cruel drug treatment he was forced to undergo after being reported to the state for being gay ended in suicide.
Paul Strathern leaves no doubt that he holds the norms of British society in the middle of the 20th century in contempt while at the same time relating how Turing's bizarre behavior made the man difficult to deal with.
Turing was the man who came up with a machine that could decode the Nazi Enigma messages thought with good reason to be undecipherable by the Germans. Turing is also considered to be the father of modern computing. Toward the end of his life he began to think of himself as a computer in biological form. He is famous for "the Turing test" used to determine if a computer can pass for human - have people interact with the computer behind a curtain and see if they believe they are dealing with another human.
Profound ideas that occurred to Turing are described simply but accurately with just the right amount of background information to indicate how advanced they were. We owe him much, as we do many brilliant minds that have been obsessed to the point of distorting personal life beyond the ability to find much if any happiness in the company of others. A sharp beamed spotlight can pick out detail that a diffuse light would not allow to be seen. So it is with the mind where concentration in a narrow field allows discoveries that the thought of another mind, spread more broadly, will miss.
I am going to look for the other books in this series. There is something to be said for simplification.
March 15, 2020
Obra divulgativa que mezcla los principios del ordenador desde el ábaco, de forma resumida, con una breve biografía del matemático Alan Turing.
Como ya esperaba, me ha resultado más interesante la parte biográfica que la matemática.
Como ya esperaba, me ha resultado más interesante la parte biográfica que la matemática.
December 23, 2018
Um livro excelente para quem deseja conhecer mais sobre a história da computação e ainda conhecer mais do que é dito por aí sobre Turing.
Seus problemas pessoais, seus anseios, medos, conquistas e um pouco mais até sua triste morte devido ao preconceito.
Seus problemas pessoais, seus anseios, medos, conquistas e um pouco mais até sua triste morte devido ao preconceito.
August 14, 2024
Es una gran introducción a grandes rasgos de ideas fundamentales de Turing y de su interesante vida. He echado en falta algún dato pero no me hace calificarlo menos, porque sé muy fácilmente y como no promete ser exhaustivo, creo que verdaderamente cumple con creces. Lo recomiendo mucho.
February 11, 2016
"¿Qué significa ser humano?, ¿qué es exactamente la inteligencia humana? (...) ¿Podría una máquina adquirir estas cualidades?, ¿cómo distinguimos una inteligencia humana de la inteligencia de una máquina?"Lectura amena y sencilla, sin ahondar en complejidades matemáticas, que menciona algunas de las personas e inventos más relevantes que contribuyeron al desarrollo de la computadora como la conocemos. Enfocándose especialmente en Alan Turing, ese genio matemático (además de atleta de nivel casi olímpico) tímido y solitario que se considera hoy en día como uno de los padres de la informática y lo que conocemos ahora como inteligencia artificial.
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December 24, 2016در ميان ريويو ها متوجه شدم كه انتشارات مازيار هم اين كتاب را ترجمه و چاپ كرده كه خوب ترجمه نشده. نسخه اي كه من از اين كتاب مطالعه كردم با عنوان آشنايي با تورينگ ترجمه ي جواد ثابت نژاد است كه بسيار خوب و قابل فهم بود. بسيار فشرده و خلاصه وار به مهم ترين كارها و زندگي الن تورينگ اشاره كرده كه بيشتر از يكي-دو ساعت وقت شما را نمي گيرد. قطعا كتاب هاي ديگري نيز از اين نويسنده خواهم خواند. خصوصا آشنايي با فيلسوفان.
August 20, 2019
Considering how short the book is, I found that is served as a good introduction to Turing’s life, as well as covering some of the major points in the history of computers. I’m the first to admit that most of the mathematical topics went over my head, but Strathern does simplify some loaded topics using very accesible language. All in all, it did leave me wanting to know more, but for that I am looking forward to Alan Hodges’ biography of Turing. The book accomplished what I believe it set out to do, which was summarize Turing’s contributions to academia and World War II, as well as his legacy in the world of computers.
June 19, 2019
Este libro me ha hecho conocer muy bien la vida de Turing y además me ha hecho entender los errores biográficos en la película de Turing, al final del mismo hay recomendaciones de lectura en la que especialmente la primera no pienso dejar de leer. Es un libro corto que da una muy buena reseña de la vida de este genio, sus triunfos y sus desgracias.
September 29, 2024
The word "Genius" is used far too often nowadays. There are very few people who have walked this Earth that actually deserve the title "Genius." For me, this book demonstrates what an actual true genius Turing was. It is well referenced, well written and, easy to understand. Forget every other "Genius" you are told about and read about a real one, Alan Turing.
December 15, 2019
For a book devised to be readable in 90 minutes and with the goal to pack as much information as possible, I think it was worth it read, a nice panorama of Turing's life.
Read this in one go, at a friend's house, late night.
Read this in one go, at a friend's house, late night.
May 3, 2020
Le pondré solo 4 estrellas por que me dio el nombre del primer libro de la biografía de Alan turing que es "enigma".. Y por que es un libro resumido pero que habla lo que fue la vida de este gran inventor en temas muy puntuales.. ..
November 25, 2021
Fácil de leer y contiene un buen resumen de la vida de Turing y de la historia de las computadoras. Justo lo que me esperaba del libro y puede ser un punto de partida para empezar a leer acerca de la vida de Turing, pero definitivamente es solamente un resumen.
February 1, 2024
Sin ser apegada a las matemáticas ni entender mucho del mundo de la ciencia, disfrute a concho este libro. La forma en que pude percibir la vida de Turing en este libro es de otro mundo, todo un personaje.
Aquí queda claro que la realidad en ocasiones supera con creces a la ficción.
Aquí queda claro que la realidad en ocasiones supera con creces a la ficción.
November 9, 2018
Una muy breve biografía del genio de Alan Turing y el desarrollo de los primeros ordenadores, desde el ábaco. Es una lectura muy ligera pero sirve como punto de partida para conocer más sobre Turing.
April 10, 2020
this was one of my favorite books by paul strathern (in this collection). i have learned quite a few things from this book. must-read if you like technology.
November 10, 2022
Short little biography of Turing and brief history of the technology that lead up to his contribution to the development of the computer.
November 13, 2024
Short and good book.
June 6, 2018
Un resumen de la bibliografia que menciona, me gusta que trate el tema de la homosexualidad de Turing.
February 19, 2017
(Em 90 minutos ou um pouco mais, no meu caso).
Turing sempre foi uma figura representativa na informática: sabe-se que boa parte das suas conjecturas são o que tornaram os computadores o que são (a boa definição de "máquina de Turing") e seus questionamentos continuam sendo questinamentos válidos (ainda o "teste de Turing"). E conhece-se que seu trabalho na sua máquina acabou resolvendo o problema de decifrar o Enigma, a máquina criptográfica utilizada pelos nazistas. E sabe-se que foi preso e sofreu castração química por ser homossexual.
Isso tudo pode ser visto, inclusive, no cinema.
Mas nem a apresentação feita nas faculdades nem o filme mostram exatamente o que estava acontencendo: Os avanços da época por Pascal, Schickard, Leibniz, Jacquard, Babbage e Boole; a construção do MADAM -- cuja existência nunca é contada por causa do ENIAC; a aparência de Turing (cuja descrição deixa a entender que sua foto clássica de cabelos cortados e barba feita era uma anomalia); seu comportamento promíscuo, em que saída a noite para procura de novos jovens homossexuais... Essas partes são contadas no livro em questão, que é um resumo do livro escrito por Andrew Hodges.
Turing sempre foi uma figura representativa na informática: sabe-se que boa parte das suas conjecturas são o que tornaram os computadores o que são (a boa definição de "máquina de Turing") e seus questionamentos continuam sendo questinamentos válidos (ainda o "teste de Turing"). E conhece-se que seu trabalho na sua máquina acabou resolvendo o problema de decifrar o Enigma, a máquina criptográfica utilizada pelos nazistas. E sabe-se que foi preso e sofreu castração química por ser homossexual.
Isso tudo pode ser visto, inclusive, no cinema.
Mas nem a apresentação feita nas faculdades nem o filme mostram exatamente o que estava acontencendo: Os avanços da época por Pascal, Schickard, Leibniz, Jacquard, Babbage e Boole; a construção do MADAM -- cuja existência nunca é contada por causa do ENIAC; a aparência de Turing (cuja descrição deixa a entender que sua foto clássica de cabelos cortados e barba feita era uma anomalia); seu comportamento promíscuo, em que saída a noite para procura de novos jovens homossexuais... Essas partes são contadas no livro em questão, que é um resumo do livro escrito por Andrew Hodges.
June 22, 2015
No voy a mentir, Alan Turing: The Enigmaes la biografía definitiva sobre este genio, sin embargo este libro, que en realidad se siente como un artículo de revista extendido, es bastante ameno y sencillo.
Sin meterse en complejidades matemáticas y muy preocupado por meter harto antecedentes para contextualizar la magnitud de las aportaciones de Turing, este texto es bastante recomendable para aquellos que se quedaron con ganas de conocer más sobre este muchacho a raíz de The Imitation Game.
Lo más me gustó es el retrato solitario de Turing y su necesidad por conectar con algo, lo que fuera, aunque se tratara de una maquina, al grado tal que prefirió programar una computadora para que le escribiera cartas de amor en lugar de una hoja de Excel.
Sin meterse en complejidades matemáticas y muy preocupado por meter harto antecedentes para contextualizar la magnitud de las aportaciones de Turing, este texto es bastante recomendable para aquellos que se quedaron con ganas de conocer más sobre este muchacho a raíz de The Imitation Game.
Lo más me gustó es el retrato solitario de Turing y su necesidad por conectar con algo, lo que fuera, aunque se tratara de una maquina, al grado tal que prefirió programar una computadora para que le escribiera cartas de amor en lugar de una hoja de Excel.
May 2, 2016
ترجمه ی این کتاب به عنوان فصلی از کتاب شش نظریه ای که جهان را تغییر داد آورده شده است.
من تا کنون دو تا کتاب از انتشارات مازیار خوانده ام که علیرغم موضوع و محتوای خیلی خوب کتاب ها، هردو قربانی ترجمه ی افتضاح و عدم ویراستاری بوده اند...
علی ای حال، خوبی ِ این کتاب رهنمون کردن خواننده به مطالعه ی موضوعات جالبتر است، از جمله شباهت نتایج حاصل از ماشین تورینگ و قضیه ناتمامیت گودل
من تا کنون دو تا کتاب از انتشارات مازیار خوانده ام که علیرغم موضوع و محتوای خیلی خوب کتاب ها، هردو قربانی ترجمه ی افتضاح و عدم ویراستاری بوده اند...
علی ای حال، خوبی ِ این کتاب رهنمون کردن خواننده به مطالعه ی موضوعات جالبتر است، از جمله شباهت نتایج حاصل از ماشین تورینگ و قضیه ناتمامیت گودل
January 8, 2015
Glosses over some big advancements (i.e., the author writes about cracking the Enigma code over approximately two paragraphs), but otherwise gives a good overview of Turing's life. The intro is interesting as well, talking about calculating machines pre-20th century.
August 3, 2016
There was not as much about Turing as you might expect. About a third of the book is on the history of computing, and I don't think that much background was necessary to appreciate Turing's accomplishments.
January 1, 2013
It's an easy read. It definitely helped me on my first programming test. I love learning the history of computers. Quite interesting.
October 21, 2015
Um resumo muito bom da vida de Turing, ótimo para quem quer conhecer a história e se aprofundar sobre o assunto.
November 3, 2015
(Lido em Lampang, Tailândia)
January 27, 2016
Es parte de una colección para conocer brevemente de estos personajes de la historia, es importante seguir las recomendaciones que hace para aunar más sobre ellos.
August 9, 2016
Divulgación acerca de la historia de los ordenadores y de una de sus figuras claves, Turing. Correcta pero no excesivamente brillante.
July 27, 2020
Muito bom, o livro fala sobre a história do computador(analógico) até o turing. Me impressionei com o final. Um dos livros que peguei na biblioteca da escola que realmente me agradou.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews