Mara Light, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines Review

[Tokreads]

A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines is about the lives of Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing, as they experience life through their genius ideas of great mathematics, physics, logic, and reason. Although they never met, both Gödel and Turing shared similar academic circles, contemplating the truth of mathematics, physics, and reality. Alan Turing broke the Enigma code in World War II, and believed that no purely mechanical method could determine what is and what is not a logical truth. Kurt Gödel believed that no logical system could include all the truths of mathematics. Both Alan Turing and Kurt Gödel suffered in many ways throughout their lives. Gödel suffered from panic attacks and paranoia, while Turing suffered with is sexuality. Both Turing and Gödel were outsiders in the way that they viewed the world and both committed suicide. Gödel starved himself to death, as he was scared that his own food was poisoned. Turing ate an apple that he poisoned with cyanide.

I greatly enjoyed this novel. I thought the parallel between the lives of these two geniuses was very interesting, especially how they both committed suicide and how their knowledge of each other’s work was intertwined into the book. I loved the style of writing that Janna Levin used because it was so descriptive that it made the novel seem all the more real. “Turing admired the transient ribbons of blue, red, and yellow winding through the hottest core of flame as the candle grease vaporized and burned and curdled to smoke. When the curtains curled into a muddy horizontal yellow conflagration it was a glorious crescendo…” (27) Her writing style is poetic, yet also scientific. This style of writing captures the elegance of the story, but does not lose the practicality and reality of the ideas of science that are highly incorporated in this novel.

The way that Levin described the characters and personalities of both Gödel and Turing, allows the reader to feel like they know them personally. These descriptions created a better understand the complexities of these genius minds as they discussed and contemplated reality, mathematics, and physics. “He blames the broccoli for today’s predicament…He likes his food smooth. Lumpiness or random texture plunge him into anxiety.”(21) In this quote, Alan Turing is put in a difficult and anxiety-filled situation due to the texture and colour of his food. “He lives in constant fear for his life. Every minute framed by panic” (51). This description of Gödel helps the reader to understand the paranoia that enveloped Gödel throughout his life and the reason for his suicide. These, along with many other examples throughout the novel allowed the reader to understand the workings behind the genius minds of both Turing and Gödel.

I also enjoyed the way Levin melded fiction and nonfiction together throughout the novel. It added to the mystery and detail of the story. It seemed that Levin had such a personal connection with the two characters in the book, although she had never met them. It felt as though she was briefly allowing us a precious glimpse into the lives of these two geniuses. I also thought it was interesting how she incorporated herself into the novel, bringing the reader back into the reality and hustle and bustle of New York City, where Levin currently lives and teaches at Barnard College.

The questions that were frequently posed throughout this book, for example, “Where is God in 1+1=2” (28), and “The liar says, this is a lie” (53), actually made me think about truth and logic in our reality, and how some beliefs and theories often contradict one another and it is up to us to find the “truth” behind these ideas. I also thought it was very interesting when Gödel talked about metaphysics and how nothing can be known for certain. His contemplation of reality, for example, when he was contemplating whether or not Olga was real or simply a figment of his imagination, was very thought provoking and made me wonder about how “real” our own reality is. I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to question the many theories of physics, mathematics, and the truth of our reality.