A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age
by Jimmie Sonni and Rob Goodman
5/5
Despite likely being the most brilliant man you’ve never heard of with the most comprehensive unknown impact on the advancement of technology, Claude Shannon, star of Jimmie Sonni and Rob Goodman’s A Mind at Play (Simon and Schuster 2017), was by all accounts a normal kid through high school and college. Sure, he could send Morse code with his body (you’ll have to read the book to see how that’s accomplished) and he had a passion for solving complex math problems most people couldn’t even read, but that changed when he was discovered by a string of mentors who helped him focus his intellect.
“…who could neither explain himself to others nor cared to.”
It didn’t hurt that he lived contemporaneously with such brilliant minds as Alan Turing, George Boole (of Boolean Logic fame), Albert Einstein, and anthropologist Levi Strauss. By the time he died, Shannon had produced a wide variety of groundbreaking research, taught at MIT, would be known as the Father of Information Theory, and was remembered for his prominence in engineering, mathematics, and cryptography.
“To picture Shannon at these times is to see a thin man tapping a pencil against his knee at absurd hours.”
“Prone to writing down stray questions on napkins at restaurants in the middle of meals.”
Understanding this book is easier though not necessary if you have a basic understanding of algebra. The authors share a limited number of formulas and do an admirable job of simplifying them to easily understood terms.
“Switches aren’t just switches but a metaphor for math [I get this one but not too well].”
“Logic just like a machine was a tool for democratizing force: built with enough precision and skill it could multiply the power of the gifted and talented.”
The fact that the book is at times long-winded and meandering (like discussing the history of the now-defunct Bell Labs) is a reflection of the authors’ successful effort to decode a man who is often distracted and chaotic in his personal and professional life.
Overall, if you like Isaacson’s biography of Einstein or Nasar’s A Beautiful Mind about John Nash, you’ll love this book. If you like stories of the genius mind at play, how it unravels puzzles and solves life’s unique challenges, you’ll want to read this story.
More on genius:
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Born on a Blue Day–Insight into Learning
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, and the thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.
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What a pleasant post to wake up to!
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Reblogged this on Imagine Eastern Nepal and commented:
A mustread book you would surely love it.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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you most welcome ma’m
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Thanks for sharing Jacqui. This book certainly sounds intriguing! 🙂
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Shannon is amazingly intriguing. I’d enjoy talking to him.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out the book, Mind at Play, as reviewed on the Word Dreams blog.
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Thanks for the reblog, Don.
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My pleasure
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Interesting post. The mind intrigues.
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I am quite intrigued by how people solve problems–how they think through all the steps and come to a conclusion.
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As a teacher, it was always an issue since no two people think and solve in the same manner. I personally try to figure out how something works first (as in a clock) and then try to problem solve to fix the issue. I stick to something until I find the solution. Some students gave up after one wrong attempt. My engineer father always said there was a better way to do something. How about you? How do you problem solve?
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I find it almost fun, to sit down and unravel what happened. I think a lot of my students give up early because that’s what’s been modeled to them–when something goes wrong, throw your hands up and think the sky is falling, and then call for help. I show them how I smile, enjoy the activity, and more often than not, figure it out.
Fun innit.
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Indeed, yes. Those students involved in sports have the mindset to not give up and keep trying and playing. Even when I had piano recitals, I learned to keep going even if I made a mistake because chances were that I was the only one who noticed. In German class, I told my students that good language learners were risk-takers who tried even if they made a mistake. Having passion, smiling and enjoying what we do is key to students learning it is ok. The sky will not fall. Thanks for your feedback.
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What a fascinating book, Jacqui. It is so interesting to read about gifted people who are so different from the rest of us.
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Shannon is particularly interesting because he pulled threads for the sheer joy of solving the problem. I love that.
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Fascinating! Love smart, unpretentious men! Thanks for a nice review!
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He seems to be that, doesn’t he. Very wrapped up in his thoughts.
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I don’t have a basic understanding of algebra at ALL, but I have such respect for smart minds like yours and this author!
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This guy–what a fun person to be around. Everything interested him!
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If there is such a thing as a formula for genius then reading books like this probably would be a good place to start searching. Unless one is so fortunate to have super smart
or motivational mentors.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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How funny you’d bring that up, Arlee. I read it because I’m intrigued by how brilliant people think (which is nothing like me). It was that and more.
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This is an excellent review, Jacqui – you made me want to read a book I would otherwise never have considered.
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He’s every teacher’s dream: a lifelong learner
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He was a great thinker, although I’ll have to admit to greater knowledge of Boole’s work.
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Shannon seemed to be intrigued by everything, therefore had trouble finishing things (though he finished a lot). After reading the book, I came away with that as a reason why I haven’t heard of him.
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I also hadn’t heard of Claude Shannon before. He sounds fascinating and complex. I’m not sure the old brain is up to the read, but I appreciate the introduction. 😀
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There is a lot of complex detail. I confess, I had to gloss over it at times. I just wasn’t up to it.
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Such an interesting man! Thank you for the introduction!
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I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of this man. His curiosity is admirable.
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whilst similar brilliance seeks the light. Either way they help to change the way we live.
https://layrong.wordpress.com/
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This man was simply curious and wouldn’t stop until he resolved it. What a guy!
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whilst similar brilliance seeks the light. Either way they help to change the way we live.
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Thanks for the introduction, Jacqui. Such a fascinating man.
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You’d be amazed how much this man did in his lifetime. How’d I miss him!
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Jaqui, thank you for introducing Claude Shannon. Quite a remarkable guy with a deep passion. I had never heard of him I must admit.
It is fascinating how some brilliant people seem content to stay in the shadow whilst similar brilliance seeks the light. Either way they help to change the way we live.
miriam
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I see myself in him, in his curiosity about the world around him, and in part in his inability to focus long enough to finish certain projects. Fascinating guy.
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I see you in him too!
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Hi Jacqui – fascinating man to be introduced to … and you’re right I didn’t know about him. Thanks for letting us know – he had some interesting hobbies – cheers Hilary
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These smart guys are also intriguing aren’t they?
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