A Beautiful Mind

By: Sylvia Nasar

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 18 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the powerful, dramatic biography of math genius John Nash, who overcame serious mental illness and schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize. This book is the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly and directed by Ron Howard.

“How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?” the visitor from Harvard asked the West Virginian with the movie-star looks and Olympian manner. “Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did,” came the answer. “So I took them seriously.”

Thus begins the true story of John Nash, the mathematical genius, who was already a legend by age thirty, when he slipped into madness, and who—thanks to the selflessness of a beautiful woman and the loyalty of the mathematics community—emerged after decades of ghostlike existence to win a Nobel Prize for triggering the game theory revolution.

The inspiration for an Academy Award–winning movie, Sylvia Nasar’s now-classic biography is a drama about the mystery of the human mind, triumph over adversity, and the healing power of love.

©1998 Sylvia Nasar (P)1999 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A Beautiful Mind tells a moving story and offers a remarkable look into the arcane world of mathematics and the tragedy of madness." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Nasar tells a story of triumph, tragedy, and enduring love." ( Library Journal)

Informative not entertaining

This book is nothing like the movie. The movie skipped everything that would make you dislike John Nash and that is a lot. Nash was an A##hole. Yet the book is more true to life. My wife is a coach to the math team from our state and she will tell you that many geniuses are similar to Nash, mostly unsociable. Of course that is because our society puts down overachievers. In school it is not cool to be the smart kid. If you liked Einstein by Walter Isaacson, then you will like this book. There is a lot in here not only about Nash, but also about the geniuses he was around. There is also a lot in here about his disease. I found this book more informative then entertaining. It was real, it was good, it just was not real good.

Its a biography of a mathematician.

Seeing the reviews below, I have to say: Its a biography of a mathematician. If you don't have any idea of what game theory, set theory, or quantum mechanics is... you might not get many references in this book. That being said there is very little "actual" math in the book; so math hesitant listeners need not beware. Most listeners with a well-rounded knowledge in mathematics and science will be able to understand and enjoy this book.

It does delve, perhaps slightly obtusely, into the history of Princeton, the IAS, etc. but the author uses this to help the listener really understand the environment and world that Nash was living in. Plus there are lots of anecdotal stories about Einstein, Von Neumann, etc. that are actually quite interesting.

There were a few times in the first few chapters I laughed out loud. :) I would recommend this book for anyone who is not already familiar with the real story of John Nash (not the movie) and has an interest in learning about how one of the great mathematicians of our time lived.

Rough Life Research not Romaticizised Movie Reel

A Beautiful Mind Book Review
The movie entitled A Beautiful Mind was a romanticized tribute to the best of Dr. John Nash. A Beautiful Mind the book is researched truth, a tribute to the family and friends of Dr. John Nash who cared for him at his worst as well his best. I commend the author for the depth of research that went into this book as is inferred in the book's Acknowledgments. I commend the reader who read this book aloud. This documentation of the life of a mentally ill mathematical genius was not easy or light hearted reading.
I am neither a mathematician nor a genius. The math in the book went in one ear and out the other. However, the math could not have been omitted because math made the man. Math was John Nash's mental anchor. It was the product of his genius.
I read this book because like so many of the people referenced in this book, I have loved ones who suffer with mental illness. This book shines a bright light of hope into the dark side of mental illness. It honors those who care for the mentally ill and gives insight into the needs of the mentally ill. Mentally ill persons need a community in which they can be protected as well as productive . they need this peaceful place to connect as much if not more so than they need pills and psychology,

Unless you are a math Ph.D...

One of the rare situations where I should have gotten the abridged version, which I can only assume is minus the complicated theories discussed in way too much detail. I had hoped to hear about John Nash's life, but can't get past the author's intellect. This was too difficult to listen to for me, and I suspect it would be the same for most people who are not mathematicians.

The movie is a work of fiction

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

First of all, I think it's a good thing that I read this now, 10 years ish after deciding I would read it someday. Because if I read it then, the first part of this book would have bored me out of my mind. There is a lot of discussion about Game Theory. And I feel like if you don't have at least some understanding of the concept of the Nash Equilibrium, it's difficult to appreciate the importance of his work. As someone who has only recently studied Game Theory, it seems incredible that Game Theory existed before Nash developed the NE.

But the bulk of the book is of course about his illness. But before that, there is a lot to learn about Nash's personal life, that would make you view him in a completely different light. Well, basically, John Nash, in his prime, was a complete asshole. I don't want to spend too much time writing about it. But other than treating people badly, he actually ruined some lives.

The rest of his biography, about his illness, and how it affected his family, and his recovery - is what makes his story so incredible, but I don't really have a whole lot to say about it. Having been a Game Theory student, it was interesting to me to learn about John Nash, but I don't have a whole lot of unique thoughts about the book other than how it relates to the movie.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I'd wanted to read this ever since I learned that this movie that I thought was so amazing was based on it. Actually, it probably still is a great movie that totally deserved its Best Picture Oscar, but the movie gives you such an incorrect portrayal of John Nash!

Watch the movie as a work of fiction inspired by a real-life academic, but if you want to actually learn about John Nash, please read the book.

Fascinating

If you could sum up A Beautiful Mind in three words, what would they be?

I never saw the movie so I had no basis for comparison except with other biographies that I've read. John Nash is a fascinating man and I appreciated this detailed look into his life. I think that the author treated him with respect but did not hold back on sharing the tragedy of his life. I love biographies and this one did not disappoint me.

Have you listened to any of Anna Fields’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have listened to several of her books but this is the first biography. I thought she did a great job.

A Great Book

This was an interesting story that is characteristic of so many brilliant people. There seems to be a very fine line between genious and mental illness. The book was filled with information different than the movie and it contained a great deal of information about advanced topics in mathematics. I recomend this for anyone interested in mind and math.

Edit the recording better, please!

I wish they would have listened through it to catch all of the repetition (sentences repeated exactly), those always distracted me from what is being said and I have to go back (and end up listening to the sentence four times instead of once). I’m used to catching one or two in an audiobook now and then, but this audiobook is getting excessive with this problem (it’s only reason I’m even reviewing).

I’m only 8 hours and 14 mins in, 11 hours to go, so far it’s been informative.

Good Story, Above average overall

Above average I would say but some of the math ideas and game theory explanations were complex to a regular guy such as myself. The story of Nash itself was interesting and held my attention. If you understand some of Nash's ideas or are familiar with his work then I would say this book is a must, and you shouldn't be reading my reviews anyway. I gave it 3 of five stars

A Beautiful Book!

If you could sum up A Beautiful Mind in three words, what would they be?

Worth the listening!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course, Nash himself, but his wife Alicia played a crucial role over all the plot, so she deserves a lot of credit for his remission.

What does Anna Fields bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator changes the voice intonation when quoting a man's voice, and Nash's voice in a special way, so it's really entertaining and it helps following a dialogue!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Comparing to the movie, it's much better (as usual) and portraits the real issues and struggles.

Any additional comments?

It's not only about Nash's life, but the way the author contextualizes every relevant moment, providing background on places, people, science and world history, causes you to really immerse in that period of time, so you will be able to understand why and how the things developed the way they did. Great general knowledge update!

Very different to the movie

It seems to be a commonly held belief that genius often goes hand-in-hand with mental illness. I've often wondered if this is actually the case or whether it's just that most people have never heard of most genius level intellects that aren't afflicted in this way. How many of us could honestly say we'd ever have heard of John Nash if it weren't for his prolonged battle with schizophrenia (if 'battle' is even the right word)?

I admit that I'd not heard of him until my wife recommended the movie to me after watching it with friends. I quickly bought it and loved it (I know which side my bread is buttered, folks) and this lead me to read the book the movie is based on.

Having now finished the book, I have to say that it's made me reappraise the film. While I'm sure I'd still enjoy the movie, I now see that it is an extremely idealised version of Nash's life. It has left out large chunks of the less sympathetic aspects of the man's personality. It's almost impossible to say how much of Nash's (how to put this?) dickish behaviour was due to his as-yet-undiagnosed schizophrenia but it is clear (to this reader, anyway) that the man was a rather unlikeable individual long before he became ill.

I don't, however, only want to read about people I'd like to have a drink with and, despite the rather unsavoury aspects of Nash's character, this is undeniably a fascinating book and I'm very glad I read it. It manages to be a 'warts-and-all' autobiography without ever stooping to sensationalism and remains respectful of its subject even while recounting some of his worst facets. I recommend it to anybody who has seen the movie version that would like to know the truth behind the Hollywood fairytale.

It's also made me want to read more about game theory...

All you need to know

About Nash. Suitable for mathmos and non mathematicians. Thorough exposition and well written. Compelling read

very interesting and sad

that was a very well written and read book. a very good insight into a genious with some terrible health issues. woukd highly recommend

Good book, but sound issues

This book about a totally fascinating person was well written and performed. Engaging in its narrative style, broad and balanced in its depiction of Nash, it paints a truly believable picture of a complete human being. The many aspects of the man (negative too)are what kept me hooked. Sadly the recording doesn’t seem to have been “proofed” and the beginnings of many passages are repeated. That is no reflection on the literature though, just the production.

Great book, good lector, several technical errors

Excellent book and good lector. However in the recording several sentences are repeated. There are also errors in how mathematic formulas are read out.

great, but some editing issues.

Really great book, beautifully narrated but; be prepared for numerous paragraphs read out twice.

(It occasionally helped when it came to the maths?