New Light on George Boole
New Light on George Boole by Des MacHale, published by Cork University Press in 2018, offers an insightful exploration of the personal life of a pivotal thinker who significantly influenced the Information Age. This 476-page biography is written for the general reader and delves into Boole’s early achievements, including his original research published by the age of 21 and his appointment as the first Professor of Mathematics at Queen’s College Cork despite lacking a formal degree. The book highlights his seminal work, An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, which laid the groundwork for mechanized logic and the digital computer.
Readers will find a detailed account of Boole’s interactions with notable figures such as Charles Babbage, as well as intriguing narratives about his travels and the circumstances surrounding his death. The book also touches on cultural and regional aspects of Boole’s life, providing context to his contributions in science and technology. Through these stories, Des MacHale presents a comprehensive view of Boole’s legacy and the lasting impact of his work on modern computing and logic.
Official synopsis Publisher
Written for the general reader, this book shows the personal side of a great thinker, who laid the foundation for the Information Age. By the age of 21 Boole was publishing original research in mathematical journals, and in 1849, despite his lack of a degree, he was appointed first Professor of Mathematics at the newly founded Queen’s College Cork. In 1854 he published his great work, An Investigation of the Laws of Thought which identifies the basis of mechanized logic. This led to the digital computer which pervades every aspect of our lives today. A highlight of the book is Boole’s meeting with Charles Babbage, who invented the Difference Engine, a primitive 19th century computer. There’s also a fascinating account of his trip to Germany, his controversial death, and the theory that Boole was the inspiration for Professor James Moriarty, villain of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
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