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Undiluted Hocus-Pocus: The Autobiography of Martin Gardner Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

“Zealously debunking science fads and declaring his bafflement at the human brain, maths writer Martin Gardner was on fine form in this posthumous memoir.” —Nature

Martin Gardner wrote the Mathematical Games column for Scientific American for twenty-five years and published more than seventy books on topics as diverse as magic, religion, and Alice in Wonderland. Gardner's illuminating autobiography is a candid self-portrait by the man evolutionary theorist Stephen Jay Gould called our “single brightest beacon” for the defense of rationality and good science against mysticism and anti-intellectualism.

Gardner takes readers from his childhood in Oklahoma to his varied and wide-ranging professional pursuits. He shares colorful anecdotes about the many fascinating people he met and mentored, and voices strong opinions on the subjects that matter to him most, from his love of mathematics to his uncompromising stance against pseudoscience. For Gardner, our mathematically structured universe is undiluted hocus-pocus—a marvelous enigma, in other words.

Undiluted Hocus-Pocus offers a rare, intimate look at Gardner’s life and work, and the experiences that shaped both.

“His radiant self lives on in his massive and luminous literary output and shines at its sweetest, wittiest and most personal in Undiluted Hocus-Pocus.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Here my guru and sage brought together, over the course of two hundred pages, the full range of his interests—math, magic, philosophy, stories, poetry, science, religion, politics—and combined these disparate topics with an account of his private life and intellectual development. I enjoyed every page of this book.” —Ted Gioia, Millions

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Polymath Gardner—writer, amateur magician, religious philosopher, pseudoscience debunker, and mathematical hobbyist—gives readers a conversational look into his diverse life and interests outside the cultural mainstream, from religion, science fiction, and poetry to magic, chess, and learning to play the saw (If anything is worth doing, it's worth doing badly). After leading a double life as an amateur magician and philosophy major at the University of Chicago, Gardner was determined to make a living as a writer. Along the way, he held a string of jobs, including a stint in the Navy during WWII, and eventually landed in New York City, where his Mathematical Games column in Scientific American ran for more than 25 years—leading to friendships with cutting-edge mathematicians and scientists, as well as a vital secondary career debunking bad science. Readers who only know Gardner for his math and science writing will be surprised at his focus on religion, and this autobiography demonstrates his passion to explain and understand the world around him. (Oct.)

Review

"One of American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Books for General Audiences and Young Adults 2014"

"Readers who only know Gardner for his math and science writing will be surprised at his focus on religion, and this autobiography demonstrates his passion to explain and understand the world around him." ―
Publishers Weekly

"
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus reminds us how Gardner taught many of us how to play the game of mathematics better." ― Mathrecreation blog

"A case can be made, in purely practical terms, for Martin Gardner as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His popularizations of science and mathematical games in
Scientific American, over the 25 years he wrote for them, might have helped create more young mathematicians and computer scientists than any other single factor prior to the advent of the personal computer. . . . Gardner was capable of appealing to the literary side of left-brained sorts, and did so with . . . taste and restraint. . . . Undiluted Hocus-Pocus, his posthumously published autobiography . . . reveals the sort of mentality that shaped itself around his encyclopedic interests."---David Auerbach, Los Angeles Review of Books

"Here my guru and sage brought together, over the course of two hundred pages, the full range of his interests--math, magic, philosophy, stories, poetry, science, religion, politics--and combined these disparate topics with an account of his private life and intellectual development. I enjoyed every page of this book."
---Ted Gioia, Millions

"I only wish his autobiography was twice as long, for I never tire of reading him and feeling enriched. . . . And thank you Martin for this last, final, further peek into your brilliant, fertile, curious, nimble, incisive, probing, captivating life and mind." ―
Math Tango

"A very interesting read."
---Christopher Hollings, Mathematics Today

"His illuminating autobiography,
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus . . . offers a rare, intimate look at Gardner's life and work." ― Mother Nature Network

"A delightful book."
---Peter E. Blau, Red Circle Society

"[This book] will be an eye-opener knowing that Martin Gardner was active on so many diverse fields." ―
European Mathematical Society

"For those of us who believe that the sciences and the humanities don't have to be enemies, Martin Gardner is an inspiring model.
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus reveals a man immersed in philosophy, religion and literature, even as he makes a career writing about science."---Jordan Ellenberg, Wall Street Journal

"Reading Martin Gardner's autobiography is like spending a pleasant afternoon in the company of a 95-year-old man with sharp memories and a twinkle in his eye. Oh wait, that's what it is." ―
Science Musings

"[H]ighly readable. Even those well familiar with Gardner's writings, although they will be acquainted with much of the ground covered, will still make several new discoveries. The foreword by Persi Diaconis will also interest mathematicians."
---Leon Harkleroad, Zentralblatt Math

"This book describes some of the pivotal moments in the life of prolific author/journalist Martin Gardner (1914-2010), who is best known for his illuminating and entertaining contributions to Scientific American magazine from 1956 to 1981. Fans of Martin Gardner will find this posthumously published autobiography fascinating." ―
Choice

"Martin Gardner as one of those rare and valuable writers who could venture into the worlds of science and mathematics as an intelligent and interested layman, and then entertain the rest of us with his discoveries."
---Jon Wainwright, Skeptic Magazine

"The style is that of a memoir, conversationally phrased, and not afraid to be sidetracked occasionally by an amusing aside. Gardner paints vividly an inside picture of American intellectual life in the twentieth century, coloured by honest accounts of the many influential figures with whom he came into contact."
---Alexander Shannon, Plus

"In summary, I give this book the highest praise that I can possibly give an autobiography: it was much too short."
---Charles Ashbacher, MAA Reviews

"At the age of 95 he wrote this . . . charming and informative autobiography covering an incredibly prolific and productive life that should inspire anyone who encounters it." ―
AAAS

"Zealously debunking science fads and declaring his bafflement at the human brain, maths writer Martin Gardner was on fine form in this posthumous memoir." ―
Nature

"For half a century, Martin Gardner (1914-2010) was an international scientific treasure. . . . Gardner's passion for writing and his warmth and humour shine forth on every page of this book, making it a memoir of a great human being."
---David Singmaster, Nature

"The book is just a delight to read."
---Stephen Hirtle, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"[
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus] is the most sincere, unadulterated biography I ever read. . . . [D]etails of his life and personality exposed in the book help create a more complete picture of this fascinating person. . . . Martin Gardner had tremendous influence on several generations of young minds; his autobiography will help his fans appreciate how that came about. This is a book no one who ever heard his name would want to miss." ― Cut the Knot Insights

"For all his fame, Gardner was a humble, generous man, always modest about his mathematical achievements. His humanity, humor, and sheer decency shine through every page. Reading this book is like chatting with him about his intellectually adventure-filled life for a whole weekend."
---Colm Mulcahy, Math Horizons

"His radiant self lives on in his massive and luminous literary output and shines at its sweetest, wittiest and most personal in
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus."---Teller, New York Times Book Review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00F0KZE88
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Annotated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400847983
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
48 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the autobiography engaging, with one noting it contains a hodgepodge of information. The book is entertaining to read. However, several customers consider it a waste of time. Moreover, the writing quality receives negative feedback, with one customer describing it as poorly written for magicians.

10 customers mention "Interest"7 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one noting it contains a hodgepodge of information, while another mentions how his love for magic sustained him throughout his career.

"...He covers all aspects of his careers, but you can see his love for magic carried him through...." Read more

"...The resulting book contains a hodgepodge of information - not always in logical order - that is interesting to anyone who is a Gardner fan - his..." Read more

"...is basically long list of names of people whom Gardner knew, without much details and in many occasions simply wrong attributions..." Read more

"...He was endlessly curious and generous about sharing the results of his explorations with the rest of us. He also writes well and entertainingly...." Read more

3 customers mention "Entertainment value"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining.

"...of what Gardner published elsewhere because what it contains is a lot of fun to read." Read more

"...He also writes well and entertainingly...." Read more

"mostly amusing but perhaps too much name dropping..." Read more

3 customers mention "Time wasted"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book a waste of time.

"...and is a waste of time. Do not buy it, save $14 for two or even three better books." Read more

"I found this book a total waste of my time from start to finish. He does not provide any insight to his works...." Read more

"...disappointed to learn that he found the book tedious, over-written, a bore...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"0 positive3 negative

Customers criticize the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is poorly written for magicians and another mentioning it is badly edited.

"...The book is very badly edited (does anybody at Amazon do proofing and DTP before books are "published"?!) and is a waste of time...." Read more

"...work, I was disappointed to learn that he found the book tedious, over-written, a bore...." Read more

"Poorly Written for Magicians..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really don't like auto biographies or biographies for that matter. they seem like poorly written fiction. but I've always loved Martin Gardner, so I thought, after much hesitation, I'd give it a try. It was fantastic. For one thing he has met so many interesting a varied people - and he never shies away from telling you exactly what he though of those people - but being Gardner, he doesn't seem to have a mean bone in his body, so his analysis about their beliefs doesn't get in the way of genuinely appreciating all those people. He covers all aspects of his careers, but you can see his love for magic carried him through. He is very frank about his limitations in math, but still won the admiration of many very sophisticated mathematicians.
    I wonder what it is about growing up in the midwest in the 20's and 30's that seemed to tilt so many into amateur magic.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I've been a Gardner fan since reading his Fads And Fallacies more than 50 years ago. This book seems to be a garnering of bits and pieces he left lying around when he died at a ripe old age, laden with honor. They were assembled by his friends (especially, I think, Persi Diaconis) as a final tribute. The resulting book contains a hodgepodge of information - not always in logical order - that is interesting to anyone who is a Gardner fan - his childhood in Tulsa, his years in Chicago, including his formative experience at the University of Chicago, and his struggles to make a living as a professional editor and writer. One must overlook the disorganization and gaps and repetitions of what Gardner published elsewhere because what it contains is a lot of fun to read.
    27 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Martin Gardner had one of the livliest minds of the 20th century. He was endlessly curious and generous about sharing the results of his explorations with the rest of us. He also writes well and entertainingly. I especially appreciate his hard work on "The Annotated Alice," which introduces Americans to one of the wisest and wittiest books in the English language. Lewis Carroll's two masterpieces are known to every educated English person, and widely quoted. Americans are not so wise & also tend to misunderstand these volumes as being for girls only. Gardner, appreciating them greatly, broadened their acceptance. He also presented math in ways which helped those who fear the subject - since he so obviously loved math.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The "Scientific American" column on mathematical games was written by Martin Gardner for decades. It was always the first article I would turn to when I received my latest issue of "Scientific American." This book was written as an autobiography by Martin Gardner to be published after his death. It is interesting but it is not what I expected, and, in my estimation, not as good as any one of his columns. I did not complete reading the book.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I admire many people but if there is one person whose life I really envy, it is Mr. Gardner. He seems to have read everything worth reading with attention and care.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As a youngster I loved reading Martin Gardner's column in Scientific American, so I bought this book hoping that it will reveal how he worked and invented so many interesting materials. However, reading this autobiography (and I am big fan of biographies, in fact I mostly nowadays read them, not fiction) I was highly disappointed. This is basically long list of names of people whom Gardner knew, without much details and in many occasions simply wrong attributions (e.g. Jake Neufeld, mentioned on page 90, was physicist, not mathematician, who worked with Fermi in Chicago and later on in Oak Ridge National Lab, publishing many papers on radiation interaction with matter). The book is very badly edited (does anybody at Amazon do proofing and DTP before books are "published"?!) and is a waste of time. Do not buy it, save $14 for two or even three better books.
    14 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Perhaps, since I've not read any other Gardner books, I'm a poor judge. But I am a magician and so much of this book resonated with me. It is a rambling discourse, but it also has many moments of deep fascination. Despite its shortcomings, I'm glad I read it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Excellent book by one of the greatest puzzle masters of this century. His life and works are most fascinating,

    and should be of extreme interest to the general public.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Ken W.
    2.0 out of 5 stars Weak and self indulgent.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 9, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Says nothing about the ideas behind his most popular books. A very ordinary and trivial life story. Not particularly interesting.
  • Michel Rochon
    5.0 out of 5 stars A colorful autobiography of a great thinker
    Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The personal battle between faith and science for this great science journalist that inspired generations of scientists...his last book of more than 100...a must read!
  • Chris Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2017
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Magic
  • Bob Orr
    1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely disappointing
    Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I found this book extremely disappointing. I have been a fan of Gardiner since I first started reading Mathematical Games in the Scientific American about forty years ago. I have read and own most of the books he wrote, and I found each and every one of them fascinating and amusing. The present book looks as if it has been assembled posthumously from various fragments. It is repetitive and rambling. The final chapter about his beliefs is much better covered in his book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener". There is nothing in this book that is not covered better in books he actually wrote. If you want disconnected meaningless anecdotes about friends and family, it may interest you. Otherwise, do not buy this book. Use the money you save to buy one of the excellent books that he actually wrote.
  • emmetclarke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2016
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    made me cy:

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