Time magazine ranked him among the hundred most important persons of the twentieth century. Harvard University made him an honorary doctor "for the discovery of the most significant mathematical truth of the century". He is generally viewed as the greatest logician since Aristotle. His friend Einstein liked to say that he only went to the institute to have the privilege of walking back home with Kurt Gödel. And John von Neumann, one of the fathers of the computer, wrote: "Indeed Gödel is absolutely irreplaceable. He is the only mathematician about whom I dare make this assertion."

This book wants to give a simple, intuitive, and easily digestible introduction to Gödel's life and work, meant for readers interested in the human and cultural aspects of science. Its starting point was the preparation for an exhibition on Kurt Gödel, on the occasion of his hundredth birthday. An exhibition has something of a walk, and that's exactly what the authors want to offer: a walk with Gödel. Einstein loved such walks. Gödel's company can be enjoyed.

A publication of Vieweg Verlag. The AMS is exclusive distributor in North America. Vieweg Verlag Publications are available worldwide from the AMS outside of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Japan.

Readership

Anyone interested in learning more about Kurt Gödel.

Table of Contents

• Gödel's life
• Gödel's surroundings
• Gödel's work (Hilbert's program, Cantor's continuum, Einstein's universes, Plato's shadow)