The genius of John von Neumann

John von Neumann (government photo)

John von Neumann, whose ideas are noted in the writings of Robert Anton Wilson (for example in the short story "Von Neumann's Second Catastrophe" in the Lewis Shiner anthology, When the Music's Over), is discussed in a new book, The Man From the Future by Ananyo Bhattacharya, reviewed in the Wall Street Journal. The reviewer, Stephen Budiansky, says the new bio does well in discussing von Neumann's ideas, but says readers should try another book,  John von Neumann: The Scientific Genius who Pioneered the Modern Computer, Game Theory, Nuclear Deterrence, and Much More by Norman Macrae.