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*book review: A certain Ambiguity A Mathematical Novel by Gaurav. Suri and Hartosh Singh Bal

A certain ambiguity is a story about what it means to face the extent- and the-limits- of human knowledge. ~ G. Suri

Yes! Finally!  There’s a math book written in novel, a different way to establish mathematical ideas. Two points of the book were the fascinating story line and the math behind. The book succeeds to establish knowledgeable insights through astonishing mathematical ideas at the same time convincing novel which I appreciate the most. Importantly, engaging about the book is the supposition that elucidate even the relationship of certainty, ambiguity, frustration and pleasure in the evidence of our humanness.

Actually I really don’t have an idea on how to start making a review for this book. Of whether I’ll attack it on its math side or appreciate the author for a novel well done. Well, I ended up applauding both.

It’s surprising, to think that a mathematical novel can be made, well, it is made. A brave act for the authors. Many people considered math as boring and complicated and it’s hard to believe that they were able to blend it with emotion and something drama effect which truly comprises a good literature piece. If you think you’re a math illiterate, then don’t worry too much. I assure you that it won’t be a barrier to truly enjoy this. Fits to any age.

It circles on math and its philosophy, religion, faith, the beauty of math and its significance to human in understanding the world. Math is embedded on every page of the book and is evolving as the story goes on. Starting with the Pythagorean Theorem, it steps through number theory and geometry, Continuum Hypothesis to Cantor's alephs, non-Euclidean geometry and the discoveries of mathematical proofs based on axiomatic theory, Gödel, and even relativity.

The author wants to clear out questions of whether math and the theorems, ideas, objects underline it is independent or dependent of how human think. This book, I must say is made to captivate those who have still undeveloped knowledge in math.

The novel is about a young man’s search for his grandfather’s life and the enthralling mathematics. I’m warning you, once you start reading it, you can’t stop reading ‘til it’s finished. The book started with a flashback of the childhood life of Ravi Kapoor (main character) to the time his grandfather gave him a math problem to solve in a calculator. The next day, the grandfather died but the idea of the memory of the grandfather played in the grandson’s life remained which I think guided Ravi in his math life.

Ravi Kapoor went to USA to further his education. He’s engrossed both by mathematics and philosophy. There he discovered about his grandfather (who had been a mathematician and so called “atheist” being jailed in 1919. It talks about his college life experiences and his search to find out cause for his grandfather's capture.  As he was into his quest, Kapoor was hooked into confronting the same math and philosophical dilemma that his grandfather encountered which is the reason for his grandfather to land in jail (charged under vague blasphemy law). I’ll be not tackling the whole plot, I leave it to you, and I’m not a spoiler. If you’re eager enough, read the book! Swear you’ll really appreciate it.

One thing that disturbs me most about the book, is the question, “Is the existence of God can be prove or disprove mathematically?” Fascinating enough for anyone (I believe) to finish reading the book. If the book answers the question, it really depends on the reader. The book may not show you equations to answer the question but in some philosophical way it answers the question, if you know what I mean. I highly recommend reading this book.

This piece of fiction push me to understand the number theory, continuum hypothesis and especially the different kinds of infinities which I had a hard time dealing with before. I came to comprehend fully things which I considered new and I find it really interesting and thought-provoking.

I believe the authors were successful on their set goals as stated in the author’s note quoted below inspite of some flaws:

"Our principal purpose in writing A Certain Ambiguity is to show that mathematics is beautiful. Furthermore, we seek to show that mathematics has profound things to say about what it means for humans to truly know something. We believe that both these objectives are best achieved in the medium of a novel. After all it is human beings who feel beauty and it is human beings who feel the immediacy of philosophical questions. And the only way to get human beings into the picture is to tell a story."