This is a charming but quirky amalgam of biography, memoir and reminiscence about the renowned mathematician Peter Lax written by Reuben Hersh, Lax's friend and former Ph.D. student. The author says further that Lax unites two great traditions of modern mathematics: the first, a special style of functional analysis from Europe, and, the second, an approach to machine computation and numerical analysis via Los Alamos. Even this doesn't capture his breadth, one that ranges from shock waves, solitons and scattering theory to Lax pairs, integrable systems and the axiomatic treatment of hyperbolicity. The book is not all about mathematics. We also learn a good deal about Lax's personal life, his family and his interests which include a serious interest in painting. There is a very nice collection of photographs (something that AMS has been doing very well in this and similar publications). Some of the most interesting parts of the book describe Lax's life at NYU over the last several decades. The book is a true blend of the personal and the mathematical." - MAA Reviews
"Reuben Hersh, a former student of Peter Lax, has produced a wonderful account of the life and career of this remarkable man. The book is well researched and full of interesting facts, yet light-hearted and lively. It is very well written. A nice feature is the abundance of photographs, not only of Peter Lax and his family, but also of colleagues and students. Although written for mathematicians, the book will have wider appeal. Highly recommended." - Peter Duren, University of Michigan
"This is a fascinating and beautifully written book about one of the most influential and inspirational mathematicians of the past 70 years. The author not only captures the essence of Peter Lax and those around him, but also gives the reader a feel for a glorious and exciting time in history of mathematics, that is, the era of postwar development of the Courant Institute and its brand of pure and applied mathematics." - Stanley Osher, University of California, Los Angeles
"Peter Lax is a mathematician with a fascinating life history and a spectacularly successful professional career at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Reuben Hersh, one of Peter's many students, gives us a lively and beautifully illustrated biography. This book brings out both the personal and professional aspects of Peter's work in a captivating manner. It is a great read for people who know Peter as well as for those who do not." - Gérard Ben-Arous, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
