```html
The mathematician Roger Penrose has many accolades for his work in extending our perception of the universe. While his research dominates most reviews of him, author Patchen Barss has taken up the challenge of writing a biography about the life of Roger Penrose, who at 93 is still alive and active. In Barss’ book “The Impossible Man–Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius” the reader gets a full appreciation of the life of a person who’s contributed so much.
Barss presents Penrose starting from his early childhood age. He grew up in the difficult times of World War 2 under the tutelage of well-to-do Quaker parents. The father dominated the family, resulting in Penrose not gaining much experience in understanding and dealing with emotions. However, his father did teach him critical thinking and puzzle solving, which Barss suggests was pivotal in establishing Penrose's skill and tenacity at mathematical problem solving.
One interesting aspect presented is that Penrose, being university chair of mathematics, was much more comfortable with geometries and shapes than with equations. His penchant and ability to extend imagery beyond two, three, and even four dimensions served him during his studies on special relativity and general relativity. This was perhaps foundational in postulating conditions at black hole singularities, a contribution that partly garnered him the Nobel Prize. Currently, he is still progressing toward a unified theory of spacetime as well as formulating the conformal cyclic cosmology (CCC) into accepted scientific theory.
While this biography provides a description of Penrose’s mathematics, such as light cones and tessellation, it does not provide details or proofs. For these, a reader can peruse any of the many books written by Penrose himself. Where this biography excels is in connecting personal moments and events with human interactions. There’s much about his wives and muses, along with a constant stream of other high-caliber researchers who briefly or extensively interconnect with his life. The biography delves into his quest for optimal working environments, such as his notably unique trapdoor that leads to a garage converted into a private study. Unexpectedly, the book chronicles how Penrose colluded with Joe Rogan to promote his ideas.
As is often the case with high achievers, any biography could become nearly limitless in extent. This one was six years in the writing, with Barss spending significant time directly interviewing the subject. It presents many momentous events including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The question remains, can a reader use this biography to weigh in on the debate of nature versus nurture? Does it provide a recipe for becoming a chair of mathematics? Does it champion solitary contemplation or vouchsafe boisterous social engagement? Ultimately, that will be for the reader to discover.
Whichever your aim, the book “The Impossible Man – Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius” by Patchen Barss is a solid biography. Penrose has made significant contributions to his field of expertise and continues to work diligently. This book provides insight into how he accomplishes such feats. It’s user-friendly while not being overly technical; it guides the reader through the life of this highly honored mathematician.
```
