> "Ivar Ekeland takes readers on a journey through scientific attempts to envision the best of all possible worlds. He begins with the French mathematician Maupertuis, whose least action principle [...] was a pivotal breakthrough in science, because it was the first expression of the concept of optimization, or the design of systems that are the most efficient or functional. [...] Tracing the profound impact of optimization and the unexpected ways in which it has influenced the study of mathematics, biology, economics, and even politics, Ekeland reveals throughout how the idea of optimization has driven some of our greatest intellectual breakthroughs..."
Very readable style, and a lot of historical context around the names of scientists I've only heard in passing.
> "Ivar Ekeland takes readers on a journey through scientific attempts to envision the best of all possible worlds. He begins with the French mathematician Maupertuis, whose least action principle [...] was a pivotal breakthrough in science, because it was the first expression of the concept of optimization, or the design of systems that are the most efficient or functional. [...] Tracing the profound impact of optimization and the unexpected ways in which it has influenced the study of mathematics, biology, economics, and even politics, Ekeland reveals throughout how the idea of optimization has driven some of our greatest intellectual breakthroughs..."
Very readable style, and a lot of historical context around the names of scientists I've only heard in passing.