130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Happy Long Weekend! We're open all 3 days! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

A Beautiful Mind

The Life of Mathematical Genius and Novel Laureate John Nash
4.13 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 134,343 ratings, 1,800 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar is a compelling biography of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician whose groundbreaking work in game theory revolutionised the field. The book delves into his intellectual achievements, as well as his struggles with mental illness, offering an inspiring tale of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Nasar intricately weaves personal and professional challenges to portray Nash's profound impact on both mathematics and his own life.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
Save 22% Off
Savings are calculated from our regular price of $51.00 compared to the current price of $40.00.
$4000
Usually:
$5100
On Sale
in Clearout Sale until 2 Nov or while stocks last
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by the interplay between genius and madness, as it provides a compelling exploration of the life of John Nash, a mathematical prodigy who struggled with schizophrenia. His journey from academic brilliance through harrowing mental challenges, to his eventual recognition with a Nobel Prize, offers an inspiring and insightful look into the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of intellect.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar is a deeply moving narrative that explores the enigmatic life of John Nash, a mathematical prodigy whose groundbreaking work laid the foundations for game theory. Set against the backdrop of mid-20th century academia, the biography delves into Nash's extraordinary intellectual prowess and his eventual descent into schizophrenia. With an unparalleled talent that saw him rise swiftly in the corridors of Princeton, Nash's early years were marked by a series of mathematical breakthroughs that made his name synonymous with genius.

This profound account chronicles the complexities of Nash’s mathematical insights, his subsequent struggles with mental illness, and the arduous journey toward recovery. Through Nasar's meticulous research and narrative skill, we witness the interplay between Nash's brilliance and his battle with paranoia, delusions, and the haunting spectres of his mind. The biography offers a gripping exploration of the human psyche, highlighting themes of perseverance, redemption, and the enduring power of love and support from those closest to him.

Notably, Nash's life story is not one of solitude in adversity. Through the unwavering support of his wife Alicia and the enduring loyalty of the mathematics community, Nash finds a beacon in the darkness, providing a narrative arc of both personal and professional recovery. This resilience leads to one of the most remarkable comebacks, culminating in Nash receiving the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1994, recognising the indelible mark he left on economics and mathematics.

Adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, A Beautiful Mind transcends the confines of a standard biography. It provides an enlightening exploration of the human condition, interweaving the threads of intellectual brilliance, mental health, and the all-encompassing impact of love. Nasar's work is a testament to the profound influence Nash had on the world and stands as a compelling testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Beautiful Mind is praised for its superb writing and captivating narrative, comparable to a novel in its engaging style. It is noted for being both deeply interesting and extraordinarily moving.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781451628425

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 July 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: Simon & Schuster

Illustration: Halftones, black and white

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 157.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 503g

Pages: 464

About the Author

Sylvia Nasar is the author of the bestselling A Beautiful Mind, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography. She is the John S. and James. L Knight Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Also by Sylvia Nasar

View all
  • A Beautiful Mind
    At the age of 31, John Nash, a mathematical genius, suffered a devastating breakdown and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Yet after decades of leading a ghost-like existence, he re-emerged to win a Nobel Prize and gain world acclaim. The inspiration for a major motion picture directed by Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar, is an award-winning biography that...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Biography & Memoir

View all
  • New Release
    One Helluva Ride
    "This book is about where I came from, what I fought against, and what I chose formyself. Fame can blur the truth; this is my attempt to bring it back into focus." A legendary actor and Hollywood Icon whose five-decade career spans film, television,and producing, Michael Douglas has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, fiveGolden Globes, a Primetime Emmy,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Book cover for 'Swan Song: Diana, my sister' by Charles Spencer, featuring a black-and-white portrait of Diana with white and gold text on a gray background.
    New Release
    Swan Song
    Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles – available to pre-order now. ‘When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…’ In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    Fictional Selves
    From the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Sex and the City comes a candid and deeply personal memoir. In this highly anticipated memoir, the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Sex and the City and more shares his utterly original account of his offbeat journey in Hollywood, his battles with fear and...
    Hardback
    $4799
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • New Release
    The Steps
    The long-awaited memoir from a true Hollywood icon. We know Sylvester Stallone as one of the most revered actors, writers, and directors of all time, yet his life story is every bit as dramatic, intense, and inspiring as his greatest creations on screen. Bringing together a no-holds-barred account of a fascinating life with messages of hope, positivity, and resilience, in...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    16% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    18% off
    Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About
    From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Famesick
    Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgun wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through her journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    21% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $5800
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Signed Copy
    Stakes
    Read our interview with author Noelle McCarthy! A darkly funny, sparkling follow-up to the author’s bestselling memoir Grand. You have to invite him in. You have to want the vampire’s badness in the house with you. Growing up in Catholic Ireland, Noelle McCarthy is captivated by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The vampire is a risk-free fantasy, a suave alternative to the fraught realities...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Built for This
    Raised among strong women, butcher's benches, and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty, and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Even the Good Girls Will Cry
    Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.