Inside the mind of math genius

Cover of the youth edition of the autobiography of mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, titled The Shape of a Life: One Mathematician's Search for the Universe's Hidden Geometry. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wu Lizhong, vice-president of Yilin Press, says that the publishing house has a long-standing tradition of publishing biographies of renowned figures from both China and abroad. He describes The Shape of a Life as "a major biography for our press in recent years, and we look forward to the book shining brightly on the international stage."

German sinologist Eva Muller, known for her acclaimed German translation of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, recently completed the translation of Can Xue's The World of Passion, which is scheduled for release next fall.

She says that after reading the autobiography, she feels a deep connection between Yau as a mathematician and herself as a translator, as both use tools to convey ideas and understanding.

"Shing-Tung Yau is one of the most intelligent scholars of our time, and mathematics is his tool for interpreting the world," she says, hoping that the book will soon reach German readers.

A promotional event for The Shape of My Life is held at the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid-October. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As a fundamental tool in scientific research, mathematics plays a crucial role in fields like artificial intelligence, big data analysis and aerospace. The mindset and achievements of mathematicians can inspire readers worldwide.

Since its publication, the book has been embraced by scholars, students and science enthusiasts.

Academician Yang Le of the Chinese Academy of Sciences praises the book as "very inspiring and enlightening", while Peng Gang, vice-president of Tsinghua University, notes that the scientific spirit and patriotism reflected in Yau's autobiography are particularly significant in today's society.

The book has won several awards, including the Biography Society of China's Sixth Excellent Biography Award, and the Third Jiangsu Province News Publishing Government Award for Books.