The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan

In what ways did Komalatammal’s influence on her son remain with him into adulthood? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Mathematics is often presented as a dry, dull, and mechanical subject in popular culture. However, Kanigel’s presentation of mathematics and how Ramanujan thought about the discipline are different. What views of mathematics does Kanigel explore? Could the study of mathematics be considered a creative process?

How did the Culture Shock that Ramanujan experienced in England contribute to his demise? Strengthen your response with textual evidence. 

Kanigel devotes a substantial portion of his book to breaking down the mathematics that Ramanujan worked with. Evaluate how this affects the reader’s impression of the book. Is it necessary to be a mathematician to understand the points Kanigel is making with the math?

Does the collaboration between Ramanujan and Hardy hold a symbolic value? Explain.

Do you think that Ramanujan’s failures at the Indian colleges prepared him for success at Cambridge? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

After his death, Ramanujan was compared to Bach. What does a comparison like this do for readers’ appreciation of him, even for those who are not mathematicians?

Kanigel discusses Ramanujan’s emotional state while at Cambridge. How would you assess his mental health, and what possible solutions might there have been to his problems?