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{{short description|American engineer and author (born 1940)}}
{{short description|American engineer and author (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
'''Paul J. Nahin''' (born November 26, 1940, in [[Orange County, California]]) is an American electrical engineer and author who has written 20 books on topics in [[physics]] and [[mathematics]], including biographies of [[Oliver Heaviside]], [[George Boole]], and [[Claude Shannon]], books on mathematical concepts such as [[Euler's formula]] and the [[imaginary unit]], and a number of books on the physics and philosophical puzzles of [[time travel]].
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul J. Nahin
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|11|26}}
| birth_place = [[Berkeley, California]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Professor, author
| years_active =
⚫
| spouse = {{marriage|Patricia A. Telepka|1962}}
| children =
| known_for = Books on physics and mathematics
| notable_works =
| alma_mater = {{ubl
|[[Stanford University]]
|{{nowrap|[[California Institute of Technology]]}}
|[[University of California, Irvine]]
}}
| awards = Harry Rowe Mimno Award (1979)<br>Chandler Davis Prize (2017)
}}
'''Paul J. Nahin''' (born November 26, 1940) is an American electrical engineer, author, and former college professor. He has written over 20 books on topics in [[physics]] and [[mathematics]].


==Biography==
⚫
Born in [[California]], he graduated from [[Brea Olinda High School]] in 1958, and thereafter received a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] from [[Stanford University]] in 1962, an [[Master of Science|M.S.]] from the [[California Institute of Technology]] in 1963, and a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of California, Irvine]] in 1972, all in [[electrical engineering]].<ref name="Bates">[https://www.bates.edu/news/2011/03/23/sampson-nahin/ Electrical and computer engineering expert offers annual Sampson Lecture] ''[[Bates College]] News'' (March 23, 2011).</ref>
[[File:Science at Village Books - Flickr - brewbooks (1).jpg|thumb|right|A copy of Nahin's book ''The Logician and the Engineer'']]
⚫
Born in [[California]], Nahin graduated from [[Brea Olinda High School]] in 1958, and thereafter received a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] from [[Stanford University]] in 1962, an [[Master of Science|M.S.]] from the [[California Institute of Technology]] in 1963, and a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of California, Irvine]], in 1972, all in [[electrical engineering]].<ref name="Bates">[https://www.bates.edu/news/2011/03/23/sampson-nahin/ Electrical and computer engineering expert offers annual Sampson Lecture] ''[[Bates College]] News'' (March 23, 2011).</ref>


He thereafter taught at [[Harvey Mudd College]], the University of Virginia, and the [[Naval Postgraduate School]] in [[Monterey, California]].<ref name="Bates"/>
Nahin thereafter taught at [[Harvey Mudd College]], the [[University of Virginia]], and the [[Naval Postgraduate School]] in [[Monterey, California]].<ref name="Bates"/> He retired in 2004 from his position as professor of [[electrical engineering]] at the [[University of New Hampshire]], becoming a [[professor emeritus]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Nahin | first = Paul J.
{{as of|2004}}, Nahin was an emeritus professor of [[electrical engineering]] at the [[University of New Hampshire]].
| contribution = Acknowledgements
| date = December 2012
| doi = 10.1515/9781400842063.249
| pages = 249–250
| publisher = Princeton University Press
| title = Chases and Escapes: The Mathematics of Pursuit and Evasion}}</ref>


As an author, Nahin's publications include biographies of [[Oliver Heaviside]], [[George Boole]], and [[Claude Shannon]], books on mathematical concepts such as [[Euler's formula]], the [[Riemann hypothesis]], and the [[imaginary unit]], and a number of books on the physics and philosophical puzzles of [[time travel]]. His book ''[[Chases and Escapes]]'' has been rated as essential for inclusion in undergraduate mathematics libraries by The Basic Library List Committee of the [[Mathematical Association of America]].<ref name=satzer>{{citation | last = Satzer | first = William J. | date = June 2007 | journal = MAA Reviews | publisher = [[Mathematical Association of America]] | title = Review of ''Chases and Escapes'' | url = https://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/chases-and-escapes-the-mathematics-of-pursuit-and-evasion}}</ref>
Nahin received the 2017 Chandler Davis Prize for Excellence in Expository Writing in Mathematics<ref name="Chandler Davis prize">{{cite web | title=The Mathematical Intelligencer | website=Springer | url=https://www.springer.com/journal/283/updates/17226694 | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref> and, in 1979, the first Harry Rowe Mimno writing award<ref name="IEEE Mimno Award">{{cite web | title=Harry Rowe Mimno Award | website=IEEE AESS | date=2020-12-09 | url=https://ieee-aess.org/awards/harry-rowe-mimno-award#description | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref> from the IEEE Areospace and Electronic Systems Society.


In 1979, Nahin received the first Harry Rowe Mimno writing award,<ref name="IEEE Mimno Award">{{cite web | title=Harry Rowe Mimno Award | website=IEEE AESS | date=2020-12-09 | url=https://ieee-aess.org/awards/harry-rowe-mimno-award#description | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref> from the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|IEEE]] Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society. He received the 2017 Chandler Davis Prize for Excellence in Expository Writing in Mathematics.<ref name="Chandler Davis prize">{{cite web | title=The Mathematical Intelligencer | website=Springer | url=https://www.springer.com/journal/283/updates/17226694 | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref>
⚫
He married Patricia A. Telepka in 1962.


==Works==
==Works==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=xHPMEAAAQBAJ ''The Mathematical Radio: Inside the Magic of AM, FM, and Single-Sideband''] (2024)
⚫
*{{cite book | title=In Pursuit of Zeta-3 : The World's Most Mysterious Unsolved Math Problem | date=2021 | isbn=978-0-691-22759-7 | oclc=1260168397| last1=Nahin | first1=Paul | publisher=Princeton University Press }}<ref name="Adhemar Bultheel">{{cite web | last=Bultheel | first=Adhemar | title=In Pursuit of Zeta-3 | website=Mathematical Association of America | url=https://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/in-pursuit-of-zeta-3 | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref>
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=-i7WEAAAQBAJ ''The Probability Integral: Its Origin, Its Importance, and Its Calculation''] (2023)
⚫
* {{cite book | title=In Pursuit of Zeta-3 : The World's Most Mysterious Unsolved Math Problem | date=2021 | isbn=978-0-691-22759-7 | oclc=1260168397 | publisher=Princeton University Press }}<ref name="Adhemar Bultheel">{{cite web | last=Bultheel | first=Adhemar | title=In Pursuit of Zeta-3 | website=Mathematical Association of America | url=https://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/in-pursuit-of-zeta-3 | access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref>
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=QJawDwAAQBAJ ''Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph''] (2020)
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=QJawDwAAQBAJ ''Hot Molecules, Cold Electrons: From the Mathematics of Heat to the Development of the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph''] (2020)
* [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7DNjDwAAQBAJ ''Transients for Electrical Engineers: Elementary Switched-Circuit Analysis in the Time and Laplace Transform Domains (with a touch of MATLAB®)''] (2018)
* [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7DNjDwAAQBAJ ''Transients for Electrical Engineers: Elementary Switched-Circuit Analysis in the Time and Laplace Transform Domains (with a touch of MATLAB®)''] (2018)
* [https://books.google.com/books/about/How_to_Fall_Slower_Than_Gravity.html?id=8ApuDwAAQBAJ ''How to Fall Slower Than Gravity: And Other Everyday (and Not So Everyday) Uses of Mathematics and Physical Reasoning''] (2018)
* [https://books.google.com/books/about/How_to_Fall_Slower_Than_Gravity.html?id=8ApuDwAAQBAJ ''How to Fall Slower Than Gravity: And Other Everyday (and Not So Everyday) Uses of Mathematics and Physical Reasoning''] (2018)
* {{cite book |title=Time Machine Tales: The Science Fiction Adventures and Philosophical Puzzles of Time Travel |publisher=Springer |date=2017 |isbn=978-3319488622}}
* [https://books.google.com/books/about/In_Praise_of_Simple_Physics.html?id=FNghCwAAQBAJ ''In Praise of Simple Physics: The Science and Mathematics behind Everyday Questions''] (2016)
* [https://books.google.com/books/about/In_Praise_of_Simple_Physics.html?id=FNghCwAAQBAJ ''In Praise of Simple Physics: The Science and Mathematics behind Everyday Questions''] (2016)
* ''Inside Interesting Integrals'' (2014); [https://books.google.com/books?id=H7ZeBAAAQBAJ pbk edition]
* ''Inside Interesting Integrals'' (2014); [https://books.google.com/books?id=H7ZeBAAAQBAJ pbk edition]
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* [https://books.google.com/books?id=pxz8G-KF3ZgC ''Number-Crunching: Taming Unruly Computational Problems from Mathematical Physics to Science Fiction''] (2011)
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=pxz8G-KF3ZgC ''Number-Crunching: Taming Unruly Computational Problems from Mathematical Physics to Science Fiction''] (2011)
* ''Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula: Cures Many Mathematical Ills'' (2011)<ref>Henry Ricardo (2006) [http://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/dr-eulers-fabulous-formula-cures-many-mathematical-ills Review: ''Euler's Fabulous''] from [[Mathematical Association of America]].</ref> [https://books.google.com/books?id=m3GYDwAAQBAJ 2017 pbk edition]
* ''Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula: Cures Many Mathematical Ills'' (2011)<ref>Henry Ricardo (2006) [http://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/dr-eulers-fabulous-formula-cures-many-mathematical-ills Review: ''Euler's Fabulous''] from [[Mathematical Association of America]].</ref> [https://books.google.com/books?id=m3GYDwAAQBAJ 2017 pbk edition]
* ''Digital dice: computational solutions to practical probability problems'' (2008); [https://books.google.com/books?id=OrjlSR4nsecC 2013 pbk edition]
* ''Digital Dice: Computational Solutions to Practical Probability Problems'' (2008); [https://books.google.com/books?id=OrjlSR4nsecC 2013 pbk edition]
* ''Time Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Real Science of Plausible Time Travel'' (1997); [https://books.google.com/books?id=wrQXMgOIcqUC 2011 pbk edition]
* ''Time Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Real Science of Plausible Time Travel'' (1997); [https://books.google.com/books?id=wrQXMgOIcqUC 2011 pbk edition]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=7zprjg16m0IC ''Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt: And Other Intriguing Stories of Mathematical Physics''] (2009)
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=7zprjg16m0IC ''Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt: And Other Intriguing Stories of Mathematical Physics''] (2009)
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.amazon.com/Paul-J.-Nahin/e/B001HCS1XI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 Paul J. Nahin biography] at ''[[Amazon.com]]''
*[https://www.amazon.com/Paul-J.-Nahin/e/B001HCS1XI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 Paul J. Nahin biography] at Amazon.com
*[https://ceps.unh.edu/electrical-computer-engineering/research/faculty-authored-books Faculty-Authored Books] in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNH.edu


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Engineers from California]]
[[Category:Engineers from California]]
[[Category:Mathematics popularizers]]
[[Category:Mathematics popularizers]]
[[Category:Brea Olinda High School alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]]
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[[Category:20th-century American engineers]]
[[Category:20th-century American engineers]]
[[Category:21st-century American engineers]]
[[Category:21st-century American engineers]]
[[Category:Brea Olinda High School alumni]]
[[Category:Harvey Mudd College faculty]]
[[Category:University of Virginia faculty]]
[[Category:Naval Postgraduate School faculty]]
[[Category:University of New Hampshire faculty]]

Latest revision as of 20:26, 27 June 2024

Paul J. Nahin
Born(1940-11-26)November 26, 1940
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Professor, author
Known forBooks on physics and mathematics
Spouse
Patricia A. Telepka
​
(m. 1962)​
AwardsHarry Rowe Mimno Award (1979)
Chandler Davis Prize (2017)

Paul J. Nahin (born November 26, 1940) is an American electrical engineer, author, and former college professor. He has written over 20 books on topics in physics and mathematics.

Biography

[edit]
A copy of Nahin's book The Logician and the Engineer

Born in California, Nahin graduated from Brea Olinda High School in 1958, and thereafter received a B.S. from Stanford University in 1962, an M.S. from the California Institute of Technology in 1963, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, in 1972, all in electrical engineering.[1]

Nahin thereafter taught at Harvey Mudd College, the University of Virginia, and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.[1] He retired in 2004 from his position as professor of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire, becoming a professor emeritus.[2]

As an author, Nahin's publications include biographies of Oliver Heaviside, George Boole, and Claude Shannon, books on mathematical concepts such as Euler's formula, the Riemann hypothesis, and the imaginary unit, and a number of books on the physics and philosophical puzzles of time travel. His book Chases and Escapes has been rated as essential for inclusion in undergraduate mathematics libraries by The Basic Library List Committee of the Mathematical Association of America.[3]

In 1979, Nahin received the first Harry Rowe Mimno writing award,[4] from the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society. He received the 2017 Chandler Davis Prize for Excellence in Expository Writing in Mathematics.[5]

Works

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Electrical and computer engineering expert offers annual Sampson Lecture Bates College News (March 23, 2011).
  2. ^ Nahin, Paul J. (December 2012). "Acknowledgements". Chases and Escapes: The Mathematics of Pursuit and Evasion. Princeton University Press. pp. 249–250. doi:10.1515/9781400842063.249.
  3. ^ Satzer, William J. (June 2007), "Review of Chases and Escapes", MAA Reviews, Mathematical Association of America
  4. ^ "Harry Rowe Mimno Award". IEEE AESS. December 9, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Mathematical Intelligencer". Springer. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Bultheel, Adhemar. "In Pursuit of Zeta-3". Mathematical Association of America. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  7. ^ A. Bultheel (2014) Review: Intersect from European Mathematical Society.
  8. ^ Henry Ricardo (2006) Review: Euler's Fabulous from Mathematical Association of America.
  9. ^ Reviews of Chases and Escapes:
  10. ^ Danielle L. Parker (2006) Review:Time Travel from Bewildering Stories.
  11. ^ Ed Sandifer (1999) Review:Imaginary Tale from Mathematical Association of America.
  12. ^ Blank, Brian E. (November 1999). "Review of An imaginary tale: The story of √-1 by Paul J. Nahin" (PDF). Notices of the AMS. 46 (10): 1233–1236.
  13. ^ Y.H. Ku (1989) Journal of the Franklin Institute 326:3.
  14. ^ Robert Rosenberg (1989) Isis.
  15. ^ George E. Webb (1989) The Historian, Review of Oliver Heaviside.
  16. ^ Jed Buchwald (1991) Centaurus. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0498.1985.tb00750.x
[edit]
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