The MANIAC

Benjamín Labatut’s “The MANIAC” tells the story of brilliant mathematician John von Neumann — one of the founding figures of quantum mechanics, game theory, and modern computing. The book explores the life and scientific breakthroughs of this extraordinary mind against the backdrop of the twentieth century’s most dramatic events, including World War II and the development of nuclear weapons. Labatut masterfully blends historical facts with fictional narrative, meditating on the impact of scientific progress on the fate of humanity.