Remembering Martin Gardner, Mathematical Magician

“I’m strictly a journalist.”

– Martin Gardner

Martin Gardner had no formal mathematical training. A newspaper reporter, publicist, freelancer for Esquire, caseworker, magician, skeptic, Navy sailor, and most famously, “Mathematical Games” columnist for Scientific American, Gardner displayed a boundless energy and enthusiasm for intellectual inquiry. A tireless advocate for science, his popular books and articles painstakingly argue against the dangers of pseudoscience in all forms.

On Saturday, Gardner passed away at the age of 95 in Norman, OK. TSoTP takes a look back.

Most Eminent Man of Letters and Numbers

In his review of Gardner’s latest works, Michael Dirda gives a charming rundown of Gardner’s long, involved, illustrious career of being the most math-savvy non-mathematician imaginable.

Happy Birthday, Martin Gardner!

Today is Martin Gardner’s 95th birthday. Yesterday’s New York Times featured a lovely profile of the great math puzzlist.

Martin Gardner Documentary

What a great find! We’ve had a lot of fun with the new Martin Gardner books around here, but I always find that there is more to discover about him. David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things featured an entire piece on Gardner, from his math buddies to the sleight-of-hand circles he frequented. Thanks to Scott, [...]

The Martin Gardner Interview – Part 5

This 5th and final installment in Don Albers’ long interview with Martin Gardner clarifies his philosophical theism, tackles pseudoscience, and glimpses what he’s up to now. Remember, he’s still at it. Gardner just released revised editions of his Scientific American columns here at Cambridge, and has other projects in the works too. Start from the [...]