OT: Plea for help in remembering a book
This is a remote shot in the dark, but probably the best place of asking short of sending the world’s most random email...
Did anyone take Honors 251 on Imagination taught by Professor Amrine? We read a book or essay or something on order in nature and how it relates to mathematics and philosophy.
I was just reading an article that explained how cicada species most often cycle in years that are prime numbers. The story reminded me so vividly of the class’s reading, but I can’t find the class syllabus online and don’t have my old copy to find it.
I have a burning desire to read this, but don’t know that it reaches the point of emailing this professor I haven’t spoken to in damn near a decade.
You could also try r/tipofmytongue
Uhh just email the professor. What are you doing?
Agree. I bet they'd love to hear from you and know that you gained something from their class that stuck this long.
No need. Prof is probably Pony Conqueror.
A teacher would probably be thrilled that you remembered something from your class, and that damn near a decade later, it's still kicking around in your brain. (Imagine you gave a friend, a nephew, a sister a gift and ten years later you get an email that starts, "Remember that thing you gave me way back in....".)
I agree with Blue Vet—speaking as someone from a long line of teachers, professors, and librarians, they will be ecstatic to know that something they taught stuck so well with one of their pupils, so go ahead and email her/him today.
The worst that can happen is that they don't respond. You've got nothing to lose.
Exactly this -- e-mail the professor and you'll make his or her day. Those of us who teach don't always get much feedback from former students so we pretty much operate on faith that what we teach will be of use to them later. Your e-mail will feel like a gift to the professor.
Adding my voice to the chorus. I'm a professor and if a former student contacted me with a similar question I'd be thrilled. You'll get your answer, and you'll make someone's day (especially when many of us are feeling kind of unenthusiastic about online learning and the lack of interaction with our students).
Let us know if you come up with it. Sounds interesting.
Anyone else read this as Professor Amirite!
April 12th, 2020 at 11:49 PM ^
Yes.
Don't know, but it sounds like something E O Wilson may have written
Thank you for the reference. I just added 3 of his books to my planned reading list at my local library.
Cheers!
Yeah, I suppose I should email him.
In a related yet totally random find today while doing a virtual tour of NYC at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, there was this exhibit:
https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/nature-by-design-botanical-expressions/jwJiMcUGRXZ2Jw
I’ll take it as a sign, but of what I don’t know...
Not to add anything you've haven't already seen here, but my wife is a professor, and one thing she has said makes her feel like what she does is worthwhile is hearing from former students who have used ideas from her classes in their work or lives.
Professors have a lot more freedom to choose how they construct their courses, so the good ones put a lot of thought into it and so hearing later that what they did actually had an impact is something they'd value quite highly. Their biggest fear is that much of their work is lost the minute the final exam ends.
I didn't have that class but would follow fellow Michigan alum Charlie Munger in suggesting
Deep Simplicity: Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity by John Gribbin
April 13th, 2020 at 12:06 AM ^
Munger did not graduate from Michigan. He dropped out of Michigan to join the Army in WWII. He actually never completed an undergrad degree.
I’m not sure you know what an alumnus is
I replied the wrong post. (Sorry, Mgotri.)
@potomacduc
I just did a quick google search to be sure.
Munger attended Michigan. By this definition, he qualifies. Eng1980 is right to call Munger a Michigan alum.
Even if I knew the answer I would want you to reach out to your professor and make someones day. New or renewed connections are exactly what is needed right now.
I agree with everyone else saying you should email the professor.
When you find out the answer, would you mind posting it here? It sounds interesting. Thanks.
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy by Niels Bohr
The Scientific Monthly
Vol. 82, No. 2 (Feb., 1956), pp. 85-88
?
Bohr is a real OG
This rings a ton of bells. I will try to find it online. Thanks so much. I also emailed Prof Amrine and will report back if he responds.
please report back, I am curious to know ...
Maybe try the book, Niels Bohr and the Philosophy of Physics by Jan Faye also.
Similar-ish concept, though less about nature specifically: Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid.
https://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567
April 12th, 2020 at 11:25 PM ^
This is one of those books...I know it is good, I know I will like it as soon as I get past page 2... never gotten past page 2... books like that itself could be a thread.
A lot of times, in these sort of books, the first chapter pretty much lays out the thesis of the whole book and then lays out how it's going to be addressed, chapter-by-chapter, with just a slight bit of the supporting evidence.
Get through the first chapter and you should be good to go. Hell, in conversation, you could probably even spout off that "I was reading a book that said..." /s
I skipped around a bit, definitely passed on some sections I wasn't as interested in. It's been eight or nine years, but the description in this post reminded me of it. I wouldn't say it's essential reading, but if you want to stretch your brain a little bit and are stuck at home maybe now is a good time to give it a shot!
The book that set my direction for grad studies. Give it another shot.
April 13th, 2020 at 11:11 PM ^
I took the class "Analogy and Creativity" at UofM with Prof. Hofstadter, probably in 1987. Some of the most interesting assignments I've ever had, including having to write an essay of exactly 350 words on what I thought was one of the most creative idea/things from history without using the letter "e" or "i."
Whomever downvoted this is a dick.
This thread has convinced me to finally send that email to my HS choir director. Guy changed my life.
He already knows
Your HS Choir director was your dealer???
Former teacher here. Choir and band teachers are almost always beloved by students. My thesis is that they teach a class that kids WANT to be in, a class that attracts students who are already talented and disciplined enough to develop a talent, a class that requires students to work together thereby fostering tight relationships (and good memories) between kids in the class, a class in which the teacher is usually encouraging, and a class that culminates in kids getting applauded.
Science and math teachers don't hear from former students too much unless they were coaches or taught AP..
April 13th, 2020 at 12:46 AM ^
Not sure if it's the same, but check out Li: Dynamic Form in Nature by David Wade
https://www.amazon.com/Li-Dynamic-Nature-Wooden-Books/dp/0802714102/ref=sr_1_28?dchild=1&keywords=li+nature&qid=1586753144&sr=8-28
This is exactly like a discussion I saw over on RCMB... BAHAHAHAHA!!! Who am I kidding?! ?
Absolutely you must email this professor. The professor will be thrilled to know that the course material impacted somebody. I'm a former teacher and there's nothing better than to hear from former students.
About 5 years back, I emailed a UM professor that I had for a course 30+ years ago, just to ask if if he could suggest any new reading in his area of expertise. I got back, via US mail, a warm personal letter along with paper copies of his syllabus.
Do it, especially now when the prof is sitting around like the rest of us.
Is it Consilience by EO Wilson?