The Turing Guide, by Jack Copeland, Jonathan Bowen, Mark Sprevak, and Robin Wilson

The world of Turing is infinite while The Turing Guide – naturally – is not,but this book does provide accounts and in-depth analysis of all the scientist’s works,includingthosenotverywellknown,andof hisrich,fascinatinglifethatended so tragically and prematurely. One of the editors’ aims, according to the preface, was to produce a volumethat could be easy to read and could offer comprehensible explanations of complex scientific concepts and innovations. This objective has been fully achieved and the approach adopted is undoubtedly successful. The fact thatthis collection of forty-two essays covers every aspect of Turing’s life and work meant it run the risk risked of sounding haphazard, but it is not. The book isdivided into numerous brief, focused, and well-written sections, and thereforereaders can choose those parts that are most interesting to them.