3 ms·

I only once saw John Conway giving a talk. I don't remember the topic (it was >20y ago), but I remember how it went. He gave some definitions, then started to g

I only once saw John Conway giving a talk. I don't remember the topic (it was >20y ago), but I remember how it went. He gave some definitions, then started to give some examples and work out on the blackboard some calculations. It all felt quite trivial. At some point one calculation doesn't work out. He checked again, but still it didn't work. He started pacing in front of the blackboard, and said that this is quite embarrassing. "Hm, I wanted to give a talk about this, but since we found this mistakes, I'm not sure what to say for the remaining 50 minutes". Ok, he said, let's take a step back and start again. And he started again, and the talk was amazing. The whole "embarrassing" thing had been staged. He played a bit of misdirection on us. He started with something that seemed quite trivial, pretended to make a mistake, then showed us how much deeper the topic was. This was not the only math talk I've seen that was actually a performance, but it was the best. Rest in peace.

quickthrower2 7y ago
That’s very imaginative and empathetic to the audience. And of course that’s the lecture you remember 20 yrs layer
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_cs2017_ 7y ago
What was the lecture about? I don't suppose there were any recordings?
- swyx 7y ago
  >20y ago so the odds are low but not impossible (feynman's lectures are on youtube). just sad to think how many great lectures have been lost to time tho
  - WalterBright 7y ago
    > feynman's lectures are on youtube Only a tiny handful. Feynman gave a guest lecture at our physics class at Caltech in the 70's on potato chip worlds. As far as I know, it only persists in my memory. I sometimes wonder why I didn't buy a cheap cassette recorder and record a bunch of lectures from then. Probably because nobody else did, either.
    - swyx 7y ago
      care to put down some bullet points on your potato chip recollections on a blogpost? others who were there might chip in
      - StavrosK 7y ago
        > might chip in Pun perhaps not intended, but good.
0az 7y ago
I had the opportunity to watch him lecture for a week, almost a decade ago. I don't remember what it was about (maybe Catalan numbers?), but ten years later, I wish I'd been able to recall more. Rest in peace.
ColinWright 7y ago
Hoping you read this ... can you get in touch with me please? Contact email is in my profile ... thanks.

quickthrower2 7y ago

That’s very imaginative and empathetic to the audience. And of course that’s the lecture you remember 20 yrs layer

deleted 7y ago
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deleted 7y ago

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_cs2017_ 7y ago

What was the lecture about? I don't suppose there were any recordings?

swyx 7y ago
>20y ago so the odds are low but not impossible (feynman's lectures are on youtube). just sad to think how many great lectures have been lost to time tho
- WalterBright 7y ago
  > feynman's lectures are on youtube Only a tiny handful. Feynman gave a guest lecture at our physics class at Caltech in the 70's on potato chip worlds. As far as I know, it only persists in my memory. I sometimes wonder why I didn't buy a cheap cassette recorder and record a bunch of lectures from then. Probably because nobody else did, either.
  - swyx 7y ago
    care to put down some bullet points on your potato chip recollections on a blogpost? others who were there might chip in
    - StavrosK 7y ago
      > might chip in Pun perhaps not intended, but good.

0az 7y ago

I had the opportunity to watch him lecture for a week, almost a decade ago. I don't remember what it was about (maybe Catalan numbers?), but ten years later, I wish I'd been able to recall more. Rest in peace.

ColinWright 7y ago

Hoping you read this ... can you get in touch with me please? Contact email is in my profile ... thanks.