I'm looking for the title of a book. The book was reviewed in
Scientific America. I think the date was between 1980 and 1984, but
I'm not certain. However, the date range would not extend beyond 1978
and 1986. The book was about mathematical prodigies and geniuses and
gave the biographies of people with exceptional mathematical
calculating ability. It also described, in some instances, how these
individuals were able to perform these mathematical feats.

I was able to obtain the book via an inter-library loan at the time I
read the review. I believe it was about two inches thick and about 300
to 400 pages. It was a hard back.

The issue of Scientific American which contains this review may also
have articles about RSA and factoring.

Hello summer95,

I believe I've found the book you are looking for.

"Great Mental Calculators: The Psychology, Methods, and Lives of
Calculating Prodigies, Past and Present", by Steven B. Smith
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0231056400/qid=1069481850/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-1029383-6578313?v=glance&s=books

As you can see, it was published in hardback in October 1983, and is
374 pages.  These details, plus the topic, appear to match your
recollection well.

Also, I checked the Library of Congress catalog for books on the same
subject (mathematical ability), and no other book but that one fit
these details.

Moreover, here is a reference to a Scientific American article.

Online posting, "TOC: Scientific American, May 1984 - (nf)"
(1984-05-05) [under "BOOKS"]
<net.mag> via Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=32000008%40uiuccsb.UUCP

- justaskscott


Search terms used:

On Amazon:

mathematical prodigies

On Google and Google Groups:

"great mental calculators" "scientific american"

Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for.