A Brilliant Madness – John Nash
A Brilliant Madness is the story of a mathematical genius whose career was cut short by a descent into madness. At the age of 30, John Nash, a stunningly original and famously eccentric MIT mathematician, suddenly began claiming that aliens were communicating with him and that he was a special messenger.
Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Nash spent the next three decades in and out of mental hospitals, all but forgotten. During that time, a proof he had written at the age of 20 became a foundation of modern economic theory. In 1994, as Nash began to show signs of emerging from his delusions, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics. The program features interviews with John Nash, his wife Alicia, his friends and colleagues, and experts in game theory and mental illness.
Go beyond the Oscar-winning drama “A Beautiful Mind” and learn more about the life of troubled mathematician and Nobel Prize-winner John Nash and his struggle with mental illness in this PBS “American Experience” documentary. Exclusive interviews with Nash and wife Alicia are included.
Watch the full documentary now
very profound documentary. and i do agree with dr. nash when he says that madness can also be a gateway to freedom from comformaty..
Great documentary!
Its a shame that this great mind descended into madness, his contributions could have been more plenty.
Regards,
Der Oberst
Great Documentary, thanks again Vlatko.
If you are facinated by John Nash I recommend the documentary The Trap, available on this very site.
Thank you Jenny.
i’ll look into The Trap, CMcF. i love John Nash. despite the early arrogance–or maybe in part because he overcame it–there’s just something so deeply good about him. it’s difficult to watch him accepting the Nobel Prize without welling up. just so much hope about him. :)
Obama got the nobel prize at the age of 48. he is better than nash!
This is the first film I ever saw that a person with Mental Illness of his type was ever cured. Along with his nobel prize his second greatest achievement was overcoming his mental illness. All of the years of medication and hospitalization never helped. Would love to know what was the turning point that made John decide to be well again??
A beautiful documentary. Very inspirational.
I wish that I could assure My. Nash personally that his efforts to prove the existence of God were noble even though fruitless. God does exist. He is Jesus Christ. Mr. Nash, I pray that you find Him or better yet, He finds you.
Karen, Karen, Karen… How ignorant of you to assume someone besides yourself, cares with one cell of their body about “god”… Doc Nash is a Scientist, us rational people cannot put faith in a fairy tale… Which unfortunately the traditional Christian god from the writings in the bible is fictional. Maybe you will FIND that some day, or better yet maybe it will find you when someone shoots your husband in the head for the 20 in his pocket so the crack-head can buy his fix, where you will ask “where is God???” yeah. You’ll know right then. No God. or at least not one that gives a f*ck about any of us. Please refrain from ever telling someone about them finding “God”.
Saw this after (re)watching A Beautiful Mind. Have to say that its quite different from the hollywood version. Nevertheless, quite an inspirational story :)
Oh, n btw Karen, Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) was not God, he never even claimed to be God in the bible, nor did he mention anywhere for him to be worshiped. He was however a great prophet, but still a man… I think it’s better if you stick to the concept of God being one… and he never did become a man :)
Which brings me to the question… what happened with John Nash’s ‘quest’ of finding God?
well said, kyle.
His situation seems very much similar to the mathmatician in the movie ‘the beautiful mind’, as far as I can remember. the role was played by Russel Crow. was it based on John Nash’s life?
okay,no need to answer that, I’ve read the previous comment. :p
How ignorant of you, Kyle.
You call yourself rational yet you attack someone who believes differently. You’re upset that someone is pushing their belief on someone else, then you turn around and do the same thing. I’m impressed at your overwhelming hypocrisy.
Preachers and scientists alike are bigoted narcissists.
Hyde you dud… reread kyles message.
Kyle wasnt upset about religions pushiness (even though it is), but rather its irrationality.
How dare you compare a preacher and a scientist. The mere fact that you do conveys your own ignorance.
Preachers and scientists differ in the way one can prove their findings (i.e. truth) :)
Go and learn a thing or two about science.
What I’m trying to get across is that both scientists and preachers have an irrational sense of superiority, thus, the never-ending battle between the Christian and the analyst is redundant in the first place.
I never argued that they didn’t differ in other aspects ( such as findings ). I’m arguing the irrationality of a person who has decided that everyone must think they way he does… Else wise face his “internet tough guy” act.
people, go read “Inherit the Wind” solves the oppositional opinion on science and religion
love this doc