Naming Infinity: A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity, edited by Loren Graham, is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between deep religious mysticism and revolutionary developments in mathematics, focusing particularly on the life and work of the Russian mathematician Nikolai Luzin and the Petersburg School of mathematics in the early 20th century. The book examines how the intellectual culture of Russia, infused with mystical, philosophical, and religious currents, shaped the creativity and conceptual breakthroughs of mathematicians working on set theory, infinity, and foundational issues in mathematics.

Graham and the contributors highlight the tension between rigorous logical reasoning and the imaginative, almost spiritual, leaps required to grapple with concepts such as the infinite, the continuum, and transfinite numbers. The book shows that for many mathematicians of this period, mathematical exploration was not purely technical but deeply intertwined with philosophical and spiritual concerns, blending intuition, aesthetic judgment, and ethical reflection with formal proof and abstraction. Naming Infinity also situates these developments in the broader social and political context of Russia, including the challenges of revolutionary upheaval, academic institutions, and the pressures of ideological conformity.

Through biographical sketches, historical narrative, and analysis of mathematical ideas, the book reveals how mystical sensibilities and religious thought influenced the emergence of groundbreaking mathematical theories, illustrating the profound ways in which cultural and intellectual environments shape scientific creativity. Ultimately, Naming Infinity presents a compelling case for understanding mathematical innovation not merely as abstract reasoning but as a deeply human endeavor, shaped by philosophy, culture, spirituality, and the bold imagination of those who dared to think beyond conventional limits.