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From: sje@mv.mv.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Subject: Re: Book: Conway's "Life" as a computer
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Date: Thu, 6 Oct 1994 17:03:37 GMT
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mlc@iberia.cca.rockwell.com (Michael Cook) writes:

>I'm looking for the title and author of a book I read a few years ago
>that explained the development of Conway's game of "Life" into its use
>as a computer (possibly a Turing machine).

>The book's subject was not just limited to this, however.

>The book referenced work by Conway, Schroppel (?), and other "Life"
>researchers.

>I thought the book was by William Poundstone, and/or had the word
>"Universe" in the title.  I haven't been able to find the book (again)
>through the library card catalog, or by examining library shelves
>where I thought the book might be.

The title is _The Recursive Universe_ and the author is William
Poundstone.  Poundstone has also written the revealing series _Big
Secrets_, _Bigger Secrets_, and (you guessed it) _Biggest Secrets_.
The latter books cover such items as the secret recipe for Coca Cola,
the whereabouts of the remains of Walt Disney, the hidden rites of
initiation in various fraternal organizations, and even the surprising
story of who is interred, face down, above Marilyn Monroe.

-- Steven (sje@mv.mv.com)
