[m_nyongesa]

As an older person currently working on a PhD, this guy was and is a something of a hero to me. He has an interesting life story. He was very into math at an early age, so he's different from people like me who got interested in it later in life, but he's also different in that his family was sent down to the countryside in China. I remember reading a lot about him a few years ago and relating to some of the professional difficulties he had and also to some of his ways of thinking and approach to doing math.

I never expected to see his name in a context like this again. I'm glad he's still being himself and working hard on what he loves.

[mrybczyn]

He and his parents were victims of Mao's cultural revolution (like millions of others) - and he was forced into agricultural labour instead of attending high school. Amazing cinderella story. A real academic hero.

[dis-sys]

> like millions of others

Including Xi Jinping.

[canadiantim]

Unfortunate Xi is repeating past mistakes

[Qtips87]

At least Xi is much more assertive (not aggressive) in safeguarding his country's territorial integrity whereas Mao didn't give a hoot and let his country land grabbed by its neighbors left and right.

[sebg]

Would love to hear your story about getting a PhD as an older person. Have you written anything about it that's public? If not, would it be possible to contact you? Thanks!

[rutgersnj22]

you got to read this article from his sister: https://zhishifenzi-com.translate.goog/depth/character/480.h...

[m_nyongesa]

Thanks for that link. Wish I could read Mandarin Chinese so I could read the original too.

Clearly a flawed person. Not sure why he blew off his family so hardcore for so many years. Too bad to hear he was arrogant as a kid too, although a lot of smart kids are. Some of them turn out to be Peter Thiel, luckily this guy just wanted to work on math.

Anyway, I wish he had been better to his parents. On the other hand, he needed that big breakthrough to save his life as a mathematician: until that point, he was just an adjunct lecturer with no stability at all. Life is weird and complicated and we don't have full control of the choices we make, some choices can seem really hard to some people. I'm not excusing his behavior toward his family but I would be interested to know why he made that choice.

[rutgersnj22]

What the article doesn't say is the reason why Yitang would not come back visit his family. Not sure if it is his own decision (makes sense as he lost connection with his family for many years) or some political reason (China doesn't allow him to go home).

[number_man]

Thanks for the link. It was indeed a very touching story. Considering his involvement with the pro-democracy group, it is most likely he wasn't allowed to go back to China. Of course this cannot be mentioned in an article published in China.

[number_man]

Yitang never publicly mentioned this but he was likely granted a green card under the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992. He was also involved with groups that supported democratic movement in China. This explains why he was unable to visit when his father passed away, and the obstacles he faced when he attempted to apply for Chinese visa after becoming a US citizen. He simply would not have been allowed to enter China had he not made the twin prime breakthrough. It was quite fortunate that in the end he was able to visit his mom just a few months before she passed away.