[0xdde]

The author raises an interesting question as to how the Soviets produced so much scientific talent, but his discussion of math circles strikes me as more of a tangent than a convincing answer. Were these math circles really so widespread, and were they a big part of producing mathematical and scientific question? He doesn't address this. However, the book he is reviewing is available online [1] and I see from skimming it that Zvonkin says only one of his students ultimately chose math as a profession. My hunch is that the structure of the formal education system in the USSR played a larger role.

[1] https://sites.icmc.usp.br/sasha_a/zvonkin-e.pdf

[lupire]

It's all part and parcel of a deeply mathematical culture.

"Math as a profession" is a limited subset of "professions that rely heavily on math", despite what some mathematicians might say.

[atemerev]

The real answer is that we (I speak as a Russian) didn’t have such advanced computers in the USSR. What was routinely solved numerically in the US, had to be painstakingly traced analytically, and new methods had to be developed for such approaches, and mathematical education had to be boosted so enough people could work in the field (mostly developing new weapons, sadly).

[ccppurcell]

And that one was his own son, if memory serves. Genetics and family culture may play a big role.

[nicolas_t]

Another girl, not his daughter, from the girl's circle also became a mathematician (whereas the daughter is a professor of film studies). So, yes, genetic, family culture (most of the parents of the kids from the math circles were teachers or academics), interests...