"A3 & HIS ALGEBRA" is the true story of a struggling young boy from Chicago's west side who grew to become a force in American mathematics. For nearly 50 years, A. A. Albert thrived at the University of Chicago, one of the world's top centers for algebra. His "pure research" in algebra found its way into modern computers, rocket guidance systems, cryptology, and quantum mechanics, the basic theory behind atomic energy calculations.

This first-hand account of the life of a world-renowned American mathematician is written by Albert's daughter. Her memoir, which favors a general audience,...