Book excerpt: This book constitutes the second volume of interviews with prominent mathematicians and mathematical scientists who visited the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore. First published in the Institute's newsletter Imprints during the period 2010-2020, they offer glimpses of an esoteric universe as viewed and experienced by some of the leading and creative practitioners of the craft of mathematics.The topics covered in this volume are wide-ranging, running from pure mathematics (logic, number theory, algebraic geometry) to applied mathematics (mathematical modeling, fluid dynamics) through probability and statistics, mathematical physics, theoretical computer science and financial mathematics. This eclectic mix of the abstract and the concrete should interest those who are enthralled by the mystique and power of mathematics, whether they are students, researchers or the non-specialists.By briefly tracing the paths traveled by the pioneers of different national backgrounds, the interviews attempt to put a cultural face to an intellectual endeavor that is often perceived as dry and austere by the uninitiated. They should also interest those who are intrigued by the influence of the environment on the creative spirit, and, in particular, those who are interested in the psychology and history of ideas.