A renowned mathematician who considers himself both applied and theoretical in his approach, Peter Lax has spent most of his professional career at NYU, making significant contributions to both mathematics and computing. He has written several important published works and has received numerous honors including the National Medal of Science, the Lester R. Ford Award, the Chauvenet Prize, the Semmelweis Medal, the Wiener Prize, and the Wolf Prize. Several students he has mentored have become leaders in their fields.
From the reviews:
"For the 2 volumes of the Selecta, 59 papers of P.D. Lax were chosen and reprinted in order to represent his main achievements. The editors qualify the papers as ‘classics’ and state: ‘their impact continues to be felt both explicitly and implicitly in current research’. ... let me mention that the two Selecta volumes contain further highly original ideas ... ." (Norbert Ortner, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2006 k)
"Since Peter Lax was chosen as the recipient of the 2005 Abel Prize, it’s hardly necessary to say that his work is important. Libraries should consider his Selected Papers an essential acquisition. ... This second volume includes many papers on scattering theory, a few on functional analysis, and several others ... under ‘analysis’ and ‘algebra’." (Fernando Q. Gouvêa, MathDL, October, 2005)