Math genius' unexpected world awaits in 'Simon: The Genius in My Basement'

I know Simon, and have watched him work with Conway, Parker and Wilson on the Atlas of Finite Simple Groups. He was phenomenal at performing calculations in groups that no one really understood, his abilities were just unbelievable. Equally, though, he was incredibly hard work to understand or follow when he was explaining things. I watched Conway struggle at times to follow his reasoning.

I have no trouble believing that the University didn't see him produce anything. No papers, no teaching, nothing of obvious and/or apparent value. When Conway left Cambridge, there was really no one for Norton to be supporting, and hence no one to fight to keep him on.

So they didn't.

I'm pleased and relieved that he has a reasonable life on his own terms and seems to be happy. I just wish there were some way his abilities could more obviously benefit others.