No label defined (Q4523072)

These ruminations are based on lectures given by Shelah at Rutgers in 1997 and reflect his state of knowledge as of that time. The overall organizing theme is problems in set theory that have interested the author. Because of his wide ranging interests, these problems are many and varied. Here is the table of contents: Cardinal problems and pcf; the quest for the test: on the theory of iterated forcing for the continuum; case studies for iterated forcing for the reals; nicely defined forcing notions; to prove or to force, this is the question; Boolean algebras and iterated forcing; a taste of algebra; partitions and colorings; except forcing; recent advances/comments. There is an extensive list of references. In this novel paper, which is really a monumental monolog, the author tries (at times) to convey what makes the problems discussed of interest (to him) and how he has tried to solve them---including his failures. He does not shy from offering opinions, and indeed, this aspect of the paper is fascinating. Questions engendered by the author's remarks are sprinkled throughout the text. The reader becomes the beneficiary of a long, yet riveting conversation by a master.