"A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines" is a novel by Janna Levin that explores the lives and ideas of two influential figures in the field of computer science: Alan Turing and David Hilbert. The story intertwines their historical contexts, focusing on Turing's groundbreaking work on computation and Hilbert's formalism in mathematics. The narrative delves into themes of madness, genius, and the nature of reality, as it reflects on the philosophical implications of Turing's theories. Through a blend of fiction and historical fact, the book examines the impact of their ideas on modern technology and the understanding of intelligence.