IBM presented Mandelbrot with an environment which allowed him to choose the directions that he wanted to take in his research. They proved to be more diverse, eclectic and far-reaching than anyone could have imagined. His interest in fractals took him into many out of the way disciplines. He became expert in certain areas of linguistics; game theory; aeronautics; engineering; economics; physiology; geography; astronomy and physics. He was also an avid student of the history of science.