Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Fermat's last theorem by Simon Singh

When I read "The Code Book", I was profoundly impressed by the genius of Simon Singh, the pied piper who transformed a work of scientific non-fiction into a thriller. So I was ready to grab any other book of Simon Singh that  come my way. And eventually when I started this one I was not aware that I was about to meet many more geniuses.

Well, this book is about obsession. Being a research student, I have heard so much about being "obsessed with a problem". But Andrew Wiles' obsession with a problem that he first "met" as a ten year old was a little extra ordinary. It became the mission of his life.

The problem was "Fermat's last theorem". A small statement that was scribbled down in the margins of some manuscript, a problem that was simple enough for a school-going kid to understand yet challenged mathematicians over centuries, a challenge that changed many a lives-Fermat's last theorem was all these ..and much more.

Andrew Wiles' obsession with this problem was unmatchable. The perseverance shown and the secrecy maintained throughout his research was extra-ordinary. And may be that was the reason why he did the impossible!!

Hats off to all the geniuses that made this book. 4.5 out of 5.