Fermat's Last Theorem: The Story Of A Riddle That Confounded The World's Greatest Minds For 358 Years: The compelling biography and history of mathematical intellectual endeavour

OK, I'll admit it, as a mathematician I've been acquainted with - and fascinated by - Fermat's last theorem for decades. I bought this book for holiday reading, and was not disappointed. The book goes into the history of mathematics, including Pierre de Fermat's intriguing background, and shows how Andrew Wiles drew on centuries of knowledge and discoveries in order - finally - to nail a proof for Fermat's Last Theorem. The whole "story" is remarkably pacey but wonderfully clear. I admit I did already know some of the details given in this book, but the history and the description of the characters in the world of mathematics added an extra dimension (no pun intended!) and made it all the more fascinating. Names like Euler, Dirichlet, Cauchy, LaGrange ... before I read the book they had merely been names of equations, polynomials, boundary conditions and the like, but the author gave us some fascinating details of their lives, what type of people they were (I've gone off Cauchy now, and I so loved his polynomials) and even the interactions that went on among some of these famous names. And I loved the description of Wiles's "Eureka" moment when he realises he's finally got the proof ... it must have been like solving the world's most difficult crossword clue! I don't know whether to go straight back and read the whole thing again, or lend it to a friend and share the experience. On reflection, my friends can buy their own copy.

If you have a passing interest in Historical facts, Mathematics, logic problems, or just like a good non-fiction read, then I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It reads like an episode of the BBC's "Horizon", indeed, the author worked on the show that featured this very subject. Of course, there is far more detail in here. Singh shares Simon Schamas ability to take historical, factual subjects, and make them read like novelisations, its not just a list of events and formulae, but a history of the people involved in trying to find the solution to Fermat's Last Theorem. There are seom excellent examples of the theory along the journey in the appendices, and whilst some of the theory takes a little thinking to get your head round, it is well explained. Of course, don't expect the solution to the problem itself to be written here, one would have to be one of the world foremost Mathematicians to understand it, So Singh explains the method behind the solution rather than explictly telling us what it is. It's not often the phrase "a real page turner" is applied to books regarding Maths, but the term was never more apt that when applied here.

This is a book about a relatively simple to understand maths problem that took over 350 years to be proved (or disproved). Author Simon Singh does a terrific job in taking us through those years until 1995 when it was cracked by a Cambridge academic. On the road to discovery, we learn about the origins of this puzzle, along with the personalities of the various people who took on this challenge. The issue for the author is how to make a book about really, really hard sums, comparatively easy for the casual reader to understand. Singh takes on this task immensely well, keeping the truly difficult equations in the appendix, whilst having in the main text only the essential formulas. This keeps the book highly readable and the story moving at a good pace. Singh does a great job in bringing out the personalities of those involved in this historical adventure, as well as giving us a history of various mathematical concepts. It might seem a little daunting or dry on the face of it but this is indeed very much an adventure book written for the mass market. Simon Singh writes in a way that never feels like he is talking down to the reader while attempting to explain some frankly baffling mathematical concept (there are also a few illustrations along the way that help explain things). A mathematical non-fiction historical adventure is an unusual genre but Singh writes very smoothly for a mathematician himself and has produced a very entertaining book.

This book tells the story of how Fermat's last theorem was finally given a proof, so that means that there is only a gentle touch on the actual mathematics, although I must say the book will make you want to learn maths, it really will. Fermat's theorem revolves around Pythagoras' theorem (x2 + y2 = z2) the main issue was that it was thought (but it couldn't be proved) that any equation which used higher powers could have no whole number answers. So there needed to be a proof for this because in mathematics it is not enough to just show examples the idea must be watertight, so the proof for the equation xn +yn =zn was sought Fermat's last theorem remained unsolved for 358 years and the path to its proof was paved by the creation of new forms of mathematics, distressing stories of persecution and suicides and a lot of perseverance. Most of the maths was over my head but the fascinating world of mathematics and its rigorous proofs means that I was left desperately wanting to improve my maths to a higher level, it makes me wonder at how much of a shame it is that a lifetime isn't long enough to truly engage in all the great fields of knowledge. I cannot recommend this book enough, it should be read by all those children who are on the verge of dropping maths before taking A level.

This is a book which is truely a delight.It starts off from the first line itself, and before you know it you are on a tour of one of the most difficult riddle that baffled mathematicians for over three centuries, beautifully guided and constructed by the author. This book not only talks about the lives of the mathematicians, but in fact gives all the mathematics required, in a way that my 14 year old brother can understand.And for those who want to explore the topic further, there is a list of further readings at the end of the book.It is extraordinary the way the author has told the story.You never lose interest and in fact I finished it in three days and I'm hungry for more! This book also subtly highlights what mathematics is all about, giving examples from nature,codes etc, this is a book anyone can read and enjoy.Further, the story of Fermat's Last Theorem is much better than any fiction. It has drama, horror, romance, despair,glory..this book is one of the best book I've ever read in my life.Further, the way Simon Singh has presented the book is as delightful as the content... Wort every penny!

I know how to add and subtract, and beyond that nothing. However, now, I have an insight into the field of mathematics, an overview, so in my next life I’ve decided to study math's. Being a rock god can wait till the life after. Woven through is the story of Andrew Wiley’s inspiring commitment to finding a proof of Fermat’s last theorem. Talk about tenacious. I was reading the page where he made it, (I was on the bus.) and filled up. Was so uplifting. Heroic endeavor manifests in so many ways. Bravo Andrew; and to Simon for his erudite, accessible, informative read.

A great purchase. The book is well written and informative as well as being highly accessible. This book can be read and enjoyed by anyone from an enthusiastic, yet not necessarily gifted, GCSE student to a professor in number theory with neither complaining of concessions made to the other. In addition to this being a truly superb book, the delivery was great, actually arriving before I had expected it to and the condition was like new despite the book being advertised as "Good." I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone and everyone to read this book; I can guarantee that they will benefit form the experience.

As a mathematical layman I enjoyed the relatively nontechnical but dramatic flavour of this book. I particularly liked the first half with its fascinating descriptions of the ancients and their contributions to this problem as well as a few insightful and interesting early proofs along the way. I've given it 4 stars because I thought the second half was a little dry and prone to lots of repetition. The term 'modular forms' is so fundamental to understanding the eventual proof of Fermats theorem but to me was inadequately explained so I ended up feeling like I'd missed a major plot twist. Frustratingly Singh repeats again and again that if it could only be shown that 'the first e series for elliptical equations can be perfectly matched with the first m series for modular forms

Great read which brought me back to university days studying number theory. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in discrete mathematics.

Remember at school trigonometry and irrelevance, Simon Singh shifts the lens and explains eloquently why and how math is relevant, mixing the tale with the very interesting Fermat.

Great read about the history of mathematics

Con el "Teorema de Fermat" como eje conductor, Simon Singh repasa la historia de las matemáticas des de Pitágoras a nuestros días, y relata las diferentes aproximaciones con que se ha abordado uno de los problemas más famosos del campo. Es un libro ameno de lectura fácil para no-matemáticos y que muestra cómo un "pequeño" problema ha inspirado y conectado varios campos de las matemáticas.

"The style is the man himself" and I like the style of this book.There are presented many mathematical problems, important results and life facts in conjuntion with this realy great theorem.