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Title: Approachable, engrossing exploration of a math problem
Review: This is one of the best books on a technical subject I have yet read. Singh masterfully, clearly, interestingly escorts us through thousands of years of number theory. The author profiles Andrew Wiles, the man who worked out the proof of Fermat's last theorem over seven years, saw a flaw in his own proof, then resolved it. The story also introduces us to the Pythagoreans, Femat, the fiery Galois, Tamiyama and Shimura and many others. Several appendices illustrate mathematical truths, but the book's greatest value is its enthusiasm and approachability. Deserves any number of major prizes.
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