Popular Science Review - Fermat's Last Theorem

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Review - Fermat's Last Theorem [Fermat's Enigma] - Simon Singh

Just as the US publishers of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone reckoned the US public couldn't cope with the word 'philosopher' and changed the title, this is called Fermat's Enigma in the US (it could also be because of another book of the same name by Amir Aczel). But crazy assumptions from publishers apart, it's the superb story of a bizarre little problem that no one could solve until the ever-wily mathematician Fermat scribbled in a margin that he had a wonderful solution, only there wasn't room to write it down.

Fermat may well have been boasting, but it threw down a gauntlet to hundreds of mathematicians who were to follow until it was finally achieved in the 20th century. Don't worry if the maths doesn't interest you - the story will, both in its historical context and in the insight into the work and nature of modern mathematicians.

In some ways the star of the book is Andrew Wiles, the British Mathematician who pretty well single-handedly cracked the problem with an unusual level of secrecy, rather than the typical sharing approach of the profession. But equally it's Fermat himself.

Whether or not Fermat actually had a solution is a moot point - but he certainly didn't have Wiles' complex approach. In fact it seems so difficult to come up with a straightforward solution to this problem that Fermat has to be more than a little doubted.

Like all the best popular science books - and this certainly is one of the best - it brings in a whole range of extras historically and mathematically to add to the fascinating cast. What can I say? Buy it!

Also in hardback: Also in audio:

Reviewed by Brian Clegg

Find out more about this book, including published reviews

See more about the author in our Simon Singh biography

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