The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem

This is the first math book I picked up since I left college with a M.Sc in Math 23 years ago. It reinvigorates my propensity towards mathematics. Simon Singh has the thrill of drawing readers like me, who have left the academic community and entered the commercial world for such a long time, to rethink and substantiate our love of mathematics.
The history part of this book is particularly nostalgic to me when all the great names of mathematician flash pages over pages.
Though this book does no discourse the full proof of Fermat's Last Theorem (which I don't think it can in this format), the picture of the first page of the proof appeared in the illustration is enough for me to decide to pursue the complete script of the final proof. I am very eager to apprehend the beauty of this great piece of ART and own it. Thanks to Simon's exhilerating book.

I had seen the NOVA program about the solving of Fermat's last theorem last year, and was interested in learning more. When I picked up a copy last Saturday, even knowing the outcome, I couldn't put the book down. Singh gives the reader enough history of Fermat and other mathematicians as well as the relevant mathematical concepts to make the book interesting and suspenseful. I finally finished the book at 2:30 a.m. An excellent read!

Number theory, even for someone such as myself who is a math student, has the allure of a night out with the obese grandmother with the seven ferrets who lives in the basement of my building. The interestingly named Simon Singh, however, has done what I'd thought only a diety at the height of his powers could do, make the explanation of Fermat's Last Theorem into an entertaining and historical jaunt through the long history of the problem.
What I found most interesting, however, was the combination of luck and timing that, in addition to Wiles' dogged determination and extreme intellectual displine (he worked on it for 7 years, non-stop; I can't even floss regularly). Wiles was, fortunately for him, at the right place and at the right time (am I the first one to write this?). Without, for instance, Ken Ribet, Goro Shimura, and Yutaka Taniyama, Wiles would only be another pretty face in the mathematical community.
Great achievements, even if they have the practical equivalency of calcuating the height of beer foam, are almost always a slow step by step process. Ironically, the process seems to be forgotten and only the achievement is remembered.

I picked this up in a bookstore and was instantly drawn in. It is amazing how a book on theoretical mathematics could be as exciting as a mystery novel, but here it is. I found myself wishing I had had the aptitude for this area of study because it really did seem like an adventure. It also gave me an appreciation for the complexity involved in providing such proofs. Really an incredible story and an excellent job of telling it by Mr. Singh.

I found that this book was, in general, interesting and engaging. It had one fatal flaw, however. Singh is not rigorous enough in his mathematics. If he were discussing any other topic, this would not be an issue; but this is a subject where the entire heart of the matter relies on rigor. I feel he should have had a mathematician review the work and point out these failings.

For example, near the beginning he is discussing Pythagorian's theorem. He states that it is "true for every right-angled triangle you can possibly imagine." This is blatantly false -- imagine any right-angled triangle on a sphere or ellipsoid. For instance, the triangle formed by equator, the prime meridian, and the 90 degree west meridian on a sphere has EQUAL sides and does not conform to the Pythagorian Theorem. The Pythagorian Theorem is true for all right-angled triangles in plane geometry, but not in spherical geometry.

This distinction may seem petty, but the soundness of math hinges on such distinctions. Singh amply claims the importance of such precision, but then fails to have it himself.

While this book does make for an enjoyable read, it seems that the whole premise of the book is based on a false pretense. The magic of the quest to solve Fermat's Last Theorem is a direct result of him having written that he has discovered a proof for it. If he had written that he was unsure of a proof it is unlikely that it would have garnered much interest. While what Andrew Wiles has done is a remarkable piece of mathematics, it is most definitely not what Fermat had in mind when he scribbled on the margin of his Arithmetica. [Therefore it is difficult to understand why it should have made any difference to Wiles whether the attempted proof of Fermat by Yoichi Miyaoka in March 1988 was successful or not (as detailed in Chapter 6), as what Wiles was really working on proving was the Taniyama - Shimura Conjecture, and this was not touched upon by Miyaoka.] We are forced to assume that Fermat had erred in writing that he had a proof, which in turn removes the essential ingredient of the drama of this saga, namely figuring out what Fermat had discovered that eluded generations of mathematicians. Singh himself alludes to this in the end of his book, but I believe that this undermines the point of the book as a whole.
As to the book itself, the most interesting part for me were the brief presentations of landmark developments in number theory and mathematics of the course of the century. However, any with a strong background in math will already know much of what is covered in the first half, and anyone without a strong background in math will be lost by what is covered in the second half. Obviously, trying to condense the basic ideas of a one hundred page proof that only the top mathematicians in the world can understand into a chapter or two comprehensible to the average reader is an impossible task. This is what Singh attempts to do and fails, although not any worse than any other author would.
Bottom line, if you have a healthy interest in math and/or number theory you will enjoy parts of this book, and if you have a degree in math and/or number theory you will enjoy the other parts.

This is a remarkable and engripping account for the search of a proof to a seemingly naive problem that mystified mankind for more than 350 years. I encountered this problem for the first time when I was 15 in a local Math journal in New Delhi, but never paid too much attention to it. It was the early part of the year 1992 and Andrew Wiles' proof was not yet known. But today I dont feel bad unable to solve the problem because the list of people who failed to prove this problem is astonishingly illustrious. The book is an emotional rollercoaster beautifully woven in the fabric of the hardships, frustrations, romance and genius of some of the best brains to ever live on this earth. The character of Andrew Wiles is beautifully portrayed and one cannot but fall in love with this mathematician. All in all, this book is a classic and definitely a must read for everyone, even for a person with no background in Mathematics.

I ordered this at the request of my sister who is a Mathematician. She said the subject matter was particularly appealing and of interest to Mathematicians. All I can say really is that it was as described and arrived on time.

Simon Singh is really a treasure, a gifted mind who can take the obtuse and complex and illuminate in understandable terms and in an engaging manner. I loved The Code Book for its translation of the babble of cryptography into easy to understand terms, and the author's ability to set a discipline into its human and historical environment. Simon is one of the finest scientific 'popularizers' around.

Simon Singh knows how to get readers into the story. If you want to understand math without being the next Andrew Wiles, get this book. If you want to get into the personal lives of mathematicians, their outlook on world, and the various intrigues in the mathematical circles, then this book will fill you in. If you're simply looking for a good story, look no further than _Fermat's Enigma_. It's great.

Alongside books like "Fantasia Mathematica", "Flatline" and "E=MC2", Fermat's Enigma does a fantastic job of showing both the human drama of mathematics, as well as the beauty of the science itself.

Better than I've ever seen it put before, Singh captures how math is different from every other science -

(my summary from pages 18-22)
"Math is the pursuit for ultimate truth. Once a mathematical theorom is proven, it is true till the end of time. Scientific proofs, on the other hand, are merely considered highly likely based on the evidence available."

And, math is aptly described as a language, a way of talking about everything in the world around us with absolute truth. There is purity. As stated by Pythagoras when describing the shape of rivers, the sound of a musical instrument, the shape of the earth..."Everything is Number".

If only we were given that inspiring vision, that clarity of importance, in middle school math...

Simon Singh is among the very best science non-fiction writers. Though I am interested in the underlying subject matter, Mr. Singh's treatment of the material never fails to draw the reader in, regardless of their level with the underlying components.

At the heart of this story is an amazingly simple equation (which I will not state here). Its a testament to the beauty of mathematics, that something so simple could be quite so complicated. My hats off to Andrew Wiles for proving the theorem, it is surely an event for the ages. And under Simon Singh's careful direction, this story turns epic.

Anyone with a passing appreciation to mathematics owes themselves a read of this book.

For those who believe math is a cold-hearted death-march toward calculus whose purpose is weeding out prospective engineering majors, this book will challenge that. It shows mathematics as a beautifully human endeavour full of drama and mystery. This book takes the reader on an amazing human journey that will not easy be forgotten.

Before reading this book, I had never heard of Fermat or his Last Theorem. However, now I have read about the 350 years of history behind his seemingly simple equation that baffled even the best mathmeticians. I really enjoyed this book because not only was it interesting, but I learned a lot about math itself and the people who studied it. I would highly recommend this book.

This required reading for my History of Mathematics class was anything but a chore. Singh keeps the reader wanting more at the end of each chapter. The descriptions and examples of the mathematical concepts were written so that a person without a mathematics education could learn and understand them. The powerful story behind the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem is told along with many sub-stories: the tragic Tanijama-Shimura story, the brilliant youngster Galois, Euler's story, and many others. Without realizing it the reader gains much knowledge of history and mathematics history.
It is a true love story of the passion Andrew Wiles possessed in his desire to solve the greatest math problem ever. For 350 years some of the greatest mathematicians had tried to solve the problem and they all failed. This book tells their stories along with the drama that surrounded them.

A wonderful journey. Just enough math to explain; not too much to confuse. And even leaves mathematicians with something exciting to look forward to: Langland's ideas to "form bridges between many areas of mathematics". Should be required reading for all high school students serious about math. Just goes to show you: Math can be fun, rewarding, and exhilarating!!

This is bound to be a remarkably fascinating book for anyone with any interest in Mathematics or Science. The author does a beautiful job of making complex concepts not only accessible to readers but also interesting. This extremely well written book has characteristics of suspense and drama at times. In writing about the history of the famous 350 year old problem, Simon Singh also manages to include very interesting, but short, biographies of several great mathematicians as well as many touching episodes. Overall, I found this book to be very interesting and inspiring. It is among the books I have read that I could not put down once I started reading!

My knowledge of advanced mathematics is limited, but nonetheless Fermat's Enigma proved to be an exciting read. Singh does not burden us with too many details, and therefore leaves the triumph of sheer will as the hook that keeps the reader captivated through the end. An interest in science and math certainly makes this book more appealing, but you need not be an expert to enjoy this book.

I have read a number of books in this genre, and this is the best. It is a fascinating story of the solving of a world-renowned mathematical puzzle. It is also fascinating in the stories of the myriad personalities of the mathmeticians involved through the centuries. It culminates in the story of Wiles, whose success can be partially (and gloriously) attributed to his refusal to follow the conventional means of scientific discovery. Highly recommended.

This book was everything I expected. I first saw it based on the BBC programme and then had to read more about it. Although more about maths than just Fermat and it's most recent victor, it offers a lesson in humility and perserverence. A book highly recommended to anyone who appreciates the hidden and often intangible world of maths.

during my schooling days i was terrible at math... math would always bring my grades down... i never thought i'd ever pick up another math book...ever... until recently...simon singh makes mathematical concepts easy to grasp... math is suddenly exciting and interesting !!!!! wow!!!... the author takes you on a ride through history...at first laying the ground work with basic mathematical concepts from the ancient Greeks to Newton ... the book progress to present readers the with the astounding mathmatical puzzle ... math could never be so exciting!!!!!

Although I have always enjoyed mathematics and problem solving, I was surprised to be so engrossed in a math-related book. This book was so suspenseful and exciting, I couldn't help but share what I was reading with those around me. There was also just enough mathematics to challenge the reader without boring you or making you feel like you were doing homework.

A theorem is impossible to prove, was written down over three hundred years ago on a book. The one who wrote it didn't know it would become one of the hardest mathematical mysteries in the world. Then Fermat a Jurist, trying to prove with his own intelligence that no power except a square can be divided into two powers with the same exponent. Fermat committed his whole life to proving the theorem of his. His theorem his trying to prove that the Pythagorean Theorem is not a false/true. While mathematical equations and formulas are being talked about in this book, there is also an unforgettable lesson that all should know. Fermat's goal: To the secret of ancient mathematical problem.
P.S. It may be a small book; but it holds so much knowledge

Simon Singh sets out to convey the drama, excitement and genuine suspense surrounding the solving of one of the greatest problems in math - the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Singh's challenge is in both conveying the historical significance of the problem, and in boiling down complex math for those, like me, who are not particularly knowledgeable in math. Sadly, Singh fails in both counts. FERMAT'S ENIGMA moves slowly through the history of number theory, while leaving the meaning math's meaning impregnable. Although this book is short, after a while I was wondering what the use was in going on. I suspect that those who know more about math than I could enjoy this book. Sadly, I could not - it was just over my head.

A good historical account on a topic in Maths Number Theory. Fermats last theorem showing even those good at maths can also struggle with the subject albeit on a different level

Fermat presented his famous and what looked to be a simple equation, and asked mathematicians of his time to prove it, like he said he could. He never showed anyone how to and it is doubtful that he could, probably only proving it for n=3 &/or n=4.

The book then charts through history those mathematicians that made contributions to the proving of the equation

A good historical account but not exactly riveting, compounded by the fact that the average reader would'nt have a hope in hell of ever understanding the maths involved in proving the theory (thankfully not shown in the book), combined with the knowledge that 'maths hardest problem' is so abstract it doesn't have many practical uses

At least in Singhs next book, 'The Code Book' one can relate to and use many of the discoveries within the book

Simon Singh does a nice job in writing a book on mathematics without boring the reader to death with endless equations and proofs. The story of Fermat's last theorem was interesting and informative. It really shows the passion that mathematicians have for their work and really gave me a new appreciation for math.

The reader cannot avoid admiring the determination of Andrew Wiles, who becomes the role model (and inspiration) for the nonmathematician. This book discusses several important mathematical topics without assuming a mathematical background. The descriptions of what life is like for modern mathematicians are a good way to present the human side of math.
For anyone who wants to return to math but is afraid to do so, here is a good way to start. The more difficult topics of the book are explained in general terms throughout the book itself, and are then discussed more thoroughly in an appendix. This strategy makes the readers aware that they can return to those topics when feeling better prepared or more confident.

Actually I read this book in Italian, but I think that the original can be only better than the translation. It is very interesting, and you will feel the desire to go on and on reading, until you arrive to the end. I also read "The code book" but I think that Fermat's Enigma is the masterpiece of Singh. You don't need a mathematical preparation to read it, although a little of secondary school's math will help you to appreciate this book more.

Beware! Once you pick up this book, you will not only be unable to put it down, but you stand a good chance of quitting your job and retraining as a Mathematician!
Few books of any genre are as captivating and riveting as Singh's Fermat's Enigma. To find a book this exceptional about a subject that many find boring is truly wonderful. It reads like a suspenseful detective novel with substance. I started reading it while night-skiing on a mountain in Canada. It was so good that I just had to take it on the slopes in my pack. I read by moonlight every time I was on the chairlift until it was done. You just can't put this book down!
I have bought a copy for almost everyone I know, and many people I don't. Everyone has loved it!!

Although I am perhaps more mathematically knowledgeable than the reader Singh had in mind, I couldn't put the book down. Singh admittedly goes rather far afield in his search of interesting stories on mathematicians, and you could possibly argue with his choices (for example - why doesn't he talk about Riemann whose manifolds figure so prominently in the story but aren't mentioned in the book?) but is thoroughly entertaining throughout. I would have appreciated a bit more mathematical detail, but that is available in other books. Singh's achievement is to convey to non-mathematicians some of the "feeling" of what mathematics is all about, and why the Wiles proof caused such a stir.

If you're as bad at maths as I am you probably think this book is not for you. But don't worry about understanding the maths- just sit back and revel in the story. This gripping book tells the tale of how over hundreds of years the world's top mathematicians grappled with the toughest unsolved problem on the planet - and how the mystery was eventually solved. Author Simon Singh is a rarity - a mathetician who really knows how to write. His book is tremendous fun, absorbing, fascinating and compulsive. Leave the pulp fiction on the shelf and pick this one up - no matter how creaky your algebra you'll enjoy it so much you won't want to put it down.

This is a fascinating history of one of the great mathematical quests of all time. One does not have to be math-oriented to appreciate this book, as it discusses the history of the proof and the brilliant minds who followed the journey. This, and Singh's equally interesting book, The Code Book, made my favorite book list.

I'm not a mathematician but I want to be one now! Mr. Singh is so good at expressing esoteric ideas in ways that enthrall and in displaying the dimension and sympathy in even the "nerd's" life that he could surely make a book about nose hair read like a thriller. Yet, his book is an example of why truth is stranger, more compelling and much more fun than fiction. This subject has meat on its bones for anyone willing to take a chance and peek under the skin. Reading for entertainment is fine, but if one can learn about the world at the same time...WOW!

This book sat alternately in boxes through many house moves or on the bookshelf for a few years before I had the courage to pick it up. When I finally did, I rediscovered my love of mathematics and most especially of number theory. I was one of the students Simon Singh speaks of -- who, for a brief moment, toyed with the idea of solving one of the most long-lived mathematical problems in history: the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. I still remember when my Number Theory lecturer at University brought a newspaper clipping to class which said the theorem had been solved at long last!

I finished it practically in one sitting because it gave me no choice: it was gripping, informative and offered the best description of how exactly the Taniyama-Shimura conjectures related to the final solution of the problem. It also gave a few simple theorems along the way, theorems whose statement and proof an intelligent layperson can digest, the point of which is to understand what a proof really means in mathematics. In short it incorporates just the right amount of mathematics-- less of it and the book will fail to capture the real issues, more of it, it will needlessly excluded a huge audience that will undoubtedly enjoy reading about the solution of this outstanding problem.

Awe-inspiring book from Dr. Simon Singh. This book narrates the mathematician Andrew Wiles' effort to solve Fermat's Last Theorem. The theorem proposed by mathematician Pierre de Fermat has remained without any mathematical proof for centuries in spite of various attempts until Andrew Wiles provided the proof for the theorem.
The author traces the history of mathematics from Pythagoras, Euler, Fermat to the modern day Andrew Wiles. The author has narrated the story in simple and beautiful English. Recommended for anyone who wants to get inspiration and motivation from the efforts of mathematicians and apply it. Wonderful book!!

I read this book since I was so entertained by Singh's `Code Book'.

Fermat's Enigma is another excellent book of his. Singh is a great writer and is one of the few that can take dry scientific subject and make them interesting.

This is a book about Math which is a very difficult subject to write about. It robbed me of sleep for 3 days in a row while it grabbed me by my throat. Need I say more?

You won't regret reading this book. BTW, for the first time in my life I came across the proof for the Pythagoras Theorem in this book.

Don't miss this authors other books. Good writer.

Ever since I fell in love with math and received a degree in this field, I never could find a good proof to convience my family and friends why mathematicians do what they do. Then I came across this book. It takes you through the history of math and gradually shows the beauty of math and many stories behind each developmental stage of math. It introduces Fermat's Last Theorem in a flawless way, and it isn't as technical as I pictured it would be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any or some fear toward math. It would give you some insight to the mathematical world.

I never saw the NOVA TV show, but I am sure the book is much better. It is a relatively quick read, the author never gets too far away from the topic and your attention is never lost. The math is made simple, but I suppose because Wiles work was so complicated the last portions are difficult to grasp-math wise- for a non-academic as myself. Some of the history, especially of Galois, is very entertaining but the math history found in the book "the history of Pi" was better.

form reading parts of the excerpt in this electronic site, I was delighted ,tha the view of the author is conform to my view of the history of Science in general and that particularly of mathematics.generaly most europeans believe that the most important achievements in mathematics are due to ancient Greeks , but I always keep a distance from such believes , I agree with Simon Singh , that the Babylonians and the ancient Egypt shoud have perform sophisticated number systems , wich enabled them to build elaborated building such as the Babylonian Tower and the Pyramides.

Reading this book reveals how the world greatest puzzle, Fermat's Last Theorm, has been solved and how it influence people's lives. Over 350 years, the enigma has inspired someone to live but may cause someone die. Mathematics is not only academic but also romantic and dramatic. READ IT !!!

Haven't finished this book yet, but so far it's been great. Good, from a layman's perspective, history of number theory beginning just after the dinosaur's roamed the earth and continuing to the modern day with the focus being on Fermat, the enigma, and his Last Theorem. Well worth the read for anyone interested in the "magic" of numbers.

This is a bite-sized book that you'll definitely enjoy even if you don't know anything about mathematics. It's a good story told well. Don't expect much beyond that, though. You'll read it in a day and pass it on to a friend. But that's not a bad thing.

Its merits: it's a quick read, there are some intriguing anecdotes about number theory (intruiguing for someone like myself who knows little about it), and the biographical information about the mathematicians is interesting. So was was the history of early mathematics. The appendices gave good short explanations.
But It's a quick read because there were many spans with little substance. Most of the math was kept in the abstract, understandably, but then the math-related events didn't mean as much.

An entertaining non-technical account of how the proof of the world's most famous theorem was reached. This is great for people who are curious about what the fuss about this theorem is all about, but don't have the mathematical background to read through the technicalities of the original proof. Simon Singh has made this proof accessible to the general audience. With his writing style, I could hardly take a break in the middle when reading this book.

There are no words to describe this wonderful book - a mixture of history, mistery and proofs in the "Queen of sciences", as Gauss best described Mathematics. A must - read for every interested in this field.

This book is a delicious read. I enjoyed every word. All of the history was interesting, and the technical level seemed perfect to me. If you know anyone that has any interest in mathematics you should get them a copy of this book.

I found Fermat's Enigma to be a good History book, but Mr.Singh did not go deeply enough into the mathematics to fulfill my appetite for it. It left me a little empty/hungry kind of like how the Empire Strikes Back left me eager to see the next movie, and maybe that was the goal. The stories of the people behind the Theorem were fantastically written and well worth my time.

I am incredibly impressed with this book. I am the type of person who doesn't read a lot, but I decided to take a chance on this one. Instead of putting the book down half-way through, I kept reading to the very end.
The story is very interesting. It has elements of a drama, history, and mathematical concepts all wrapped up in an easy to understand, and entertaining, story.
I encourage anyone who is interested in Fermat's Last Theorem and its colorful history to pick up a copy of this book.

Who could have thought maths could be so much fun ! Told with infectious enthusiasm, this is the story of pure maths as well as the quest to solve one of its most challenging riddles of all time. Full of fascinating info, this is a true gem.

I read Singh's FERMAT'S ENIGMA after reading Singh's CODE BOOK. Unfortunately, the latter is by far the better book. Although the CODE BOOK manages to cover both the personal and the quantitative side of the recent revolutions in cryptography, FERMAT'S ENIGMA does not attempt to break into the actual mathematical proofs at all. The result feels like one of those NBC human interest stories that take up airtime from the Olympic Games. The essence is in the math, but we hear instead about the innovators' daily lives.

I first saw the story behind Fermat's Theorem in an episode of Horizon researched by Simon Singh. Went to the internet and made some research and found this book. Bought it from the store and read it in 2 days I think. I usually am interrested in Mathematics but this book is a combination of both history and the science behind the puzzle.
This is worth the price of the book. Try to do a search on google for the transcript of the Horizon show.

Singh tells a compelling story of the history of Fermat's Last Theorem. It reads more like a pageturner in fiction, with unbelievable characters, plot twists and suspense. What makes it all the better is that it is all true. I really could not put this book down. He does an excellent description is summarizing the difficult math needed to solve the problem. Get this book, you will not be dissapointed.

This is a non-mathematical mathematics book regarding one of my favorite puzzles in math, FLT, and is probably one of the best that describes the chronic events of this 365-year enigma. This is also a rare book which you cannot put it down once you start to read it.

It's not often that I use the word brilliant when discussing contemporary literature, but this book is a just that. Simon Singh has woven a beautiful narrative about one of mathematics greatest mysteries. It's smoothly written, informative, and dramatic. It ranks among the greatest books I've ever read.

A must read for all those who have read Pythagorus theorem any time in their life. The chronological description on the various attempts to prove FLT is narrated excellently. Probably Andrew Wiles himself would not have been able to express his agonies and success stories so well. A marvellous treatment on the historical nature of FLT and superb presentation how it has been soved. A must read for any one interested in mathematics.

This is definitely "must read" book if mathematics even vaguely interests you. You do not need to have advanced degree in maths to appreciate this book.
I was very curious about Fermat's last theorem (FLT) since I was in high school. But I could never lay my hand on a book which explained me the basics of FLT in a non-mathematical language. Singh does a wonderful job in getting a reader hooked on to mathematics forever :)
Good Job!

The book actually study math-history related to this problem. I found it quite enlightening and educating. It's really good in that matter, and it's an inspiration for math-studies. But as a CS-student, I think he sometimes explained elementary math too much, which made it a bore for 2-3 pages at a time.

I found this book on the bookshelves of friends I visited for a few days. I was so taken by the book that I managed to finish it before leaving (cutting on my hours of sleep), and then bought a copy to peruse again. A fascinating tale, combining masterful storytelling with a brilliant yet accessible history of mathematic discoveries. Pure joy.

This book is not only an account of the incredible journey to prove Fermat's last theorem, that made generations of mathematicians devote their lives. It is also an interesting story about the evolution of mathematics. At various moments Singh stops talking about the theorem and tells us episodes in history of mathematics and how that affected peoples' lives. That is what makes the book so interesting.

That some of the greatest minds of the last 350 years couldn't solve this problem should whet the appetite of anyone curious enough to ponder at the problem's apparent simplicity. Singh's layman background is a handy ally to piecing together the story behind the mystery without needing to understand the mathematics. It is the story about the proof's discovery, not the proof itself. An excellent read.

To begin with : I am not into this, I don't belong to this world. I just started getting into mathematics. However I can say that this book gives a very good account of history on one of the most diffcult mathematical problem and leaves you all inspired for the effort & ingenuity of the men and women in history who attempted to solve this...and also who actually made it. Very good indeed...

A marvelous thriller that races through the ages in quest of a non-solution! Singh brings to life brilliant mathematicians from antiquity to modern times and weaves an intriquing tale of each persons contribution to solving the Theroem. The best part is that one need not be a mathematician to appreciate the richness of the story. You must read this book if you have any curiosity about anything!

Simon Singh makes difficult topics readable, although not necessarily totally understandable. This comment applies to Fermat's Enigma. The bulk of the book concerns the history of number theory and here it is truly outstanding. The description of the final solution was Jabberwocky to me.

Singh writes with great skill of suspense, with minimal of math equations to help readers navigate the path to solving the ultimate math riddle of all time by a lone genius..Profoundly absorbing and engaging! Readers will no doubt also find the appendices helpful and intriguing.

Normaly such books seem rather bland, but after reading the excerpt available in the "Explore this book" section, I had to read the whole thing without putting it down. Read the excerpt: if it seems good, the rest is better. It will inspire anyone to want to learn more about mathmatics.