Fermat's Last Theorem is a book about the beauty of mathematics and the quest for truth and knowledge.
Fermat was a top notch French mathematician who was responsible for a great deal of theorems which are studied in universities worldwide. Fermat was very productive and his knowledge of mathematics was far reaching and encompassed many regions of it. But Fermat also had an annoying habit: he would often forego actually putting the proofs of his theorems into writing, for he was in it for the sense of achievement not the acknowledgement of others.
After he died, a remark he wrote regarding a math puzzle was discovered. The puzzle was the following equation: X^n + Y^n = Z^n (when x, y, z are whole numbers and n is greater than 2). Anyone who ever studied geometry in school is familiar with this equation when n=2 and knows that it has many solutions. In fact it has an infinite number of them. But Fermat claimed to have proven that this equation had no solution when n was greater than 2. The aggravating thing was that he neglected to write it down, or if he did, it was never discovered.
Fermat's assertion became a challenge for many mathematicians who took to the task eagerly. The question seemed easy to understand, any child could grasp it, but the solution eluded the minds of great mathematicians for 350 years. Simon Singh details how many struggled with Fermat's last Theorem and failed.
The beauty of the book is that mathematicians who are mostly viewed as dull and obscure figures turn out to be extremely human and fragile, full of desires and obsessions, subject to depressions and setbacks and lead an interesting and passionate life.
As many tried and failed, inch by inch progress was made and in the process a number of great discoveries were made which illuminated other fields of interest within mathematics. Singh not only describes the actual struggles with Fermat's Last Theorem but other advances in math which contributed to the final solution discovered by Andrew Wales in the 1990's.
Andrew Wiles, a British mathematician, stumbled upon the Theorem as a boy of ten and made it a life long quest to find a solution for it. A brilliant mathematician, he spent years trying to solve the puzzle without success. An assumption made in the 1950's by two Japanese mathematicians which also eluded proof became the turning point, for it was proven that should their assumption be proven as correct, so should Fermat's Last Theorem turn out to be true.
At the end, it was this assumption which Andrew Wiles proved, subsequently coming up with the proof to Fermat's last Theorem.
In conclusion, for anyone who likes math or studied it, this will be a great read because many of the people involved are known to us from theorems which we agonized over in school. To anyone who did not, this is an opportunity to see a new aspect of math and science which is warm and emotional.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Dark Tower III - The Waste Lands / Stephen King
Abstract:
The third installment in The Dark Tower series, Stephen King's life long literary quest, again touches upon Roland's world and our own. As Roland, Eddie and Susannah travel on, they stumble upon Shardik. Shardik is an ancient machine in the form of a gigantic bear. But as with most of the things in Roland's world, it is winding down, or to put it bluntly, crazy as hell. Shardik attempts to kill Eddie who barely escapes to a tree top. But Shardik shakes the tree and it would soon topple. Yet Eddie's shouts bring back his companions, and Susannah manages to shoot the sensory device controlling Shardik and thus causing its death. Roland then tells his friends that Shardik is but one of twelve guardians who stand at the portals of the six beams which converge at the Dark Tower.
The twelve portals stand in the twelve edges of the world (or worlds) and the Dark Tower is in the middle. So they must follow the path of the Beam which Shardik guarded and it will lead them to the Dark Tower, distance unknown.
Meanwhile, in New York, Jake Chambers fears he is losing his mind. It seems that he is torn between two realities, New York and the world of Roland whom he seems to remember having left him to fall to his death in a chasm in the mountains. Yet Jake feels that he loves the gunslinger deeply. He also becomes obsessed with doors and feels that he must find the door to Roland's world soon or go insane. He wanders New York and comes upon a deserted lot in Manhattan. In it he sees the most beautiful rose he has ever encountered.
The rose is like a million suns and from it emanates good being and happiness and strength. Yet Jake senses that the rose is in grave danger and that Roland must become aware of it. Next to the rose he finds a key and takes it with him.
Back in Roland's world, Eddie starts carving a branch that he has found. He does not know why, but feels that he must shape a key out of it. Some days later, Roland's group reaches a demon circle. It is here that they must conjure the door through which they may draw Jake. Since the demon is a male, and all demons are highly sexual creatures, Susannah suffers its rough attention while Eddie portrays a door in the middle of the circle and fits the key in. In New York, Jake overcomes great dangers and fits his key at his end of the door. He it taken to Roland and the two embrace in love.
The four travel across the path of the Beam towards Lud, and ancient city. In it they know that there is a train that can take them over the Waste Lands and closer to the Dark Tower. In their way they stumble upon a billy-bumbler, a dog like creature, but highly intelligent. The billy-bumblers are reputed to bear the gift of speech, and this one is extremely proficient. The boy Jake names him Oy and it joins their group.
Lud bears a striking resemblance to New York, another proof that Roland's world and our own are linked. Lud is in turmoil for two groups fight in its streets and alleys without cease. The city's ancient technology is long neglected. One of the groups kidnaps Jake and Roland goes after him, assisted by Oy and its sense of smell, while Eddie and Susannah seek out the train station. Both Roland and the couple must fight their way against the city's bloodthirsty inhabitants.
The train, whose name is Blaine, is in fact a part of the powerful computer that had once governed Lud. Yet it, as other machines, has gained awareness and lost its mind. Blaine is a riddle addict, and through the promise of more riddles, the group manages to persuade it to carry them to the end of its line.
How long will it take is hard to tell for distances, directions and even time itself have gone hazy as the Tower weakens. They set out at full speed and pass over the Waste Lands. But once they get going, Blaine informs them that he intends to derail at the end of the line, killing himself and them to boot. Roland makes a deal with it that should they present it with a riddle it cannot solve, it will let them live. So ends, the third volume of the Dark Tower.
Review:
An excellent book, exciting and fast paced. A must for all Stephen King and fantasy lovers
The third installment in The Dark Tower series, Stephen King's life long literary quest, again touches upon Roland's world and our own. As Roland, Eddie and Susannah travel on, they stumble upon Shardik. Shardik is an ancient machine in the form of a gigantic bear. But as with most of the things in Roland's world, it is winding down, or to put it bluntly, crazy as hell. Shardik attempts to kill Eddie who barely escapes to a tree top. But Shardik shakes the tree and it would soon topple. Yet Eddie's shouts bring back his companions, and Susannah manages to shoot the sensory device controlling Shardik and thus causing its death. Roland then tells his friends that Shardik is but one of twelve guardians who stand at the portals of the six beams which converge at the Dark Tower.
The twelve portals stand in the twelve edges of the world (or worlds) and the Dark Tower is in the middle. So they must follow the path of the Beam which Shardik guarded and it will lead them to the Dark Tower, distance unknown.
Meanwhile, in New York, Jake Chambers fears he is losing his mind. It seems that he is torn between two realities, New York and the world of Roland whom he seems to remember having left him to fall to his death in a chasm in the mountains. Yet Jake feels that he loves the gunslinger deeply. He also becomes obsessed with doors and feels that he must find the door to Roland's world soon or go insane. He wanders New York and comes upon a deserted lot in Manhattan. In it he sees the most beautiful rose he has ever encountered.
The rose is like a million suns and from it emanates good being and happiness and strength. Yet Jake senses that the rose is in grave danger and that Roland must become aware of it. Next to the rose he finds a key and takes it with him.
Back in Roland's world, Eddie starts carving a branch that he has found. He does not know why, but feels that he must shape a key out of it. Some days later, Roland's group reaches a demon circle. It is here that they must conjure the door through which they may draw Jake. Since the demon is a male, and all demons are highly sexual creatures, Susannah suffers its rough attention while Eddie portrays a door in the middle of the circle and fits the key in. In New York, Jake overcomes great dangers and fits his key at his end of the door. He it taken to Roland and the two embrace in love.
The four travel across the path of the Beam towards Lud, and ancient city. In it they know that there is a train that can take them over the Waste Lands and closer to the Dark Tower. In their way they stumble upon a billy-bumbler, a dog like creature, but highly intelligent. The billy-bumblers are reputed to bear the gift of speech, and this one is extremely proficient. The boy Jake names him Oy and it joins their group.
Lud bears a striking resemblance to New York, another proof that Roland's world and our own are linked. Lud is in turmoil for two groups fight in its streets and alleys without cease. The city's ancient technology is long neglected. One of the groups kidnaps Jake and Roland goes after him, assisted by Oy and its sense of smell, while Eddie and Susannah seek out the train station. Both Roland and the couple must fight their way against the city's bloodthirsty inhabitants.
The train, whose name is Blaine, is in fact a part of the powerful computer that had once governed Lud. Yet it, as other machines, has gained awareness and lost its mind. Blaine is a riddle addict, and through the promise of more riddles, the group manages to persuade it to carry them to the end of its line.
How long will it take is hard to tell for distances, directions and even time itself have gone hazy as the Tower weakens. They set out at full speed and pass over the Waste Lands. But once they get going, Blaine informs them that he intends to derail at the end of the line, killing himself and them to boot. Roland makes a deal with it that should they present it with a riddle it cannot solve, it will let them live. So ends, the third volume of the Dark Tower.
Review:
An excellent book, exciting and fast paced. A must for all Stephen King and fantasy lovers
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The Dark Tower II - The Drawing of the Three / Stephen King
The second volume of Stephen King's grand series begins when Roland of Gilead, the lest gunslinger, wakes on the shore of the western sea to discover that he is being attacked by a lobster like creature, only much bigger, quicker, and hungrier. Even Roland's lightning quick reflexes are not enough to come out of this battle unscathed. Roland loses two fingers of his right hand to the lobstrosity before killing it, and from now on he is a one handed fighter.
Roland makes his way along the shore of the western sea, now feverish with the lobstrosity's poison. He is looking for doors through which he must draw three companions for his quest. This he had been told by the man in black when he had at last caught up with him in the first volume.
The first door is marked The Prisoner, and through it Roland must draw Eddie Dean, a young man who is addicted to heroin which is his prison. But before Roland can draw Eddie, he must help him get out of the mess he is in, for Eddie is also a drug courier for the mob. Roland goes through the door to New York of 1987 to help Eddie out of his predicament and to draw him forth. Now he must contend with his new companion's addiction. There is no heroin in Roland's world.
Together they come upon a second door marked The Lady of Shadows. Through it, Roland must draw Odetta Holmes, a young black woman who has lost both her legs when she was pushed by an unknown man in front of a subway train. Yet Odetta is not one woman, but two, for she is torn between two identities, the soft, kind and righteous Odetta, and the filthy talking, ruthless and crafty Detta. As she comes through, Roland and Eddie must be on their guard for there is no knowing when Detta might gain control of Odetta's body. To make things worse, Eddie finds himself falling in love with Odetta.
Roland is now so sick that the third door must serve as a conduit through which he will find medicine. The third door is marked the pusher. Roland goes through alone leaving Eddie to guard Detta. In New York Roland encounters the Pusher, Jack Mort, who years earlier pushed Odetta in front of the train. Roland uses his body to find ammunition for his guns and much needed antibiotics for himself. He then disposes of the Pusher in front of the same train which took Odetta's legs. He goes back through the door to find that Eddie has been left tied on the beach with lobstrosities approaching. Roland manages to save him and through his killing of Jack Mort he forces and inner transformation in Odetta, resulting with a third woman, Susannah who is a combination of Detta's craft and ability, and Odetta's kindness. Now healthy, Roland and his new companions continue their quest for the Dark Tower.
Roland makes his way along the shore of the western sea, now feverish with the lobstrosity's poison. He is looking for doors through which he must draw three companions for his quest. This he had been told by the man in black when he had at last caught up with him in the first volume.
The first door is marked The Prisoner, and through it Roland must draw Eddie Dean, a young man who is addicted to heroin which is his prison. But before Roland can draw Eddie, he must help him get out of the mess he is in, for Eddie is also a drug courier for the mob. Roland goes through the door to New York of 1987 to help Eddie out of his predicament and to draw him forth. Now he must contend with his new companion's addiction. There is no heroin in Roland's world.
Together they come upon a second door marked The Lady of Shadows. Through it, Roland must draw Odetta Holmes, a young black woman who has lost both her legs when she was pushed by an unknown man in front of a subway train. Yet Odetta is not one woman, but two, for she is torn between two identities, the soft, kind and righteous Odetta, and the filthy talking, ruthless and crafty Detta. As she comes through, Roland and Eddie must be on their guard for there is no knowing when Detta might gain control of Odetta's body. To make things worse, Eddie finds himself falling in love with Odetta.
Roland is now so sick that the third door must serve as a conduit through which he will find medicine. The third door is marked the pusher. Roland goes through alone leaving Eddie to guard Detta. In New York Roland encounters the Pusher, Jack Mort, who years earlier pushed Odetta in front of the train. Roland uses his body to find ammunition for his guns and much needed antibiotics for himself. He then disposes of the Pusher in front of the same train which took Odetta's legs. He goes back through the door to find that Eddie has been left tied on the beach with lobstrosities approaching. Roland manages to save him and through his killing of Jack Mort he forces and inner transformation in Odetta, resulting with a third woman, Susannah who is a combination of Detta's craft and ability, and Odetta's kindness. Now healthy, Roland and his new companions continue their quest for the Dark Tower.
The Dark Tower - The Gunsliner / Stephen King
In this novel, the first of seven in Stephen King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower which was inspired by Robert Browning's 19th century poem, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, King introduces the reader to Roland of Gilead, a gunslinger.
A gunslinger is a sort of western cowboy, packing guns and extremely deadly. Roland is on a quest for the Dark Tower, a place of immense mystery and power. The book describes Roland's pursuit of the man in black across desert. Roland's world is a complex place, even though it is foreign to our own, certain things seem to exist in both worlds: The Beatles' Hey Jude is sung in a saloon Roland passes on his way; several machines or remnants of such as should not exist in any Western appear every now and again.
The man in black is a wizard of sorts and holds information Roland must have if he is to fulfill his quest and reach the Dark Tower. The desert on which Roland makes his pursuit is barren and nearly devoid of life. Yet Roland strives on overcoming traps which the man in black lays for him, gaining on the man in black as the days pass and his rations and water diminish. After a time he comes upon a way station that once served a long deserted coach route. In the way station Roland encounters Jake, a boy of New York who has been conjured there involuntarily. Roland takes Jake along with him and they continue the pursuit of the man in black.
Their travels lead them to a deserted rail track that runs into a mountain. In the darkness of the mountains they encounter and fight mutant humanoids, descendants of the victims of an ancient and forgotten cataclysmic war. Upon leaving the mountains they reach a chasm bridged by a rickety ropeway. During the crossing the man in black appears at the other edge. At that point Jake stumbles and holds onto the bridge for dear life. The man in black presents Roland with a choice: forsake Jake and catch him or allow him to flee. Roland has to make the choice that would best serve his quest and not his conscience.
The end of the book, Roland and the man in black sit down to palaver and Roland receives the information he must have to continue his quest.
A gunslinger is a sort of western cowboy, packing guns and extremely deadly. Roland is on a quest for the Dark Tower, a place of immense mystery and power. The book describes Roland's pursuit of the man in black across desert. Roland's world is a complex place, even though it is foreign to our own, certain things seem to exist in both worlds: The Beatles' Hey Jude is sung in a saloon Roland passes on his way; several machines or remnants of such as should not exist in any Western appear every now and again.
The man in black is a wizard of sorts and holds information Roland must have if he is to fulfill his quest and reach the Dark Tower. The desert on which Roland makes his pursuit is barren and nearly devoid of life. Yet Roland strives on overcoming traps which the man in black lays for him, gaining on the man in black as the days pass and his rations and water diminish. After a time he comes upon a way station that once served a long deserted coach route. In the way station Roland encounters Jake, a boy of New York who has been conjured there involuntarily. Roland takes Jake along with him and they continue the pursuit of the man in black.
Their travels lead them to a deserted rail track that runs into a mountain. In the darkness of the mountains they encounter and fight mutant humanoids, descendants of the victims of an ancient and forgotten cataclysmic war. Upon leaving the mountains they reach a chasm bridged by a rickety ropeway. During the crossing the man in black appears at the other edge. At that point Jake stumbles and holds onto the bridge for dear life. The man in black presents Roland with a choice: forsake Jake and catch him or allow him to flee. Roland has to make the choice that would best serve his quest and not his conscience.
The end of the book, Roland and the man in black sit down to palaver and Roland receives the information he must have to continue his quest.
Prologue
Hello, one and all!
My name is Jonathan and I'm a 28 years old book lover from Israel. In this blog I will review the books I read, include abstracts (spoliers may be included so don't say I didn't warn you) and recommend further reading. I hope that you'll enjoy it. Feel free to write to me regarding my writing or regarding other books which you feel people should read or that I shall enjoy.
Yours truly,
Jonathan
My name is Jonathan and I'm a 28 years old book lover from Israel. In this blog I will review the books I read, include abstracts (spoliers may be included so don't say I didn't warn you) and recommend further reading. I hope that you'll enjoy it. Feel free to write to me regarding my writing or regarding other books which you feel people should read or that I shall enjoy.
Yours truly,
Jonathan
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