Andrew Wiles

Andrew Wiles is a British mathematician who gained worldwide recognition for proving Fermat's Last Theorem in 1995, solving one of the most famous mathematical problems that had remained unproven for over 300 years. The theorem, first proposed by Pierre de Fermat in 1637, had bewildered generations of mathematicians and was considered one of the greatest unsolved problems in number theory. Wiles spent seven years working in complete secrecy on the proof, which he first announced at a conference at Cambridge University in 1993. After an initial error was discovered in the proof, Wiles spent an additional year revising his work before publishing the final, correct version in 1995 in the Annals of Mathematics. For his achievement, Wiles received numerous awards including the Abel Prize in 2016, the Royal Medal from the Royal Society, and the Wolf Prize in Mathematics. He has held positions at Princeton University and Oxford University, where he currently serves as a Royal Society Research Professor. His proof of Fermat's Last Theorem represented a significant advancement in algebraic number theory and modularity theory, employing sophisticated mathematical concepts that went far beyond what was available in Fermat's time. The complexity and elegance of his proof has been widely regarded as one of the crowning achievements of 20th-century mathematics.

Reviews focus heavily on Simon Singh's book "Fermat's Last Theorem" about Wiles's work, rather than Wiles's own technical publications, which are primarily read by mathematicians. Readers praise: - Clear explanations of complex mathematics for non-experts - The compelling personal story of Wiles's single-minded dedication - Coverage of the historical attempts to solve the theorem - The drama of finding and fixing the error in the initial proof Common criticisms: - Technical sections remain challenging for general readers - Some felt misled by promotions suggesting the book would fully explain the proof - Limited direct content from Wiles himself On Goodreads, Singh's book about Wiles averages 4.1/5 stars from over 15,000 ratings. As one reader noted: "Makes you appreciate both the beauty of mathematics and the persistence required to solve seemingly impossible problems." Wiles's actual mathematical papers are rarely reviewed by general readers due to their advanced technical nature, though they receive high citation counts in academic literature.

Fermat's Last Theorem: The Story of a Riddle that Confounded the World's Greatest Minds for 358 Years (1995) A detailed account of how Wiles solved Fermat's Last Theorem, including the mathematical concepts involved and the personal journey that led to the breakthrough.

Modular Forms and Fermat's Last Theorem (1997) A technical mathematical text co-edited with Robert Faltings that presents the complete mathematical proof of Fermat's Last Theorem and related topics in number theory.

The Proof of Fermat's Last Theorem (1995) The formal academic paper published in Annals of Mathematics that contains the complete mathematical proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, building on the work of Richard Taylor.

Simon Singh analyzes complex mathematical topics through historical narratives and explanations aimed at general readers. His book "Fermat's Last Theorem" details Wiles' mathematical breakthrough and the centuries of work leading up to it.

James Gleick explores the development of mathematical and scientific concepts through biographical accounts and historical context. His works connect mathematical discoveries to broader cultural and technological changes.

Ian Stewart writes about mathematics and its applications across multiple fields, linking abstract concepts to real-world examples. He focuses on number theory and mathematical problems that have challenged mathematicians throughout history.

Marcus du Sautoy examines mathematical principles through their historical development and contemporary applications. He specializes in number theory and the connections between mathematics and other disciplines.

Keith Devlin explains mathematical concepts through their historical context and modern relevance. His work bridges advanced mathematical topics with accessible explanations for general audiences.