The Poincaré Conjecture: In Search of the Shape of the Universe - Softcover

O'Shea, Donal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141032383 ISBN 13: 9780141032382

Publisher: Penguin, 2008

Synopsis

The Poincaré Conjecture tells the story behind one of the world’s most confounding mathematical theories. Formulated in 1904 by Henri Poincaré, his Conjecture promised to describe the very shape of the universe, but remained unproved until a huge prize was offered for its solution in 2000. Six years later, an eccentric Russian mathematician had the answer.

Here, Donal O’Shea explains the maths behind the Conjecture and its proof, and illuminates the curious personalities surrounding this perplexing conundrum, along the way taking in a grand sweep of scientific history from the ancient Greeks to Christopher Columbus. This is an enthralling tale of human endeavour, intellectual brilliance and the thrill of discovery.

About this title

Review:

Conveys topology's mind-bending contortions with great flair (New Scientist)

One can't read The Poincaré Conjecture without an overwhelming awe at the infinite depths and richness of a mathematical realm not made by us (Martin Gardner, author of The Annotated Alice)

Reveals the human story behind the challenge of the conjecture, and gives us a glimpse of the weird world inhabited by mathematicians (BBC Focus)

Beautifully written (American Scientist)

Intriguing (The Times)

A truly marvellous book (Martin Gardner)

About the Author:

Donal O’Shea is professor of mathematics and dean of faculty at Mount Holyoke College. He has written scholarly books and monographs, and his research articles have appeared in numerous journals and collections. He lives in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0141032383
• ISBN 13: 9780141032382
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304