Fearless symmetry
by Avner Ash, Robert Gross · first published 2006
83% recommend17% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Accessible popular history of number theory and the Langlands program, aimed at readers with an undergraduate maths background who want a view of active research areas without heavy technical detail.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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I like this book: https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Symmetry-Exposing-Patterns-N...
on “Classic Mathematics Books for Lifelong Learners” ↗I'm sure it's a great book :). I find good popular books on higher mathematics difficult to come by. A nice exception is the trilogy written by Avner Ash and Robert Groß: Elliptic Tales, Fearless Symmetry and Summing it up (in my order of preference)
on “Six Math Essentials” ↗…problem. My favorite books are: * Euler: Master of us all * Euclid's Elements * Hardy and Wright: Introduction to a Theory of Numbers * Jonathan Stillwell: Yearning for the Impossible * Ash and Gross: Fearless Symmetry * Jean-Pierre Tignol: Galois' Theory of Algebraic Equations * Edwards: Fermat's Last Theorem/Galois Theory I've been doing it now for almost three years and it's really worked out well for me and surprisingly,…
on “Learning Math” ↗For anyone with an undergrad maths background, I'd recommend 'Fearless Symmetry' and 'Elliptic Tales'. They would be tough going for someone without a maths background, but they give a view to the forefront of some active areas of research in maths.
on “Classic Mathematics Books for Lifelong Learners” ↗As a first pass, check out the pop history book called Fearless Symmetry by Ash and Gross. Next, and perhaps I shouldn't be suggesting it, Serre's A Course in Arithmetic. Despite it's reputation of terseness it is a great book by one of history's great mathematicians and…
on “Big advance on simple-sounding math problem was a century in the making” ↗…only "popular" book on Galois theory that I know of. It focuses on Wiles proof of Fermats Last Theorem. [1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Equation-That-Couldnt-Solved-Mathem... [2] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Symmetry-Exposing-Patterns...
on “Why is the Quintic Unsolvable?” ↗…ebook creation. On the topic of the Monster group, there was a very much pop-math book about it that I read called "Symmetry and the Monster". It's at the total opposite end of the spectrum compared to Fearless Symmetry (which deals with Galois theory). It's a good casual read [3] but don't expect deep insight. I would really love if there was an author like Paul Nahin [4] writing books on abstract mathematics in a similar…
on “Symmetry, Algebra and the Monster” ↗