Poincare's Prize: The Hundred-Year Quest to Solve One of Math's Greatest Puzzles
*Starred Review* Imagine Oedipus solving the riddle of the Sphinx only then to refuse the crown offered as the reward for his triumph. A modern version of such an improbable event forms the spine of Szpiro's remarkable narrative. Himself an accomplished mathematician, Szpiro recounts the story of how a geometrical puzzle worthy of the most voracious sphinx finally yielded to an eccentric Russian genius who has since refused the honors and million-dollar prize proffered by an astonished world. The mathematical puzzle, readers learn, originated with the French polymath Henri Poincaré, whose revolutionary topology generated a tantalizing conjecture about how multidimensional bodies might all be transformed into spheres. Only specialists can fully understand this famous conjecture, but Szpiro translates its essential features into remarkably accessible analogies—rubber bands wrapped around a bagel, for instance. Readers learn much not only about the conjecture but also about the many scholars consumed by passion to prove—or disprove—it. Readers meet, among others, the radical but gentlemanly "Papa" Papakyriakopoulos and the playboy windsurfer Richard Hamilton. However, Szpiro accords pride of place to Grigori Perelman, the reclusive titan who finally pierced the mystery—and then spurned the awards. Never has mathematics provided more fascinating human drama! Christensen, BryceCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.