But we also experience the shared delight in doing maths together, the friendship and camaraderie. We feel the despair, the temptation to give up and the fear of failure. Through a series of journal entries and lengthy email correspondence between Villani and Mouhot, we see in great detail the ups and downs of doing maths, the long periods of frustration punctuated by moments of inspiration. What makes Birth of a Theorem so interesting is that Villani does not just describe the mathematical process, but takes great care to actually show it taking place. In lesser hands this might be pretty dry, but Villani’s flair for storytelling, drawing on fables, metaphors and anecdotes, ensures that it is never boring. Instead, it aims to tackle a much more ambitious topic: the mathematical process, the actual way in which mathematical results are obtained and proved. Indeed, it is not really a book about maths at all, or even about mathematicians. The theorem in question is the important result of Villani and his former PhD student Clément Mouhot on the phenomena of ‘Landau damping’, a result that ultimately won Villani the 2010 Fields Medal and widespread acclaim.īirth of a Theorem is like no other popular maths book I have read. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:Ĭédric Villani’s Birth of a Theorem tells the story of a mathematical theorem, from its initial conception as a vague, throwaway observation, to its development and formal statement, right through to its proof and eventual publication, a journey lasting several years. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. The hidden harmonies of Hamming distance.Dog leads, mirrors and Hermann Minkowski.Chalkdust issue 14 – Coming 22 November.

Birth of a Theorem by Cédric Villani