Birth of a Theorem

In 2010, the French mathematician Cédric Villani received the Fields Medal, the most coveted prize in mathematics, in recognition of a proof that he devised with his close collaborator Clément Mouhot to explain one of the most surprising theories in classical physics. Birth of a Theorem is Villani''s own account of the years leading up to the award. It invites readers inside the mind of a great mathematician as he wrestles with the most important work of his career. But you don''t have to understand nonlinear Landau damping to love Birth of a Theorem. It doesn''t simplify or overexplain; rather, it invites readers into a collaboration. Villani''s diaries, e-mails, and musings enmesh you in the process of discovery. You join him in unproductive lulls and late-night breakthroughs. You''re privy to dining-hall conversations at the world''s greatest research institutions. Villani shares his favorite songs, his love of manga, and the imaginative stories he tells