Is it a novel, a biography or a textbook? Toying with the boundaries of all
three, Apostolos Doxiadis’s entrancing Uncle Petros and Golbach’s
Conjecture mixes real maths and mathematicians with a fictional professor
who wastes his life shuffling beans in an attempt to prove that every even
number is the sum of two primes. It’s funny, sad and even teaches you a bit of
number theory. And if you do solve Golbach’s conjecture, you may win a million
pounds. Published by Faber & Faber, £9.99, ISBN 0571202039.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret
2
Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good
3
The monstrous number sequences that break the rules of mathematics
4
We need more radioactive drugs. Can we make them from nuclear waste?
5
98 per cent of meat and dairy sustainability pledges are greenwashing
6
We might finally know how to use quantum computers to boost AI
7
Parrot uses his broken beak to become a dominant male
8
Brushing your teeth in hospital could prevent catching a bad infection
9
The stunning physics of Project Hail Mary go back to ancient China
10
Why the right kind of stress is crucial for your health and happiness
