Simon Singh

I’ll admit: I approached this expecting a dry math lecture. Instead, I got a masterclass in how to make abstraction *thrilling*. Singh’s voice—measured yet eager—sells the stakes like a true crime podcaster. When he describes Andrew Wiles’ seven-year secret quest to solve Fermat’s riddle, you’ll feel the weight of that isolation. Robin Morgan’s interviewing is equally smart; she doesn’t just ask *what* the theorem is, but *why* it mattered enough to drive men to despair. The pacing is brisk, almost breathless in the best moments, though I wished they’d lingered another minute on the 1993 ‘flaw’ that nearly undid Wiles—it’s the kind of twist that deserves a dramatic pause. My only real critique? The runtime. At 18 minutes, it’s less an audiobook and more a tantalizing trailer for Singh’s full work. The production is polished but minimalist—no music, no frills—letting the conversation carry the weight. That’s a strength, but it also means this feels like a *teaser* rather than a standalone experience. Still, as a gateway drug to math history or a palate cleanser between heavier listens, it’s flawlessly executed. Just be warned: you *will* want to dive into the full *Fermat’s Last Theorem* afterward.