PC4 at Age 40

TL;DR

This paper offers a personal, anecdotal reflection on the proof of the Poincaré conjecture, discussing its historical context and key individuals involved, based on the author's memories from 40 years ago.

Contribution

It provides a subjective, firsthand account of the proof's development and the mathematicians who contributed, adding historical and personal perspective.

Findings

Personal recollections of the proof's development

Insights into the mathematicians involved

Historical context of the Poincaré conjecture proof

Abstract

This article is not a proof of the Poincar\'{e} conjecture but a discussion of the proof, its context, and some of the people who played a prominent role. It is a personal, anecdotal account. There may be omission or transpositions as these recollections are 40 years old and not supported by contemporaneous notes, but memories feel surprisingly fresh. I have not looked up old papers to check details of statements; this article is merely a download from my current mental state.