(Scroll to end of interview). Different field, but I was struck by some of the similarities between Wiles' daily and nightly obsession with Fermat, and Rich Hickey's Hammock Driven development. Note that I'm not trying to imply that Rich Hickey is the new Wiles, although he's no doubt a truly brilliant individual.

Simply, I was pondering about how those two guys formalize their own way of thinking.

There is value in thinking about HOW to think and sometimes that means NOT actively thinking, but letting your brain find the connections on its own.

The daily obsession, the 'loading' of the brain, and eventually, after a long time, that, seemly serendipitous, epiphany.

Do some of you have that secret 'quiet time' to think about deep problems that you obsess over?