On the solution of the scalar-plus-compact problem by Argyros and Haydon (Q1631460)

In 1976, \textit{J. Lindenstrauss} [in: Semin. Choquet, 15e Annee 1975/76, Initiation a l'Anal., Expose 18, 9 p. (1977; Zbl 0363.46016)] presented a list of open problems that significantly influenced the direction of research in the isomorphic theory of Banach spaces. The first question on Lindenstrauss' list became known as the scalar-plus-compact problem: Does there exist an infinite-dimensional Banach space \(X\) so that every bounded linear operator \(T:X\to X\) is of the form \(T=\lambda\ \text{Id} + K\) where \(K\) is a compact operator? Lindenstrauss noted that such a Banach space would have many interesting properties including that such a space would not be isomorphic to any of its subspaces of finite codimension and that every bounded linear operator on such a space would have a nontrivial closed invariant subspace. Although \textit{W. T. Gowers} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 26, No. 6, 523--530 (1994; Zbl 0838.46011)] constructed a Banach space that was not isomorphic to any of its proper subspaces, the scalar-plus-compact problem remained open until 2008 when Spiros Argyros and Richard Haydon announced a solution of the problem. \par The article under review is a well written expository article that presents the origins and history of the scalar-plus-compact problem and discusses the ingredients used by \textit{S. A. Argyros} and \textit{R. G. Haydon} in their solution [Acta Math. 206, No. 1, 1--54 (2011; Zbl 1223.46007)]. The first hereditarily indecomposable Banach space was constructed by \textit{W. T. Gowers} and \textit{B. Maurey} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 6, No. 4, 851--874 (1993; Zbl 0827.46008)] and the author discusses ideas used in the construction of hereditarily indecomposable spaces and their predecessors: B. S. Tsirelson's example of a Banach space without a subspace isomorphic to one of the classical spaces \(c_0\) or \(\ell_p\), \(1\leq p<\infty\), and T.\ Schlumprecht's example of an arbitrarily distortable Banach space. The author also discusses \textit{J. Bourgain} and \textit{F. Delbaen}'s construction of classes of \(\mathcal{L}^\infty\)-spaces [Acta Math. 145, 155--176 (1980; Zbl 0466.46024)] and explains how Argyros and Haydon blended classical hereditarily indecomposable ingredients with Bourgain and Delbaen's ideas to solve the scalar-plus-compact problem. The author concludes with a discussion of some results inspired by Argyros and Haydon's article and by mentioning further important open problems.