Re: books on RH
From: Christopher J. Henrich (chenrich_at_monmouth.com)
Date: 12/27/04
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Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 16:57:51 GMT
In article <%_Dwd.17980$pb.1218616@news20.bellglobal.com>, GR
<RH@math.con> wrote:
> I am looking for feedback from anyone who has read all three of the
> following books:
>
> Karl Sabbagh: The Riemann Hypothesis, The Greatest Unsolved Problem in
> Mathematics
>
> Marcus du Sautoy: The Music of the Primes, Searching to Solve the
> Greatest Mystery in Mathematics
>
> John Derbyshire: Prime Obsession, Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest
> Unsolved Problem in Mathematics
>
> If you've read all three, which one did you like best and why?
>
I like Derbyshire far and away the best.
He actually explains the connection between primes and the zeta
function. It takes him a long time, because he means it to be
accessible to a reader who remembers a little bit of high school math
but is not quite sure how complex numbers can make sense. This reader
will have to work hard at understanding Derbyshire, but will be honstly
rewarded.
<rant>
The other two books are in the large genre of "human-interest" (not to
say "thumbsucker") journalism about science. In this genre you can
describe a scientist's appearance and mannerisms, and you may go into
academic politics; but when the time comes to say what this person
does, you must break off, because That Would Be Technical.
Alternatively, you can indulge in a lot of really bad poetry typeset as
prose.
</rant>
--
Chris Henrich
"I doubt transparent windows are of much use, but they sure look cool."
-- Haddad, Businessweek.com 10/11/00
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