The Riemann Hypothesis: The Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics

by Karl Sabbagh

Book Overview

An engaging, informative, and wryly humorous exploration of one of the great conundrums of all time In 1859 Bernhard Riemann, a shy German mathematician, wrote an eight-page article giving an answer... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374250073
• ISBN13: 9780374250072
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent basic book on Riemann Hypothesis, one of the greatest unsolved problem of Number Theory.

Others deserve learning about complexity too

Karl Sabbagh has done his job well. He never pretended to be a master at this topic. He pretended to give the layman as myself access to the intricate and complex mind of a genius. This is what divulgation is about. I do not understand those hard ratings or much less comments like "which I could probably do here ultra-briefly if I had a charge number for a couple of hours". It is as if I buy a children's book on physics and complain about the depth of its concepts. Some wise pedagogue would say I was completely confused on what divulgation is about. If you think you can enlighten our small minds on this matter dedicating a couple hours, I suggest you send a manuscript to the press. I shall be happy to buy it and rate it afterwards. In scientific literature there out to be room for books that can be understood by more than one hundred people. Sometimes complexity is an added feature that does not add value... The fact that I am not an expert at math does not make me a conceptual handicapped. I think this book is a good entrance to the topic. In my case it has triggered the purchase of other deeper approaches. Well done Karl!!!

Others deserve learning about complexity too

Karl Sabbagh has done his job well. He never pretended to be a master at this topic. He pretended to give the layman as myself access to the intricate and complex mind of a genius. This is what divulgation is about. I do not understand those hard ratings or much less comments like "which I could probably do here ultra-briefly if I had a charge number for a couple of hours". It is as if I buy a children's book on physics and complain about the depth of its concepts. Some wise pedagogue would say I was completely confused on what divulgation is about. If you think you can enlighten our small minds on this matter dedicating a couple hours, I suggest you send a manuscript to the press. I shall be happy to buy it and rate it afterwards. In scientific literature there ought to be room for books that can be understood by more than one hundred people. Sometimes complexity is an added feature that does not add value... The fact that I am not an expert at math does not make me a conceptual handicapped. I think this book is a good entrance to the topic. In my case it has triggered the purchase of other deeper approaches. Well done Karl!!!

Seekers of the truth

I have an undergraduate degree in mathematics from a long time ago, but haven't done a whole lot with it. Nevertheless, I gained something of an appreciation for the subject and am always interested when something important enough happens that it gets into the popular press. So naturally enough, I have been aware of the number one unsolved problem of mathematics, the Riemann hypothesis, and have followed the sporadic claims of its resolution over the last few decades. Mr. Sabbagh's popular treatment of the problem in this book was a delight for me to read. He explains the hypothesis very clearly in a way that really doesn't even require any specialized knowledge of any arcane area of mathematics. Though great, this is not the primary virtue of the book. Rather it is his effort to reach out to the dozen or so mathematicians who are actively working on the problem who might have a hope of finally, after about a century and a half, of proving it. The reader is thus led to some appreciation of the world of the professional mathematician, with all of its human hopes and jealousies, striving to achieve a legacy that will outlive themselves. Sabbagh interviews them, some of them several times, attends their seminars, and listens for the inside dope that might show that someone somewhere is onto something. The book is engaging, and I found it impossible to put down. It has lots of anecdotes, asides, and curiosities along the way to liven up the story. It is brutally honest in its portrayals of the principle characters. The writing style is lively, and the math is easy to follow. And it tells a story of man at his best--striving for progress, precision and truth. Quite the opposite of so many charlatans of the academy today, who seem to revel in ambiguity, imprecision, and political correctness.

Sorry, I Liked It

I agree with the previous reviewer that Sabagh's book is about as helpful and fascinating as a book for laymen can be on the subject of Riemann. I read Prime Obsession as well and, yes, that book is incredible. Really. But, believe it or not, there are math morons like myself who found even sections of that book impenetrable. I recommend reading both because, indeed, Sabagh does not go as deep into the Hypothesis as Derbyshire does; but Sabagh draws up some truly nice metaphors (the street addresses)and, I think, tells some fascinating yarns about the atmosphere and characters surrounding the problem today (he is not as concerned with the history of the problem as Derbyshire in Prime Obsession and De Sautoy in the Music of the Primes). At any rate, my gut feeling is that most math morons--I feel your pain, believe me--will take a lot away from this book. I know I did, and am consequently tickled pink that it exists.

Crisp introduction for the layman

Before I comment on the content of the book I just want to say that the design of the jacket is simply brilliant! The book itself is very entertaining, captivating, and interesting. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Riemann Hypothesis. It not only gives you some of the key ideas that are out there in the mathematics community for attacking the problem but it also gives you an account of the major players in this field. It tells you why mathematicians love working on problems against all odds. The book relates their excitement, frustrations, creativity, dedication, and mental stamina in a way that it feels as if it's you instead of Sabbagh who is interviewing the mathematicians. Simply put, it's a fun book!!