Exciting 21 1

This book, dedicated to the history of the Riemann conjecture, is a great achievement in the field of mathematical popularization. After one or two chapter introduction, the book reads like an adventure novel. The author managed the feat to make accessible to the neophyte fairly sharp research subjects without the slightest deviation from the rigor and accuracy of the results (they are presented in a pictorial form behind which one can recognize the precise wording; At most I noticed one or two approximations in the translation of technical terms). This is all the more remarkable because it is a math story book and no extension of the technical aspects. Another quality of this book is to show mathematics as a vibrant business.

Small paradox around me, and despite the little technicality of the book is mathematics researchers who most appreciate this book. Maybe because it avoids clichés and caricatures that can be found in other works of the same kind. It also avoids overly erect hagiographic portraits of mathematicians sometimes showing their dark side. All this makes Marcus Du Sautoy a better popularizer Simon Singh.