All right, I admit there are a lot of squiggles and numbers in the book. I

like to think, though, that there’s a human story in there somewhere, too.

The book’s closing quote:

“Few as were the years of work allotted to him, and few as are the printed

pages covered by the record of his researches, his name is, and will remain,

a household word among mathematicians. Most of his memoirs are masterpieces

– full of original methods, profound ideas and far-reaching imagination.”

—George Chrystal, from the article headed “Riemann” in the 1911

Encyclopedia Britannica.

Real, profound genius can’t not be interesting, though I’m afraid my own

poor understanding may not have done full justice to Riemann — which is why

I’m quoting other people’s words here.

Riemann’s epitaph (he was a pious Lutheran):

“Denen die Gott lieben muessen alle Dinge zum Besten dienen.”

(“All things work together for good to them that love God”—Romans 8:28.)