Simply Riemann

The geometry of curved space—simply told.

In Simply Riemann, Jeremy Gray offers a clear and thoughtful introduction to the life and ideas of Bernhard Riemann, whose work transformed the understanding of geometry and laid foundations for modern physics. Within its concise narrative, the study illuminates a mind devoted to uncovering the hidden structures underlying space itself.

Gray traces Riemann’s intellectual journey from his early studies to his groundbreaking contributions, most notably his development of non-Euclidean geometry and the concept of curved space. These ideas challenged long-held assumptions about the nature of geometry, opening new pathways that would later prove essential to the development of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Alongside these achievements, the book reflects on Riemann’s intellectual temperament—marked by depth, originality, and a quiet pursuit of conceptual clarity.

This is not a book for mathematicians alone. It is an invitation: a guide for the curious reader who has heard of the Riemann hypothesis but does not know where to begin. Gray walks the reader through the essential ideas—curved space, Riemannian geometry, the zeta function, and the hypothesis that has defied proof for more than 150 years—and the life of a man who died young but changed how we see the universe.

• A clear and accessible introduction to Riemann’s life and major contributions, from non-Euclidean geometry to the Riemann hypothesis

• Explains key concepts: curved space, Riemannian geometry, the zeta function, and the hypothesis that remains unsolved

• Perfect for first-time readers and for those who want to understand one of the most original and influential mathematicians of the nineteenth century

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears—or the perfect gift for anyone who wants to discover how one quiet mathematician, working in obscurity, reshaped our understanding of space, time, and the very fabric of reality.

About the Author

Jeremy Gray is a distinguished historian of mathematics and a professor emeritus at the Open University, UK. He is a leading scholar of the history of geometry, complex analysis, and mathematics in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His publications include Plato’s Ghost: The Modernist Transformation of Mathematics, Worlds Out of Nothing: A Course in the History of Geometry, and Simply Riemann. Gray is known for his clear, engaging prose and his ability to make complex mathematical ideas accessible to general readers. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Albert Leon Whiteman Memorial Prize from the American Mathematical Society. In Simply Riemann, Gray draws on decades of scholarship to offer an engaging and reliable introduction to one of the most original mathematicians in history.