[henrydark]

> Grothendieck was, to be clear, a strong mathematician compared to most anyone, but these peers were the most talented young mathematicians in France, and unlike Grothendieck, who had spent the war in an internment camp at Rieucros, near Mende, they had been placed in the best schools and tutored.

Weil was also in a camp. Honestly, I can't stand Geothendieck. Where's the piece about how sociable Serre and Deligne were (and still are), and how much they contributed along side Geothendieck, but without going full bonkers?

Fine, schemes and etale topology are great, the category theory viewpoint is enlightening, but at the end of the day I'm interested in Deligne's (two) proof(s), in Mazur's torsion theorem, in Wiles' theorem, etc. Grothendieck's foundation is said to be fundamental to all of these, but I'm not so sure.

[jjgreen]

J.-P. Serre is indeed a gentleman, I had occasion to be a passenger in a car with him (and Giles Pisier) many years ago, me a no-mark grad student sitting with two giants. He quizzed me about my work and seemed genuinely interested in my relies, I knew this was all kid's stuff to him; kindness personified.