Hans Riesel's book

[jasong]

I went to Hasting's, got on their computer, looked up "prime numbers," and discovered Hans Riesel's book,"Prime Numbers and Computer Methods for Factorization." Even after the rebate, the cost, before taxes, is about $55.

Do you guys think I could find his address, and maybe write him a polite request for a pdf of the book, if he has one? $55 is too much, but $10-20 for the pdf would be good.

Have any of you read this book? I know it'll take me a year or two to understand everything in it, but I was hoping I could show the Table of Contents to a math professor, and get some books to study. Arkansans are super-nice, and I doubt it would be much different for math professors.

Opinions welcome.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by jasong

I went to Hasting's, got on their computer, looked up "prime numbers," and discovered Hans Riesel's book,"Prime Numbers and Computer Methods for Factorization." Even after the rebate, the cost, before taxes, is about $55.

Do you guys think I could find his address, and maybe write him a polite request for a pdf of the book, if he has one? $55 is too much, but $10-20 for the pdf would be good.

Have any of you read this book? I know it'll take me a year or two to understand everything in it, but I was hoping I could show the Table of Contents to a math professor, and get some books to study. Arkansans are super-nice, and I doubt it would be much different for math professors.

Opinions welcome.

I liked the first edition but it was expensive back then (perhaps 10 years ago). Closer to $100 when translated from the £45 or so I paid.

The second edition added quite a bit of new material, principally a description of the number field siever, but not enough (in my opinion) to justify paying the price asked.

You could try asking him whether he would be willing to provide a PDF at a lower price but it seems likely that the publishers control all the republication rights.

There are alternatives (other than finding other books), such as trying to pick up second-hand copies or borrowing a copy. Have you tried Amazon? Have you tried advertising for a used copy?


Paul

[jasong]

Originally Posted by xilman

I liked the first edition but it was expensive back then (perhaps 10 years ago). Closer to $100 when translated from the £45 or so I paid.

The second edition added quite a bit of new material, principally a description of the number field siever, but not enough (in my opinion) to justify paying the price asked.

You could try asking him whether he would be willing to provide a PDF at a lower price but it seems likely that the publishers control all the republication rights.

There are alternatives (other than finding other books), such as trying to pick up second-hand copies or borrowing a copy. Have you tried Amazon? Have you tried advertising for a used copy?


Paul

I'll try Amazon.

[axn]

Originally Posted by jasong

I'll try Amazon.

Yep. Used & New starts at $17.95. I guess shipping will be extra. Still much cheaper than $55

[jasong]

Originally Posted by axn1

Yep. Used & New starts at $17.95. I guess shipping will be extra. Still much cheaper than $55

Sorry for the late update, but I bought it less than 10 minutes after saying,"I'll try Amazon."(for the anal-retentive, don't assume anything people, yes, Amazon is where I got it[Although, admittedly, I may be the only person here who actually thinks that way])