Question

How do I become more like Grothendieck in life?

Answer 1

Prove that the Hodge conjecture is false for trivial reasons. Drop that bitchin paper on arxiv.org, don't explain yourself. Detractors be damned! Subsist on dandelion soup.

Answer 2

The first step is to not attempt to be like anyone.

Answer 3

He also was uncompromising in his personal life, and I'm not sure his relationships with women were that great. I assume you don't want that side of Grothendieck.

Answer 4

Stand up for your beliefs. Don’t be a coward.

Answer 5

It helps that he was also an amazing mathematician that people would want to listen to despite his political choices.

Answer 6

Could be worth reading Récoltes et Semailles and referencing Grothendieck's ideas articulated in it that you find worth incorporating into your own life.

Answer 7

The first step is to read through, understand, and deeply appreciate Grothendieck's mathematical and non-mathematical work. I think the most important texts to start with are EGA, Récoltes et Semailles, and Éloge d'Inceste

Answer 8

What are you trying to do? If you like math study it, and follow your passion. All this, trying to be like somebody else, is nonsense. Yeah you can copy mannerisms or the way someone drinks his tea or takes a shit, but the reason people care about Grothendiek, is the work he put into math.