- Hardcover: 376 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; 1st edition (4 Feb 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007214618
- ISBN-13: 978-0007214617
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 337,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘Marcus Du Sautoy knows how to tell a story, and, even more important, how to make difficult ideas palatable and entertaining. He is never condescending and is always true to the spirit of his subject. He is a living refutation of Hardy's snobbish view that popularization is 'work for second rate minds’.' Sunday Telegraph
‘Marvellous…rich (and) readable.' The Guardian
‘…told with the narrative flair and storyteller’s sense of detail…one of the few popular first hand accounts from the frontiers of modern mathematics.’ The Independent
‘Marcus du Sautoy really is a marvellous writer…With infectious enthusiasm and passion, du Sautoy describes this millennia-old quest…with his wonderfully lucid descriptions and a plethora of well-chosen figures, he succeeds in the task of communicating the theories to specialists and non-specialists alike…He interweaves the grand over-arching narrative with his own research for patterns, describing both its frustrating stumbling blocks and the magical thrill of discovery. It makes for a truly personal, inspiring and hugely entertaining read.' Focus Magazine
Praise for Marcus du Sautoy and ‘The Music of the Primes’:
'Du Sautoy is a contagious enthusiast, a populist with a staunch faith in the public's intelligence…he has uncovered a wealth of intriguing anecdotes that he has woven into a compelling narrative.' Observer
'He laces the ideas with history, anecdote and personalia – an entertaining mix that renders an austere subject palatable…valiant and ingenious…Even those with a mathematical allergy can enjoy du Sautoy's depictions of his cast of characters.' The Times
'He brings hugely enjoyable writing, full of zest and passion, to the most fundamental questions in the pursuit of true knowledge.' Sunday Times
'A mesmerising journey into the world of mathematics and its mysteries.' Daily Mail
'A brilliant storyteller.' Independent
Review
'Marcus Du Sautoy knows how to tell a story, and, even more important, how to make difficult ideas palatable and entertaining. He is never condescending and is always true to the spirit of his subject. He is a living refutation of Hardy's snobbish view that popularization is 'work for second rate minds'.' Sunday Telegraph '!told with the narrative flair and storyteller's sense of detail!one of the few popular first hand accounts from the frontiers of modern mathematics.' The Independent Praise for Marcus du Sautoy and 'The Music of the Primes': 'Du Sautoy is a contagious enthusiast, a populist with a staunch faith in the public's intelligence!he has uncovered a wealth of intriguing anecdotes that he has woven into a compelling narrative.' Observer 'He laces the ideas with history, anecdote and personalia -- an entertaining mix that renders an austere subject palatable!valiant and ingenious!Even those with a mathematical allergy can enjoy du Sautoy's depictions of his cast of characters.' The Times 'He brings hugely enjoyable writing, full of zest and passion, to the most fundamental questions in the pursuit of true knowledge.' Sunday Times 'A mesmerising journey into the world of mathematics and its mysteries.' Daily Mail 'A brilliant storyteller.' Independent
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book on recommendation, because I was interested in a popular account of the Monster group. I've finally had to give up reading it, because it ultimately turns out to be a historical review of the figures involved in the long history of the mathematics of symmetry, with virtually no actual information about symmetry. All the mathematical examples are excessively verbose, making them largely impenetrable. In his attempt to "simplify" the mathematics, Marcus Du Sautoy has succeeded in removing enough information from the problems and solutions as to make them incomprehensible. At every turn, I felt that he was on the brink of giving me the information that I was looking for, only to have my hopes dashed at the start of the next section.
If you are interested in the characters in this story, this is a great book, but if you are interested in the mathematics, it's virtually worthless.
If you are interested in the characters in this story, this is a great book, but if you are interested in the mathematics, it's virtually worthless.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was a bit dissapointing for a follow on from the Music of the primes...I didn't see the point really. It started ok but then...
Sorry Marcus. Now a second edition of the primes with a much better explanation of the zeta function (a full one if he could manage it) would be worth it. The TV series was poor and left me wanting more, and so did the book, and that silly spaceship he wore on the xmas lectures...thats what happens when you commercialise education!
Sorry Marcus. Now a second edition of the primes with a much better explanation of the zeta function (a full one if he could manage it) would be worth it. The TV series was poor and left me wanting more, and so did the book, and that silly spaceship he wore on the xmas lectures...thats what happens when you commercialise education!
35 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Histories of mathematics can be tedious but this book sparkles on every page: Du Sautoy provides a lively and compelling tour of the development of ideas about symmetry and engages us with the brilliance of the vision of some of the giants of mathematics. But what really lifts the book is the skilful way he weaves into the text a fascinating personal narrative about how he and other mathematicians work and think. The book not only provides insights into some important topics in mathematics, but also into what makes mathematicians tick. I was enthralled.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beware!!
This is the SAME book as Symmetry but published under a different title. I bought both and was underwhelmed to find that they were the same! Read more
Published 15 months ago by TonyD
Finding Moonshine: A Mathematician's Journey Through Symmetry
This was a gift for our 18 year old who loves maths. He thought it "alright". He didn't finish book which is unusual for him.
Published 17 months ago by jenirl
A touching view in the world of professional mathematics
You won't find equations in this book, but if want an interesting personal account of what professional mathematics is like, along with some illuminating history - both focused... Read more
Published 22 months ago by JP
Somewhat average and a bit self-obsessed
Du Sautoy spends far too much time blowing his own trumpet, which is tiring. He sounds a bit like the ant among the elephants: Omar Khayyam, Tartaglia, Cardano, Ferrari, Abel, Lie,... Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by Fazul
Great bridge between the history and the cutting edge
Again Du Sautoy brings the somewhat dry area of mathematic history to life with his passion and eagerness to share his excitement. Read more
Published on 12 July 2009 by Hypernik
a good book on maths
The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2008 by C. Murphy
Warning
This is exactly the same book as "Symmetry" by the same author. Different name, different dust jacket, but all the chapters are the same, word for word.
Published on 25 April 2008 by Mr. N. S. Wedd
Unique personal view on mathematics
This may be one of the most personal accounts of the mathematics business ever. Most popular mathematics books by insiders (Marcus du Sautoy is a top mathematician at Oxford) will... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2008 by Christian Jongeneel
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