- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (May 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0066210704
- ISBN-13: 978-0066210704
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,428,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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First Sentence
One hot and humid morning in August 1900, David Hilbert of the Uni of Gottingen addressed the International Congress of Mathema in a packed lecture hall at the Sorbonne, Paris. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
One hot and humid morning in August 1900, David Hilbert of the Uni of Gottingen addressed the International Congress of Mathema in a packed lecture hall at the Sorbonne, Paris. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I would put this book in the same class as another excellent book called "Prime Obsession" by John Derbyshire. If you are looking for more mathematical content than I would suggest you read the book by John Derbyshire. However through his clever usage of the analogy with the music for mathematics, Marcus Du Sautoy in my opinion does a much better job of explaining in layman's terms a very complex subject area. He also does a better job of painting the historical perspective than the book by Derbyshire. In fact he does an excellent job of outlining the individual contributions of all the mathematicians involved in prime number theory and how the fight for a proof was passed on from one generation to the next.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's very difficult to write a book about a maths problem so difficult that it has resisted the efforts of Mathematiaians for nearly 150 years, but still make it interesting and intelligble to the layman. But Professor du Sautoy manages this very well. He does it by focussing on the individuals involved - larger than life characters such as Bombieri, Erdos, Hardy and the like - and making us sympathise with their goals. Riemann himself only lived to 39 so does not come alive to the same extent.
At the same time he gives sufficient description of the problem itself, and more importantly why in the "real world" it matters, so that the reader feels she / he understands it.
At the same time he gives sufficient description of the problem itself, and more importantly why in the "real world" it matters, so that the reader feels she / he understands it.
The understanding may fade over a few days, but the fascination and the hope that one of the "heros" wins the $1m prize for finally finding the solution, lives on.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A marvellous book that describes the past and present explorers of the world of Prime Numbers and what they have found. Not only will the general reader find an understanding of the fundamental aspects of this world; but of equal importance, the enthusiasm and elegance of the presentation permits the layperson to see its beauty.
The excitement and the game is not over until all the zeros are proved to be standing in line. A book that may well ignite the spark in a budding mathematician; but also a book for anyone, of any age and background with an enquiring mind.
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