The Music of the Primes

At school, children are taught that prime numbers are divisible only by themselves and the number one. What they are not taught is that primes represent the most tantalizing enigma in the pursuit of human knowledge. How can one predict when the next prime number will occur? Is there a formula that could generate primes? In 1859, German mathematician Bernhard Riemann put forward a hypothesis that suggested a solution to that ancient puzzle. Yet he failed to provide a proof and the mystery only deepened. In this breathtaking book, Marcus du Sautoy tells the story of the eccentric and brilliant men who sought a solution that would revolutionize fields as diverse as e-commerce, quantum mechanics and computer science. Du Sautoy's tale is a moving and awe-inspiring evocation of the mathematician's world and the beauties and secrets it contains.