The Music of the Primes

Short description: Book by Marcus du Sautoy

First UK edition (publ. Fourth Estate)

The Music of the Primes (British subtitle: Why an Unsolved Problem in Mathematics Matters; American subtitle: Searching to Solve the Greatest Mystery in Mathematics) is a 2003 book by Marcus du Sautoy, a professor in mathematics at the University of Oxford, on the history of prime number theory. In particular he examines the Riemann hypothesis, the proof of which would revolutionize our understanding of prime numbers. He traces the prime number theorem back through history, highlighting the work of some of the greatest mathematical minds along the way.

The cover design for the hardback version of the book contains several pictorial depictions of prime numbers, such as the number 73 bus. It also has an image of a clock, referring to clock arithmetic, which is a significant theme in the text.

References

• Baylis, John (July 2005), "Review of The Music of the Primes", The Mathematical Gazette 89 (515): 348–351, doi:10.1017/s0025557200178143 
• "Prime obsession; The Music of the Primes; The Riemann Hypothesis", The Mathematical Intelligencer 26 (1): 55–59, December 2004, doi:10.1007/bf02985403 
• Frei-Imfeld, G. (2005), "Review of The Music of the Primes", Mathematical Reviews 
• "Prime time for mathematics (review of Prime Obsession and The Music of the Primes)", Nature 425 (6958): 562, October 2003, doi:10.1038/425562a 
• "Million dollar question: Marcus du Sautoy tries to explain why an unsolved mathematical conundrum matters in The Music of the Primes", The Guardian, August 23, 2003, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/aug/24/scienceandnature.features 
• Hoffman, Jascha (April–May 2004), "Prime time (review of Prime Obsession, The Riemann Hypothesis, and The Music of the Primes)", Boston Review, https://bostonreview.net/books-ideas/jascha-hoffman-prime-time 
• "Review of The Music of the Primes", Physics Today 57 (6): 63, June 2004, doi:10.1063/1.1784279 
• Langton, Stacy G. (August 2003), "Review of The Music of the Primes", MAA Reviews (Mathematical Association of America), https://www.maa.org/press/maa-reviews/the-music-of-the-primes-searching-to-solve-the-greatest-mystery-in-mathematics 
• Leutwyler, Kristin (May 2003), "Math's Most Wanted: A trio of books traces the quest to prove the Riemann hypothesis", Scientific American 288 (5): 94–95, doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0503-94 
• "Nonfiction book review", Publishers Weekly, https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-621070-4 
• "A must for math buffs", Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marcus-du-sautoy/the-music-of-the-primes/