Children are taught in school that prime numbers can only be divided by themselves and by one. What they don't teach you is that prime numbers represent the most fascinating mystery we face in our quest for knowledge. How to predict what the next prime number in a series will be? Is there a formula to generate prime numbers? In 1859, the German mathematician Bernhard Riemann proposed a hypothesis that pointed to the solution of the ancient enigma. But he failed to prove it and the mystery only increased. In this amazing book, Marcus du Sautoy tells us the story of the eccentric and brilliant men who have sought a solution to revolutionize fields as different as digital commerce, quantum mechanics and computing. Du Sautoy's story constitutes a wonderful and exciting evocation of the world of mathematics, its beauty and its secrets.
