The author of the best seller THE MUSIC OF PRIME NUMBERS, makes a comeback with a groundbreaking book, a brilliant journey into one of the most impressive fields of modern mathematics: Group Theory. Professor du Sautoy vividly illustrates the excitement and allure hidden within the abstract beauty of ‘modern’ symmetry, the mapping of the mathematical world, and the quest to decipher the patterns through which prime numbers emerge.

The book is a dynamic blend of rich historical narrative, mathematical innovation, and autobiographical elements. The problem of prime numbers remains unsolved - the mathematicians' struggle to decode their appearance this time passes through Symmetry Groups.

Marcus du Sautoy is a unique storyteller. With remarkable writing ability, he achieves an astonishing balance between 'hard' mathematics and the narrative of an adventure that often takes your breath away.

Which lovesick mathematician discovered Group Theory just before the fateful duel with his rival? Which destitute genius of Number Theory was awarded the Fields Medal for the most impressive discovery - the pinnacle of mastery - of today’s Mathematics? How are the Riemann Hypothesis and the zeta function connected with a gigantic symmetrical ‘snowflake’ that we can only see when we reach the realm of 196,883 dimensions? What do all these have to do with our everyday lives?

String theory, ‘the experiment of the century’ at CERN, the structure of the Universe, investments for tomorrow’s technological achievements, the functioning of the human brain, even vaccines against viruses,... all ‘hide’ within them the mathematics of symmetry and prime numbers.

In many ways, this is a wonderful read: the author explains the impressive concepts of group theory in an entirely comprehensible way - narrates his daily mathematical reality, and the incredible scientific encounters he has with his fellow geniuses, many of whom suffer from Asperger’s syndrome - correlates the mathematics of symmetry with their application in the technology of our time (from increasing data storage on a CD to research in avoiding interference in our mobile conversations).

Finally, such a work could not be complete without a concise history of symmetry, conveyed through the incredible adventures of Tartaglia, Galois, Cauchy, Abel, Li, and so many other pioneers who laid the foundations of Group Theory mathematics.