Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #198228 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

The same as Finding Moonshine, be careful
I had just finished "Finding Moonshine" from the same author and I ordered "Symmetry" only to find out when I received it that it was the same book. It is disappointing that it wasn't stated anywhere. Anyway the book is great

Disappointing
I am interested in group theory, and bought this book under the impression that it discussed simple group theory in a way that an amateur like me would be able to understand.

I am sure this author could have written such a book, but this isn't it. It has been dumbed down far too much (I suspect at the insistence of the publisher). He avoids simple group theory terminology, so instead of writing about "how many groups there are with 27 elements", he has "how many objects there are with 27 symmetries", which isn't going to help anyone, and is going to confuse those who understand just a little of his subject matter. Yet he mentions zeta functions several times, though without any clue as to what they are.

In chapter three he states, repeatedly, that the Alhambra palace contains examples of all 17 symmetries (he means wallpaper groups); and there are pictures of some of them. I wonder why he chose not to have a page or two illustrating all 17? This would have been interesting, or at least fun to look at, for all readers, however dumb the publisher takes them to be.

The best feature of the book is not its abortive attempts to discuss mathematics, but its anecdotes about mathematicians. If these are what you want, the book is worth buying.

about somebodies warning
The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk release, it is the same book. It is not a surprise that the publisher in the states would not use the title finding moonshine. Prof Du sautoy does a wonderful job in communicating maths and makes me wish i knew more about maths. Well written and i would encourage those who are thinking of buying to just go out and buy it.