Nul ne peut plus ignorer combien les mathématiques sont fondamentales et omniprésentes dans notre quotidien. Mais mesure-t-on réellement à quel point ? Sait-on par exemple que Wayne Rooney, l'attaquant de Manchester United, résout une équation quadratique chaque fois qu'il récupère un centre pour marquer un but ? Que nous utilisons les nombres premiers lorsque nous passons une commande sur Internet ? Ou encore que l'on peut gagner un million de dollars rien qu'en résolvant une énigme du Mystère des nombres ? Marcus du Sautoy est footballeur, musicien amateur, vulgarisateur de génie et professeur de mathématiques à l'université d'Oxford. Il révèle la beauté qui se cache derrière les mathématiques, ce langage qui nous permet de déchiffrer l'univers et de développer les technologies actuelles. Le profane ne sera pas le dernier à succomber à cette science rendue lumineuse.
Marcus Du Sautoy Livres
Cet auteur explore le monde des nombres et des mathématiques avec une passion captivante qui donne vie à des concepts abstraits pour le lecteur ordinaire. Son travail explore les questions fondamentales de l'existence et de notre place dans l'univers, se concentrant souvent sur l'élégance et la beauté des principes mathématiques. Il rend les idées complexes accessibles d'une manière claire et engageante, invitant les lecteurs dans un voyage de découverte où les mathématiques deviennent une clé pour comprendre le monde qui nous entoure. Son écriture est une célébration de la curiosité humaine et des possibilités infinies de la compréhension scientifique.







What we cannot know. From consciousness to the cosmos, the cutting edge of science explained
- 320pages
- 12 heures de lecture
Brilliant and fascinating. No one is better at making the recondite accessible and exciting. Britain's most famous mathematician takes us to the edge of knowledge to explore what lies beyond our understanding. Is the universe infinite? What occurred before the Big Bang? Where is human consciousness located in the brain? Are there undiscovered particles beyond the Higgs boson? In a world where science dominates headlines with breakthroughs and once-inscrutable mathematical problems are solved, we must ask: are there limits to our discoveries about the physical universe? This personal journey delves into the boundaries of knowledge, as Marcus du Sautoy engages with leading experts in quantum physics, cosmology, sensory perception, and neuroscience. He navigates the complexities of current understanding, grappling with contradictory narratives and cutting-edge data. Will we ever know everything, or are there realms of research that will always elude human comprehension? If so, how do we reconcile our existence in a universe filled with mysteries? This thought-provoking expedition challenges us to consider the extent of our knowledge and whether there are indeed things we cannot know. Prepare to journey to the edge of knowledge and discover the limits of human understanding.
The creativity code : how AI is learning to write, paint and think
- 336pages
- 12 heures de lecture
Will a computer ever compose a symphony, write a prize-winning novel, or create a masterpiece? As humans, we possess a remarkable ability to produce art that elevates and transforms our existence. However, advancements in AI are challenging traditional notions, revealing that many tasks can be performed as well, if not better, by machines. This raises the question: can machines truly be creative? Can they learn from the art that resonates with us and discern the difference between the extraordinary and the ordinary? In this exploration of creativity, the author delves into the nature of artistic expression while providing insights into how algorithms function and the mathematical principles that guide them. He investigates the emotional responses we have to art, considering how much of it stems from our brains responding to patterns and structures. The discussion extends to creativity in mathematics, art, language, and music, probing how soon machines might produce original creative works and whether this could inspire greater imagination in humans. The outcome is a thought-provoking examination of both AI and the fundamental essence of humanity.
The Music of the Primes
- 368pages
- 13 heures de lecture
Recounts the history of prime numbers, (numbers divisible only by one and themselves), which has implications beyond pure mathematics. Euclid, Ramanujan, Odlyzko, and the formation of RSA encryption are discussed, as well as the state of contemporary research on the topic. Originally published: London: Fourth Estate, 2003.
Thinking Better
- 352pages
- 13 heures de lecture
How do you remember more and forget less? How can you earn more and become more creative just by moving house? And how do you pack a car boot most efficiently? This is your shortcut to the art of the shortcut.
Around the World in 80 Games: A mathematician unlocks the secrets of the greatest games
- 384pages
- 14 heures de lecture
Why do some games seem to be universal while others have a particular connection to the culture of the people playing them? Around the World in 80 Games is about the mathematics of chance, game theory, gamification, gaming strategies and computer games. Traversing the globe, Marcus du Sautoy looks at the genesis of games new and old, explores how to invent a good game and explains the fascination of a popular lockdown game. The most simple games endure: board games, card games and dice games have captivated us for centuries and the acclaimed mathematician and author of The Creativity Code (among many others) will once again bring mathematics to the fore with insight and aplomb in Around the World in 80 Games.
Blueprints
- 304pages
- 11 heures de lecture
An award-winning mathematician and Oxford professor looks to the arts to uncover the key mathematical structures that underpin both nature and human creativity. Many of the artists that we encounter are completely unaware of the mathematics that bubble beneath their craft, while some consciously use it for inspiration. Our instincts might tell us that these two subjects are incompatible forces with nothing in common - mathematics being the realm of precise logic and art being the realm of emotion and aesthetics - but what if we're wrong? Blueprints asks us to consider that mathematics and art may not be polar opposites after all. Their complementary relationship spans a vast historical and geographic landscape, from the earliest stone circles to Mozart's obsession with numbers and the radically modern architecture of Zaha Hadid. Whether we are searching for meaning in an abstract painting or finding patterns in poetry, there are blueprints everywhere: symmetry, prime numbers, the golden ratio and more. In this bold and philosophical exploration of human creativity, Marcus du Sautoy unpacks how we make art, why a creative mindset is vital for discovering new mathematics, and how a fundamental connection to the natural world intrinsically links these two subjects.
Umění zkratky. Jak lépe myslet
- 320pages
- 12 heures de lecture
Říká se, že cestou k úspěchu je tvrdá práce. K úspěchu však často může vést i mnohem rychlejší a snadnější cesta – zkratka. A ve vytváření zkratek, které nám usnadňují život tím, že nám šetří čas a námahu, vyniká zvláště matematika – ta je v podstatě uměním vymýšlet zkratky. Přední britský matematik Marcus du Sautoy svou novou knihou Umění zkratky ukazuje, jak nám díky využívání důvtipných zkratek matematika dovoluje řešit problémy rychle a efektivně. Autor nás provede světem matematických zkratek – od vzorce a diagramu po kalkulus a teorii pravděpodobnosti. Dozvíme se, proč jeden diagram vedl k zásadním změnám ve zdravotní péči, proč je kalkulus největší zkratkou, která kdy byla vynalezena, nebo proč máme díky zkratkám výhodu i před nejvýkonnějšími počítači
EINE SEHR KURZE EINFÜHRUNG IN DIE UNENDLICHKEIT Willkommen im Hotel Unendlichkeit. Es verfügt über eine unendliche Zahl von Zimmern, und in jedem der ankommenden Reisebusse sitzt eine unendliche Zahl von Menschen, die dort übernachten wollen. Wie sie unterbringen? Marcus du Sautoy, bekannt für die Zugänglichkeit und den Witz, mit denen er die Welt der Mathematik verständlich macht, entschlüsselt das Geheimnis der Unendlichkeit.
Il disordine perfetto
L'avventura di un matematico nei segreti della simmetria
- 494pages
- 18 heures de lecture
Nel 1770, il quattordicenne Mozart, in Italia con suo padre, assistette alla funzione nella Cappella Sistina per ascoltare il Miserere di Allegri, un pezzo corale eseguibile solo a Roma durante la Settimana Santa. Colpito dall'opera, tornato nel suo alloggio, scrisse di getto l'intero spartito a nove voci, basandosi sulla sua memoria. Tuttavia, Marcus du Sautoy, in "Il disordine perfetto", suggerisce che non fu solo la memoria a permettere questa impresa, ma la straordinaria capacità di Mozart di comprendere la struttura logica della composizione, catturandone la simmetria per ricostruirla. Questo episodio rappresenta solo uno dei tanti esempi della potenza della simmetria, un elemento che permea ogni aspetto del mondo naturale e umano: dalle molecole di carbonio alle pietre di Stonehenge, dai mosaici dell'Alhambra ai codici informatici, dai virus alla musica, fino al funzionamento della mente umana. Du Sautoy ci guida in un viaggio nell'universo della simmetria e delle sue sfaccettature, esplorando il lavoro della matematica per comprenderla, interpretarla e classificarla.



