A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK The Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshipped it, and the Christian Church used it to fend off heretics. Today it's a timebomb ticking in the heart of astrophysics. For zero, infinity's twin, is not like other numbers. It is both nothing and everything. Zero has pitted East against West and faith against reason, and its intransigence persists in the dark core of a black hole and the brilliant flash of the Big Bang. Today, zero lies at the heart of one of the biggest scientific controversies of all time: the quest for a theory of everything. Within the concept of zero lies a philosophical and scientific history of humanity. Charles Seife's elegant and witty account takes us from Aristotle to superstring theory by way of Egyptian geometry, Kabbalism, Einstein, the Chandrasekhar limit and Stephen Hawking. Covering centuries of thought, it is a concise tour of a world of ideas, bound up in the simple notion of nothing.

"A startling new philosophy and practical guide to getting the most out of your money-and out of life-for those who value memorable experiences as much as their earnings"--

Life Without Zero : The Power Of Nothing Introduction Imagine a world where zero does not exist. In Numerica, an ancient city nestled between the mountains of Arithmos and the rivers of Algebrion, numbers govern every aspect of life. Yet, the absence of zero creates a cascade of challenges, turning everyday tasks into complex endeavors. "Life Without Zero" follows Lira, a curious young girl, on her quest to uncover the mysteries of this missing concept. Her journey reveals the profound impact of zero on commerce, architecture, science, and timekeeping, revolutionizing Numerica and offering timeless lessons about curiosity and perseverance. Chapter Summaries Chapter 1: The Missing Link Numerica thrives on numbers, but without zero, life is fraught with difficulties. Lira, with her insatiable curiosity, begins to notice these challenges, setting the stage for her transformative journey. Chapter 2: Commerce in Chaos Merchants like Baljit Singh struggle without zero. Lira learns about the complications in trade and commerce, realizing the broader implications of this missing number. Chapter 3: The Architect's Dilemma Architect Lajwanti's designs lack precision without zero. Lira discovers the essential role of zero in stability and balance, crucial for engineering and construction. Chapter 4: The Scholar's Tale Lira's grandfather, Thalos, reveals an ancient manuscript with the symbol of zero, explaining its historical significance and the fear that led to its banishment. Chapter 5: The Timekeeper's Struggle Timekeeper Gurdip struggles to track time accurately without zero. Lira learns about the importance of zero in scheduling and calculating durations. Chapter 6: Lira's Quest Determined to uncover zero's secrets, Lira embarks on a journey across Numerica, gathering knowledge from scholars, merchants, architects, and timekeepers. Chapter 7: The Revelation Lira returns to Numerica, sharing her discoveries at the grand amphitheater. She demonstrates how zero simplifies calculations and brings precision to various fields. Chapter 8: Overcoming Skepticism Initially skeptical, Numerica's citizens gradually accept zero as Lira shows its practical applications. This chapter explores the challenges of changing long-held beliefs. Chapter 9: A New Era Embracing zero, Numerica enters a new era of prosperity. Merchants, architects, and timekeepers marvel at the benefits zero brings to their work. Chapter 10: Lira's Legacy Lira's journey concludes with the realization that her quest was about more than discovering zero. Her legacy teaches future generations the importance of curiosity and exploration. Character Insights Lira: The protagonist, driven by curiosity and determination. Baljit Singh: A merchant struggling with chaotic accounts. Lajwanti: An architect whose work lacks precision. Thalos: Lira's grandfather, a bridge between past knowledge and future discoveries. Gurdip: A timekeeper facing immense challenges. Thematic Elements Curiosity and Knowledge: Lira's journey emphasizes the importance of seeking answers. Perseverance and Courage: Lira's perseverance inspires transformative change. The Power of Zero: The novel explores zero's profound impact on various aspects of life. Significance "Life Without Zero" blends history, mathematics, and adventure, inviting readers to imagine a world without zero. Through Lira's journey, we learn about the power of curiosity and the importance of exploring the unknown. This novel serves as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of understanding, offering something for history lovers, mathematics enthusiasts, and adventure seekers alike.

“A captivating story, not just an intellectual quest but a personal one . . . gripping [and] filled with the passion and wonder of numbers.” —The New York Times Virtually everything in our lives is digital, numerical, or quantified. But the story of how and where we got these numerals, which we so depend on, has for thousands of years been shrouded in mystery. Finding Zero is the saga of Amir Aczel’s lifelong obsession: to find the original sources of our numerals, perhaps the greatest abstraction the human mind has ever created. Aczel has doggedly crisscrossed the ancient world, scouring dusty, moldy texts, cross-examining so-called scholars who offered wildly differing sets of facts, and ultimately penetrating deep into a Cambodian jungle to find a definitive proof. Here, he takes the reader along for the ride. The history begins with Babylonian cuneiform numbers, followed by Greek and Roman letter numerals. Then Aczel asks: Where do the numbers we use today, the so-called Hindu-Arabic numerals, come from? It is this search that leads him to explore uncharted territory on a grand quest into India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and ultimately into the wilds of Cambodia. There he is blown away to find the earliest zero—the keystone of our entire system of numbers—on a crumbling, vine-covered wall of a seventh-century temple adorned with eaten-away erotic sculptures. While on this odyssey, Aczel meets a host of fascinating characters: academics in search of truth, jungle trekkers looking for adventure, surprisingly honest politicians, shameless smugglers, and treacherous archaeological thieves—who finally reveal where our numbers come from. “A historical adventure that doubles as a surprisingly engaging math lesson . . . rip-roaring exploits and escapades.” —Publishers Weekly

In the tradition of "Longitude, " a small and engagingly written book on the history and meaning of zero--a "tour de force" of science history that takes us through the hollow circle that leads to infinity. 32 illustrations.

In Rutherford and Fry's comprehensive guidebook, they tell the complete story of the universe and absolutely everything in it - skipping over some of the boring parts. This is a celebration of the weirdness of the cosmos, the strangeness of humans and the fact that amid all the mess, we can somehow make sense of life. Our brains have evolved to tell us all sorts of things that feel intuitively right but just aren't true- the world looks flat, the stars seem fixed in the heavenly firmament, a day is 24 hours... This book is crammed full of tales of how stuff really works. With the power of science, Rutherford and Fry show us how to bypass our monkey-brains, taking us on a journey from the origin of time and space, via planets, galaxies, evolution, the dinosaurs, all the way into our minds, and wrestling with some truly head-scratching questions that only science can answer- What is time, and where does it come from? Why are animals the size and shape they are? What is a thought? How horoscopes work (Spoiler- they don't, but you think they do) Does my dog love me? Why nothing is truly round Do you need your eyes to see?

Over three consecutive Olympic games, Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit--remaining equally gracious in victory and defeat, always striving to improve his performance, and appreciating the value of the hard work of training as much as any reward it might bring.