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Georges Ifrah
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The Universal History of Numbers Paperback – 17 Dec. 1998

by Georges Ifrah (Author), Edward Frank Harding (Translator), Sophie Wood (Translator),
4.3 out of 5 stars 69 ratings
A history of numbers, from Cro-Magnon Man to the electronic spreadsheet, taking in Scandinavia, China and the Classical World. The text is aided by explanatory figures and tables.
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  1. Print length
    648 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    The Harvill Press
  4. Publication date
    17 Dec. 1998
  5. ISBN-10
    186046324X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1860463242
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Product description

Amazon Review

This is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary author. Mathematics teacher Georges Ifrah spent a decade travelling around the world researching the origins of numbers, supporting himself by working as a waiter, taxi-driver and night clerk. The result is The Universal History of Numbers, an impressively detailed account of pretty much every aspect of the emergence and evolution of counting from the Cro-Magnons of 25,000 BC through Babylonian, Greek and Roman times to the metric system and beyond.

Ifrah never misses a chance to include intriguing insights that any reader can appreciate, from how to form cuneiform numbers on wet clay to performing calculations on your fingers--or how to use a Chinese abacus (with details of a 1945 competition between an abacus expert and someone using a calculator; the abacus-user won easily).

Much of this detail may well prove wearisome, however. I for one would have appreciated much less on long-dead number systems, and much more on modern developments in numbers. There is very little coverage of such key issues as irrational and transcendental numbers and nothing at all on the advent of complex, hyperreal or surreal numbers. This is clearly a labour of love, where the blindness of the inamorato is sadly all too apparent. --Robert Matthews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Harvill Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 17 Dec. 1998
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ New
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 648 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 186046324X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1860463242
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 kg
  • Best Sellers Rank: 1,346,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 69 ratings

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  1. Georges Ifrah

    Georges Ifrah

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  2. David Bellos

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
69 global ratings

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  • C. Marco
    1.0 out of 5 stars chi l'ha visto?
    Reviewed in Italy on 18 April 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Il libro non è mai arrivato: sono sicuro che non è colpa del venditore, ma delle solite poste italiane. specchio dei tempi... :P
    Report
  • Rambar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compra plenamente satisfactoria
    Reviewed in Spain on 28 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Compra realizada el 21 de mayo desde España. Entrega prevista 2-6 de junio. Producto entregado el 27 de mayo.
    Precio 21,15 € (2a mano).
    La razón de tan bajo precio se puede ver en las dos fotos:
    -en la primera se ve que este libro no salió bien cortado de la prensa de imprimir (lo cual no me importa pues le da un aspecto de libro antiguo)
    -en la segunda se ve levemente doblado el ángulo superior derecho (es menos de lo esperado en un 2a mano).

    Contenido: lo poco que he podido leer me deja asombrado, no solo por el contenido sino por lo completo de las explicaciones.

    Resumen: plenamente satisfecho con la compra realizada.
    Customer image
    Rambar
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Compra plenamente satisfactoria

    Reviewed in Spain on 28 May 2025
    Compra realizada el 21 de mayo desde España. Entrega prevista 2-6 de junio. Producto entregado el 27 de mayo.
    Precio 21,15 € (2a mano).
    La razón de tan bajo precio se puede ver en las dos fotos:
    -en la primera se ve que este libro no salió bien cortado de la prensa de imprimir (lo cual no me importa pues le da un aspecto de libro antiguo)
    -en la segunda se ve levemente doblado el ángulo superior derecho (es menos de lo esperado en un 2a mano).

    Contenido: lo poco que he podido leer me deja asombrado, no solo por el contenido sino por lo completo de las explicaciones.

    Resumen: plenamente satisfecho con la compra realizada.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on 29 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Origin and evolution of concept of numbers, is well depicted in this book, a must-read for all.
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  • Sarah Danielle Taraz
    5.0 out of 5 stars For every math teacher's library
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book should be in every math teacher's library. What a comprehensive understanding, so well explained, easy to read. It's about 3 inches thick. I bought it for my son but am often reading it myself. I got it as a gift for another mathematically gifted student. This is information I would weave into any part of teaching mathematics.
    Report
  • Lalngaihawma Chawngthu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in India on 26 March 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Good enough.
    Report