Finding Zero: A Mathematician’s Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers by Amir D. Aczel (PDF)

Description

The invention of numerals is perhaps the greatest abstraction the human mind has ever created. Virtually everything in our lives is digital, numerical, or quantified. 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 an adventure filled saga of Amir Aczel’s lifelong obsession: to find the original sources of our numerals. 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 the early Babylonian cuneiform numbers, followed by the later Greek and Roman letter numerals. Then Aczel asks the key question: 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, to go 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.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “In his quest to find out whence the numbers came, Aczel crosses the globe, visiting India, Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere…in weaving together mathematics and history with his personal explorations, Aczel enables readers to experience the joy of the chase.” ―Scientific American“In this combination of memoir, travelog, and philosophical musing, Aczel recounts his search for the origin of the numerals…Recommended for anyone who cares about the history of mathematics and science.” ―Library Journal“Readers…accompany Aczel as he tests the limits of coldly cerebral Western mathematical logic against the stunning eroticism of numerical thinking in Hinduism, and weighs the truefalse reasoning of Aristotle against the bewildering four-prong logic of the Buddha…An exciting personal adventure reminding readers of how much nothing really means.” ―Booklist (starred review)“Prolific mathematics writer Aczel leads a historical adventure that doubles as a surprisingly engaging math lesson…Readers may find themselves questioning Aczel’s sanity, as his obsession with zero’s origins drives him from one dead end to the next, but it’s difficult to avoid being drawn into his quest with these rip-roaring exploits and escapades.” ―Publishers Weekly“”The author of the best-selling Fermat’s Enigma (1996) and other popular books on mathematics and science takes readers through a history of zero and takes himself on a journey through the jungles of Cambodia to find its the earliest use. …the journey to zero is an adventure worth joining.” –Kirkus Reviews ” ―“”The zero is the most precious mathematical legacy we have from medieval times. Without it, modern mathematics would be unthinkable. In this delightful book Amir Aczel engagingly explains its importance, while recounting his search for the earliest representation of zero” ―and the drama that erupted when he found it.” –Ian Tattersall, Curator Emeritus in the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History“”Amir Aczel is the Indiana Jones of the mathematical world, taking us on an enthralling adventure to find out where our numbers came from.” -Marcus du Sautoy, professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and author of The Number Mysteries” ― About the Author Amir D. Aczel is the author of fifteen books, including The Riddle of the Compass, The Mystery of the Aleph, and the international bestseller Fermat’s Last Theorem. An internationally known writer of mathematics and science, he is a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. He lives in Brookline, MA.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐outstand in all facets. well written, amazing research and historical facts. my complaint is my eyes not the book. i’m old and would much prefer the larger print. salutes to the author. I am not a mathmatician but the author writes so well that I can grasp the concepts.

⭐No one who cares about mathematics at all is ignorant of the importance of the invention of zero. (The strains of the Schoolhouse Rock song “My Hero, Zero” sound in my head even as I write these words.) I was always taught that the concept of zero was an Indian invention that ultimately made its way into the “Arabic” numerals and, so, to the West. Though Mr. Aczel doesn’t completely upset the apple cart with his new book, Finding Zero, he attempts to tell a story that is deeper and more interesting than the one zero usually gets in histories of mathematics. In some ways, he succeeds.Mr. Aczel does two things of importance in this book. First, he argues that the concept of zero would likely never have been developed in Western Europe. Essentially, he believes that the concept of zero developed out of the different logic that comes from historical Buddhism and Hinduism. Whereas Greek logic, for example, depended highly on an either/or system (exemplified through proof by contradiction), Buddhist and Hindu logic developed from a “true, not true, both, neither” logic that laid the groundwork for concepts like zero and infinity.Second, he pushes the development of the concept of zero further to the East than India. In fact, he argues that it comes from Southeast Asia, as his search takes him to Thailand and, ultimately, to Cambodia. He is searching for a seventh-century stele called K-127, which records the earliest known use of a “modern” zero. Discovered in 1929 by a man named George Coedes, it disappeared during the wars of the sixties and seventies.In fact, it is Mr. Aczel’s search for this stele that drives most of this book and this is one place where the book falls short. Much of it turns out to be a travelogue of his journey to the stele. Unfortunately, his ability to tell a compelling travel story is not nearly as strong as his ability to put mathematical concepts into an historical context. The prose comes across a bit flat. At least until he gets to the end of his journey. And, though it seems that Southeast Asia is the heart of the development of zero, it should be noted that these steles developed from the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism. That is, India.Still, there is much to like about this book. There is something about having this stele, this physical manifestation of the zero, that is compelling, however boring the description of the search might be. And having this extended investigation into the invention of zero is something not to be missed for anyone interested in the history of mathematics.

⭐I liked the story of the origin of 0.

⭐I’m not a math person. I’m a person who breathed a sigh of relief when calculators first hit the market (yes, THAT old). But I trust the judgement of the person who said this was a great read … bought it … and am loving it. It’s as much an enchanting memoir as anything.

⭐Once my physicist husband pointed out to me—many years ago—that zero is magical, I’ve been fascinated by it, and Dr. Aczel’s book fills the bill admirably. I especially like his discussions of the differences between Western and Eastern logic, set theory and the Void and Infinity. His description of concepts of Buddhism and Hinduism ring true to me, even if I am irredeemably stuck in the Western linear mode. His own passion (obsession?) with finding zero is charmingly and deeply portrayed, and makes for a perfect frame for the philosophical content. An engaging read for someone who wants to think.If I am stingy with that last star, it is only because the book felt padded in spots.

⭐I like books that teach me something new in a familiar area. This book does that. What is the origin of the numeral for zero? Aczel leads us on a journey far from the accepted notion of the origin of zero. At times it reads like a detective story with several twists and turns. You may not learn new math here but you will learn about “old math” – the origin of the symbol for zero. Nice read.

⭐I always like Dr Aczel’s books. They are informative in areas of knowledge that can be above our average understanding, but he puts basic concepts in everyday language. He’s traveled all his life and done amazing things, and recounts them in a way that holds one’s attention. Finding Zero is so important to our mathematical understanding, yet probably not questioned– why and where did the concept come from? Here is the answer.

⭐This is a great book! Recommended read for those who’d consider themselves to be cerebral. Great storytelling by this author.

⭐I am very happy with this book

⭐Its a mix of travellogue , philosophy ,mathmatics to find the , where is the oldest 0 available in written form. too much about indian philosophy was unwarrented.

⭐Zero was invented may be thousand five hundred years ago by Buddhists who had a knowledge of void (sunyata) and the Catuskoti logic that is different from Aristotelian Logic. The Author describes the details in a very simple but elegant way.

⭐Delightful!!

⭐Whether you are interested in Cambodia, or in math, or in art, or in a good mystery, this is the book for you!

⭐

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