Secrets Of Numbers

Why is the number seven lucky--even holy--in almost every culture? Why do we speak of the four corners of the earth? Why do cats have nine lives (except in Iran, where they have seven)? From literature to folklore to private superstitions, numbers play a conspicuous role in our daily lives. But in this fascinating book, Annemarie Schimmel shows that numbers have been filled with mystery and meaning since the earliest times, and across every society. In The Mystery of Numbers Annemarie Schimmel conducts an illuminating tour of the mysteries attributed to numbers over the centuries. She begins with an informative and often surprising introduction to the origins of number systems: pre-Roman Europeans, for example, may have had one based on twenty, not ten (as suggested by the English word "score" and the French word for 80, quatrevingt --four times twenty), while the Mayans had a system more sophisticated than our own. Schimmel also reveals how our fascination with numbers has led to a rich cross-fertilization of mathematical knowledge: "Arabic" numerals, for instance, were picked up by Europe from the Arabs, who had earlier adopted them from Indian sources ("Algorithm" and "algebra" are corruptions of the Arabic author and title names of a mathematical text prized in medieval Europe). But the heart of the book is an engrossing guide to the symbolism of numbers. Number symbolism, she shows, has deep roots in Western culture, from the philosophy of the Pythagoreans and Platonists, to the religious mysticism of the Cabala and the Islamic Brethren of Purity, to Kepler's belief that the laws of planetary motion should be mathematically elegant, to the unlucky thirteen. After exploring the sources of number symbolism, Schimmel examines individual numbers ranging from one to ten thousand, discussing the meanings they have had for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic traditions, with examples from Indian, Chinese, and Native American cultures as well. Two, for instance, has widely been seen as a number of contradiction and polarity, a number of discord and antithesis. And six, according to ancient and neo-platonic thinking, is the most perfect number because it is both the sum and the product of its parts (1+2+3=6 and 1x2x3=6). Using examples ranging from the Bible to the Mayans to Shakespeare, she shows how numbers have been considered feminine and masculine, holy and evil, lucky and unlucky. A highly respected scholar of Islamic culture, Annemarie Schimmel draws on her vast knowledge to paint a rich, cross-cultural portrait of the many meanings of numbers. Engaging and accessible, her account uncovers the roots of a phenomenon we all feel every Friday the thirteenth.

Numbers are at the heart of the existence of the universe and everything that is in it, and yet most of us have very little everyday understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics, let alone their part in philosophy, art, music, architecture, quantum mechanics, physics, computer technology, literature, biology, commerce, religion, and the occult; indeed every discipline which has been and is the proper study of man.This beautifully illustrated book, using computer imagery, historical drawing, paintings and photography gives a synopsis of many of the most important mathematical discoveries in each of these categories and captures something of the spirit of the men and women who have contributed to unravelling the secrets of numbers. From the discovery of zero to infinity, The Book of Numbers is calculated to amaze and astound the reader and even encourage further in depth study in the subject.

The Mystery of the Prime Numbers uses an innovative visual approach to communicate some surprisingly advanced mathematical ideas without any need for formulas or equations. The issue of prime numbers acts as a gateway into some truly strange philosophical territory whose relevance extends well beyond mathematics. The series Secrets of Creation is in three volumes: Secrets of Creation Volume 1 The Mystery of the Prime Numbers Secrets of Creation, Volume 2 The Enigma of the Spiral Waves Secrets of Creation, Volume 3 Prime Numbers, Quantum Physics and a Journey to the Centre of Your Mind

For thousands of years people have been aware of the significance of numbers. The early Greeks taught that numbers are central to the understanding of life itself, while Galileo, the medieval Italian astronomer, said, “The book of nature is written in mathematical language”. This attractively presented book explains both the history and theory of numerology, and, through practical advice, opens the door on a new world of possibilities. Rather than enduring the effects of various life circumstances, we can, through numerology, take part in their rhythmic process, one that links us with universal purpose and meaning. Numerology offers us the ability to order and control our lives.