He has written for a wide variety of publications, including the new york times, wired, new scientist, science, scientific american, and the economist. Of course, seife s book is not a typical biography. Weaving together ancient dramas and stateoftheart science, zero is a concise tour of a universe of ideas bound up in the simple notion of nothingness. The babylonians invented it, the greeks banned it, the hindus worshiped it, and the church used it. For zero, infinitys twin, is not like other numbers. The biography of a dangerous idea publishers weekly. The book was initially released on february 7, 2000 by viking. In zero, charles seife presented readers with a thrilling account of the strangest number known to humankind. Zero is really something washington post a new york times notable book. Enjoy this book on your ereader and in the format you prefer. A biography of the number zero by charles seife, matt.
Early civilizations had little use for a concept of zero. The biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife is more than just a math book. Zero is comprehensible, and provides a history of mathematics that is concise and enjoyable. In zero, science journalist charles seife follows this innocentlooking number from its birth as an eastern philosophical concept to its struggle for acceptance in europe, its rise and transcendence in the west, and its everpresent threat to modern physics. About charles seife charles seife is the author of five previous books, including proofiness and zero, which won the penmartha albrand award for. Formerly a journalist with science magazine, has also written for new scientist, scientific american, the economist, science, wired uk, the sciences, and numerous other publications. The biography of a dangerous idea 9780140296471 by seife, charles and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. From the author of zero, comes this admirable salvo against quantitative bamboozlement by the media and the government the boston globe.
The biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife here is a quick description and cover image of book zero. When weapons builders detonated the first hydrogen bomb in 1952, they tapped into the vastest source of energy in our solar systemthe very. Charles seife is the author of five previous books, including proofiness and virtual unreality. The biography of a dangerous idea ebook written by charles seife. This book is about the history of zero, from ancient times to modern concepts. The babylonians invented it, the greeks banned it, the hindus worshipped it, and the church used it to fend off heretics. The biography of a dangerous idea, seife, charles product details. He has written for a wide variety of publications, including more about charles seife. This title has been removed from sale by penguin group, usa. Charles seife is the author of four previous books, including proofiness, sun in a bottle and zero, which won the penmartha albrand award for first nonfiction book, and was named a new york times notable book. Publication date 2000 topics zero the number publisher.
For centuries, the power of zero savored of the demonic. Opening with prehistoric humanitys first attempts at counting livestock and closing with contemporary efforts to quantity whether the universe is expanding or contracting, science writer charles seife s zero covers nothing less than the entire history of mathematics, boiled down to about 200 pages. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Seife focuses on the twin enemies of calculation, zero and infinity, and the. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read zero. The seemingly impossible zen taskwriting a book about nothinghas a loophole. Zero is really somethingwashington post a new york times notable book. Here are the legendary thinkersfrom pythagoras to newton to heisenberg, from the. Seife s biography, of course, is of a number and hence it is not a standard biographical work.
Popular math at its most entertaining and enlightening. The biography of a dangerous idea book by charles seife. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The biography of a dangerous idea is a nonfiction book by american author and journalist charles seife. Charles seife the author of zero looks at the messy history of the struggle to harness fusion energy. Now it threatens the foundations of modern physics. Covering centuries of thought, it is a concise tour of a world of ideas, bound up in the simple notion of nothing. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. In zero science journalist charles seife follows this innocentlooking number from its birth as an eastern philosophical concept to its struggle for acceptance in europe, its rise and transcendence in the west, and its everpresent threat to modern physics. Salon about the author charles seife, a journalist with science magazine, has also written for new scientist, scientific american, the economist, science, wired uk, the sciences, and numerous other publications.
About charles seife charles seife is the author of five previous books, including proofiness and zero, which won the penmartha albrand award for first nonfiction and was a new york times notable book. Also, that so many books are available for the ipad is a welcome surprise. Read zero the biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife available from rakuten kobo. Buy zero the biography of a dangerous idea on free shipping on qualified orders. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Now, five months later, charles seife has presented us with zero. 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. Discover book depositorys huge selection of charles seife books online. During an independent study, a professor gave her a list of math fiction and nonfiction books to read, such as zero. Formerly a journalist with science magazine, has also written for. The biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife. The babylonians invented it, the greeks banned it, the hindus worshiped it, and the church used it to fend off heretics. Seife wrote for science magazine and new scientist before joining the department of journalism at new york university where he became a professor. The biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife online at alibris.
May have markings, water damage, missing jacketcdssupplemental materials, and heavy wear. Best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons. The biography of a dangerous idea written by charles seife which was published in 200027. The biography of a dangerous idea charles seife download bok. Counted things first appear in the archaeological record as marks on bones in the the stone age. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Zero is really somethingwashington post a new york times nota. Zero the biography of a dangerous idea authors charles seife. His work has appeared in such publications as the new york times, new scientist, scientific american, the economist, and wired.
Charles seife is a professor of journalism at new york university. The biography of a dangerous idea book online at best prices in india on. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Charles seife books list of books by author charles seife. The biography of a dangerous idea new ed by charles seife isbn. There are no tellall interviews with the number one or any of zero s other neighbors on the number. Seife has a talent for making the most ballbusting of modern theoriesseem fairly lucid and common sensical. The biography of a dangerous idea was written by charles seife, an american journalist and journalism professor at nyu. Charles seife begins his discourse with the earliest history of numbers. Charles seife traces the origins and colorful history of the number zero from aristotle to superstring theory by way of pythagoras, the kabbalists, and einstein. Although the book reads well, is nicely documented, and extensively researched, the author has a style that i found aggravating. Its quite interesting and encompasses a lot of mathematics and philosophy as well as a bit of physics.
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