The Magic of Numbers

From one of the foremost interpreters for laymen of the history and meaning of mathematics: a stimulating account of the origins of mathematical thought and the development of numerical theory from its beginnings in ancient times to the modern era, probing the work of Pythagoras, Galileo, Berkeley, Einstein and many others, and exploring the ways in which "number magic" has influenced the development of religion, philosophy, science and mathematics.

Eric Temple Bell (1883–1960) was a Stanford University Ph.D. who taught at the University of Washington and Cal Tech. He wrote 14 books on mathematics in addition to poetry and 13 science-fiction novels.

CHAPTER
1. THE PAST RETURNS
2. A ROYAL MACE
3. FOR THEIR OWN SAKE
4. THE DECISIVE CENTURY
5. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
6. WISDOM AS A PROFESSION
7. "NOT MUCH, BUT ENOUGH"
8. ONE OR MANY?
9. A DREAM AND A DOUBT
10. "HALF MAN, HALF MYTH"
11. DISCORD AND HARMONY
12. HARMONY AND DISCORD
13. MYTHOLOGY TRANSFORMED
14. THE COSMOS AS NUMBER
15. HIMSELF MADE IT?
16. INTIMATIONS OF THE INFINITE
17. A MISCARRIAGE OF REASON
18. POLITICS AND GEOMETRY
19. "ANOTHER I"
20. NUMBER DEIFIED
21. PYTHAGORAS IN PURGATORY
22. SAINTS AND HERETICS
23. A TURNING POINT
24. THE SKEPTICAL BISHOP
25. BELIEVER AND DISBELIEVER
26. CHANGING VIEWS
27. RETURN OF THE MASTER