Publisher's Synopsis
This book takes a novel view of mathematics, arguing that it is a branch of human language. Looking through this lens, it traces the evolution of math from the first tally sticks, through the invention of number systems, up to modern computer science. Along the way it shows that, like all language, the real key to math is human intuition. This book has something for everybody: math-phobes hoping to come to terms with an intimidating subject, mathematicians looking for insight into their trade, educators trying to make math accessible, and laymen who want to understand the role of numbers in human societies.
