Author(s): Derrick Niederman

Science

What do wallpaper patterns, George Balanchine's Serenade, and Italian superstitions have in common? They're all included in the entry for the number 17 in this clever, surprising, and engaging book that reveals the secret language of numbers. Number Freak is a guided tour of the numbers 1 to 200, covering everything from basic mathematical principles to ancient unsolved theorems, from sublime theory to delightfully ridiculous trivia, and spanning the worlds of science, nature, sports, literature, pop culture, and more. Get ready to see numbers - and their properties, patterns, and propensities - in a new way.