Thinking in Numbers: On Life, Love, Meaning, and Math

Autistic savant Daniel Tammet (Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant) talks numbers, and he does so with evident inspiration and awe. Whether or not readers consider themselves mathematically inclined, they will be enthralled. In somewhat autobiographical essays that are conversational in tone Tammet examines topics as disparate as the complexity of snowflakes, the nuances of counting in Icelandic, how big is big, and how Ann Boleyn leaned to count on her eleven fingers. He regales us with discussions that incorporate references to ancient societies, insights into modern usage of language, and sprinkle in the ideas of a wide range of scientists, mathematicians, poets, and novelists. His narration about the time he enumerated the number pi to over 22,000 decimal places is riveting. Tammet enlivens his discussion of numbers with engaging personal components, including a chapter about his mother, an approach that renders his book a delightful read for a broad audience.