The Big Bang of Numbers

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Big Bang of Numbers by Manil Suri, read by Sid Sagar.

Who knew numbers could be so charming? ... Suri takes us on a light-hearted journey all the way from nothing (zero) to infinity' Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

Our universe has multiple origin stories, from religious creation myths to the Big Bang of scientists. But if we leave those behind and start from nothing – no matter, no cosmos, not even empty space – could we create a universe using only maths?

In this new mathematical origin story, mathematician and award-winning novelist Manil Suri creates a natural progression of ideas needed to design our world, starting with numbers and continuing through geometry, algebra, and beyond. With evocative and engaging examples ranging from multidimensional crochet to the Mona Lisa’s asymmetrical smile, as well as ingenious storytelling that helps illuminate complex concepts like infinity and relativity, The Big Bang of Numbers charts a playful, inventive course to existence.

Distilled from almost four decades of teaching experience, and offering both striking new perspectives for maths aficionados and an accessible introduction for enthusiastic novices, The Big Bang of Numbers proves that we can all fall in love with maths.

Critics Review

The fundamental[s] of maths presented like a delightful fairy-tale. Hugely enjoyed it

Dara O'Brien

A beautifully written meditation on mathematics: whimsical, thought-provoking and deep

Alex Bellos, author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland

Who knew numbers could be so charming? So industrious? Suri takes us on a light-hearted journey all the way from nothing (zero) to infinity. Math has rarely been so readable.

Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

In The Big Bang of Numbers, Manil Suri invites the reader to create a universe made of mathematical ideas, sparking a thrill that may catch you off guard—an exhilarating sensation of playfulness, power, and insight.

Steven Strogatz, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Powers and The Joy of X

Numerophobic? This infinitely fascinating book will cure you … Manil Suri’s march through maths is brimming with entertaining and yet discombobulating thoughts … Suri has a knack for clarity and a welcome habit of grounding tricky concepts in the tangible

The Times

A most unusual, creative, and fascinating account of mathematics that relies not on equations or formulas, but on metaphors, paradoxes, and lovely vignettes.

John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

A delightful ride of a book. Before I knew it, I was rooting for primes, doubting the wisdom of dividing by zero, and holding my breath as the universe starts to emerge from triangles and cones and planes. The book was so enjoyable and understandable, it almost made me want to take another stab at calculus. Almost. Proof that when a smart person who writes well and honestly explores their passion, that passion is contagious.

Ken Krimstein, author of When I Grow Up

An excellent new book that could make anyone fall in love with math

Washingtonian

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.