kuzumel reviewed Finding Zero: A Mathematician's Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers on + 112 more book reviews
Well, at least Dr. Aczel found an early symbol for zero, and made sure it is available for everyone to appreciate. The book's narrative line is structured like a mathmatician's treasure hunt for this origin and evolution of the Arabic-Indian digits we use so blithely. We get some of his personal reasons (Yay, Laci!) for this quest. And I'm still amused by how this quest became an Indiana Jones wanna-be.
Maybe it's because I come from an Eastern culture, but most of Dr. Aczel musings reads like a Westerner's discovery of India's deep intertwining of their various belief systems into everyday life. It's not the religion part as much as it is a world view that does not need to separate science from spirituality. As much as he claims to gain new respect for The East, he has not changed his deep Judeo-Christian mindset by the end of this book. (If you read his recent books that came out during the past 5 years, you will witness this world view NOT evolving.)
However, I have to question his research bias against some of the East Asian civilizations that used zero in their everyday math. Just because they did not use an explicit symbol does not mean that they did not understand the deeper MATHEMATICAL (not just religious) meaning of Null, Nil, Empty, and/or Nothing.
So the rating is for his adventures.
Maybe it's because I come from an Eastern culture, but most of Dr. Aczel musings reads like a Westerner's discovery of India's deep intertwining of their various belief systems into everyday life. It's not the religion part as much as it is a world view that does not need to separate science from spirituality. As much as he claims to gain new respect for The East, he has not changed his deep Judeo-Christian mindset by the end of this book. (If you read his recent books that came out during the past 5 years, you will witness this world view NOT evolving.)
However, I have to question his research bias against some of the East Asian civilizations that used zero in their everyday math. Just because they did not use an explicit symbol does not mean that they did not understand the deeper MATHEMATICAL (not just religious) meaning of Null, Nil, Empty, and/or Nothing.
So the rating is for his adventures.
