The Man of Numbers

Fibonacci's Arithmetic Revolution

By: Keith Devlin

Narrated by: Ray Chase

In 1202, a 32-year-old Italian finished one of the most influential books of all time, which introduced modern arithmetic to Western Europe. Devised in India in the 7th and 8th centuries and brought to North Africa by Muslim traders, the Hindu-Arabic system helped transform the West into the dominant force in science, technology, and commerce, leaving behind Muslim cultures which had long known it but had failed to see its potential.

The young Italian, Leonardo of Pisa (better known today as Fibonacci), had learned the Hindu number system when he traveled to North Africa with his father, a customs agent. The book he created was Liber abbaci, the "Book of Calculation", and the revolution that followed its publication was enormous. Arithmetic made it possible for ordinary people to buy and sell goods, convert currencies, and keep accurate records of possessions more readily than ever before. Liber abbaci's publication led directly to large-scale international commerce and the scientific revolution of the Renaissance.

Yet despite the ubiquity of his discoveries, Leonardo of Pisa remains an enigma. His name is best known today in association with an exercise in Liber abbaci whose solution gives rise to a sequence of numbers - the Fibonacci sequence - used by some to predict the rise and fall of financial markets, and evident in myriad biological structures.

One of the great math popularizers of our time, Keith Devlin recreates the life and enduring legacy of an overlooked genius, and in the process makes clear how central numbers and mathematics are to our daily lives.

©2011 Keith Devlin (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Redo

I’ve got to listen to this again, the contrast of the number to story of a persons life banged a separation that was out of my comprehension; thought I’d be calculating…

What Can Be Said About Fettuccine?

Honestly, this review is going to be lengthy. Just like the Fettuccine Sequence itself, something I have never memorized or cared to, this review reflects my deepest and personal thoughts.

What are numbers? How do we count? These questions are generally answered for you in preschool. Maybe your parents sat you down one fine afternoon, poster board and markers in hand. With some type of movement that your infant brain could only describe as magic, they began tracing numbers. 1 2 3 4 5 and so on. Perhaps your family sat you in front of a television, turned on critically acclaimed television show Sesame Street, and let the purple vampire recite his favorite numbers. Your tiny baby heart swelled with love as mom and dad congratulated you on being able to count on your fingers with ease.

That was not my experience. I was born to feral wolves and lived my days hunting and gathering with my pack. Much like the great legend of Romulus and Remus, I too, was raised by a she-wolf. I growled, howled, and fought my way to the top of alpha male. This was not easy, mind you. Neither is the Fibonacci Sequence. This book brought me back to simpler times.

As you read my review, you may wonder how a feral child learned to read and type with such precision and accuracy. This is where Fibonacci comes in. I was recused by a local wild life advocacy group and placed within foster care. Every day, my foster mother would play this book on repeat. My wolf heart snarled and resisted any form of civility. I backed myself into corners, stole food from my foster siblings, and marked my territory. Still, this woman had what I can only describe as unrestrained passion for Fibonacci. Through intense speech therapy, American education, and a little tender love and care, I was fully domesticated. I still howl at the full moon, but my Psychiatrist assured me this behavior is not anything to be concerned about.

The narrator of this fabulous little book keeps my demons at bay. Every night, when I can feel the room temperature drop and a strange glowing presence rises from my floor boards, I play this novel. His smooth voice, like melted butter sliding down a perfectly browned piece of toast, resonates with the unholy monstrosities that torment my soul. You see, I was raised a devote Catholic during my formative years (Well, formative once I left the wolf pack) . For some reason, demons seem to be attracted to my spirit. Not anymore though! Just like a never ending sequence of numbers, the narrator reads the words off the pages with such intensity, such vigor, the fear of God is placed within these monster's heart.

Other reviewers need to really consider the power of such an amazing tale. The narrator, whoever this man may be, taught me the fundamentals of counting. Thank you.

Not what you might think...

This is mostly a history of the introduction of arithmetic to Europe. Although Fibonacci is discussed, there is so little historical information on Fibonacci available, that would have been a very short book. There is also virtually nothing regarding mathematics or the interesting mathematical features of the Fibonacci sequence.

SO...if you are not looking for a biography of Fibonacci, and not looking for details of the mathematics of the Fibonacci sequence, and you are interesting in how Arabic numerals and arithmetic were introduced into Europe, then this is the book for you.

This is not a great book, but it is mildly interesting and is pretty short.

The narration is quite good, both clear, and projecting a positive energy the invigorates the otherwise straightforward text.

not good for understanding his arithmetic

only good if you want history of the man and his manuscripts. no useful math information in the book.

No discussion of math Monotonous delivery

I was hoping to find out about the Fibonacci series and it’s applications instead I listened and listened to listen only to learn about irrelevant minutiae. Bland. Boring.. Doesn’t speak about what relationship there may be between the Fibonacci series and auto tune.