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Zero

The Biography of a Dangerous Idea

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Zero

Written by: Charles Seife
Narrated by: Bob Souer
Free with 30-day trial

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Buy Now for ₹586.00

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About this listen

The Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshiped it, and the Church used it to fend off heretics. Now it threatens the foundations of modern physics. For centuries the power of zero savored of the demonic; once harnessed, it became the most important tool in mathematics. For zero, infinity's twin, is not like other numbers. It is both nothing and everything.

In Zero, science journalist Charles Seife follows this innocent-looking number from its birth as an Eastern philosophical concept to its struggle for acceptance in Europe, its rise and transcendence in the West, and its ever-present threat to modern physics. Here are the legendary thinkers - from Pythagoras to Newton to Heisenberg, from the Kabbalists to today's astrophysicists - who have tried to understand it and whose clashes shook the foundations of philosophy, science, mathematics, and religion. Zero has pitted East against West and faith against reason, and its intransigence persists in the dark core of a black hole and the brilliant flash of the big bang. Today, zero lies at the heart of one of the biggest scientific controversies of all time: the quest for a theory of everything.

©2000 Charles Seife (P)2020 Tantor Science Math History
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in simple words explains how a mathematical idea revolutionized science philosophy and spirituality. enjoyed every minute of it

great book and great story

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who knew zero had so much to it !! thoroughly enjoyed the book. The mysterious zero, complex plain, string theory, quantum , universe... what a tour !! And thoroughly understandable as a lay person without mathematics or physics qualifications.
Narration is very good and matches the content.

It felt like a roller coaster ride, yet not disoriented in any way.. will recommend this book to anyone even if you come out don't come from science maths background.

Excellent book, well narrated

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Great exposition to the mysteries of zero. A must listen to all mathematically inclined people. And a great awareness program to people in general.

Zero is awesome

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Excellent discussion on zero and infinity. Very interesting, entertaining and informative. Very well read.

Excellent discussion on zero and infinity.

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It's fascinating to listen to the rich history of ZERO.
I had never thought that the power of 0 is so vast.

Unknown Facts

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