The Deep End

Basic math is easy.

Understanding why 2 + 2 = 4 is something most of us grasp conceptually from a very young age, because our minds are wired for that kind of conceptual thinking. Two of something plus another two of something results in four of something; we’re hard-wired for this.

Writing also comes naturally to most of us. Like math, letters are encoded information, and words, sentences, paragraphs, and books are all just collections of such figures. Those of us who are fortunate to grow up...