Rogerson's Book of Numbers: The Culture of Numbers--from 1,001 Nights to the Seven Wonders of the World

by Barnaby Rogerson

THE STORIES BEHIND OUR ICONIC NUMBERS Rogerson's Book of Numbers is based on a numerical array of virtues, spiritual attributes, gods, devils, sacred cities, powers, calendars, heroes, saints, icons, and cultural symbols. It provides a dazzling mass of information for those intrigued by the many roles numbers play in folklore and popular culture, in music and poetry, and in the many religions, cultures, and belief systems of our world. The stories unfold from millions to from the number of the beast (666) to the seven deadly sins; from the twelve signs of the zodiac to the four suits of a deck of cards. Along the way, author Barnaby Rogerson will show you why Genghis Khan built a city of 108 towers, how Dante forged his Divine Comedy on the number eleven, and why thirteen is so unlucky in the West whereas fourteen is the number to avoid in China.

Genres: Science, Reference, Nonfiction, History, Cultural

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

Barnaby Rogerson (1960-) is a British author, television presenter and publisher. He has written extensively about the Muslim world, including a biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and numerous travel guides. Rogerson was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and studied Medieval History at St Andrews University

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book via First Reads.

Barnaby Rogerson’s Book of Numbers was a massive undertaking and for this alone I think he merits four stars. He attempts to illustrate the roles numbers play throughout the world, their cultural significance, and he hints at using these findings to add additional layers of meaning to art and architecture. Being that there is so much content for each number explored, the resulting work has an encyclopedic quality. It seems like a book which works better when referenced rather than read straight through.

A reference book of this type would work very well in my hometown of Las Vegas. Nowhere else is it more obvious that people place a lot of faith in numerals and patterns. Remembering a fact like “33 is the ancient number of completion” or “14 is the number to avoid in China” could really be put to practical use at the roulette table. By the way, did you know that the sum of all numbers on a roulette table is 666 (aka Mark of the Beast)? These are the facts that Rogerson drops in these mini-essays.

This work is informative and chock full of trivia. It is a great reference book if you have a favorite number, but with the amount of work that into writing a piece of this magnitude I feel he would have been better served by imaging who would read this book and for what purpose. Gamblers, for one, always need a justification for choosing the numbers that they do and the facts learned from the book might even get you some respect at the roulette table. Another potential reader would be a person inclined to perceive patterns in everything he does. I believe the organization of this book is ideally suited to someone like that. I also believe trivia and numbers geeks will find pleasure with this book in its current state.

I would have preferred a more thematic approach to the topic of numbers, as the three major themes explored were: Religion, Culture/Literature, International societies. Organizing in this way, with a general narrative about each group in society would have made this book a lot more readable. As it is now, I will probably just glance through this book if I get a certain number stuck in my head.

[Fred Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on a free copy supplied by the publisher through the Goodreads First read program.

This book is a look at numbers from a religious, mythological and cultural perspective.

You will find many references to the Bible, the Greeks, The Romans and other ancient empires.

Some are arcane references, while others are revelatory.

A quick but interesting read. Entertaining.

For the more secular / scientific oriented reader I recommend the "The Math Book" by Clifford A. Pickover. I fit in this category.

[Maryam Ibrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book I never thought I would pick up. I detest numbers, but eventually picked up this book to broaden my knowledge and to diversify my tiny bookshelf. The book, like the title, starts backwards with the highest number’s origin and meaning working its way back to zero. I was personally shocked that there was a whole story on zero and thought I was done with the book.

The book is a lot to grasp, throwing information at you at all sides. A bunch of summaries of each number and how they are significant in our times, be it politics, history or religion, numbers are important. Furthermore, I learnt some amazing things about history and religion and their inclination towards numbers. It is truly eye opening to understand the prevalence numbers has played throughout history.

Lastly, as this book is a breath of fresh air and a distraction the amount of information thrown at you can be too much which can make you reluctant to read or in my case, agonizing to finish. However, in all of this, I would l have liked a more detailed account of some of the numbers to make it more interesting instead of direct info being flown towards me.

A brilliant and informative book that can at the same time distract you and make you tired.

[Timothy Burbage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book very different to what I imagined. I thought it would be based in mathematics and explain why some numbers were the way they were. How wrong I was.

This was more an encyclopaedia ordered numerically, rather than alphabetically. It also was focussed on religion and history. I learnt some facts about Mohammed, Zoroastrianism and other religions.

As with every collection of sound bites, some I found more interesting than others. Also this is a book that you can skim read very easily.

Overall, this would be a perfect book for a doctor's waiting room or a guest bathroom. It is something you can pick up and read for 30 seconds and put back down again, but doesn't make too much of a lasting impression.

[Kathy Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating little book that just about anyone should find interesting, especially if you're interested in the mythology / psychology of numbers. Each number gets its own chapter that's comprised of short passages explaining the number's significance in various cultural, social or often religious ways, so you can read the chapters in any order you want or look up specific examples related to that number, whether it's the Seven Deadly Sins or Twelve Olympian gods. The book is impressively researched and includes an extensive index of entries and links to more detailed sources. Highly recommended!

[Dinda F.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting view point of numbers from different parts of knowledge. This book is suitable for enjoying your evening time by chunk of interesting facts in number. (e.g., fact of 25 things, fact of 5 things). Brief explanation about the fact and image will give you more insight, but it needs more than that. You probably will learn new things from this books and do more research after reading it.

If you're looking for mathematical equations, better looking for different book.

[Penpitcha Thaweepong · Rating 3 out of 5]

นึกว่าจะพูดถึงเบื้องหลัง/แนวคิดที่มาของตัวเลขต่างๆ จริงๆ ก็มีนั่นแหละ แต่ส่วนมากจะเป็นการรวบรวมว่าตัวเลขแต่ละตัวเคยมีเหตุการณ์อะไรเกี่ยวข้องบ้างมากกว่า ซึ่งไม่ใช่อย่างที่คาดหวังไว้ แต่นั่นไม่ใช่ปัญหาเท่าไร ปัญหาคืออ่าน (ฉบับแปล) ไม่รู้เรื่องเลย ไม่แน่ใจว่าเพราะการแปล/เรียบเรียงบางช่วงหรือเปล่าจึงทำให้อ่านแล้วรู้สึกไม่สมูทเท่าที่ควร

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring; lots of very minor explanations why certain numbers seem to be important. Most of them have to do with religion. Since most explanations took no more than 2 paragraphs it could never catch my interest.

[Nuttawat Kalapat · Rating 4 out of 5]

เอาจำนวนเป็นตัวตั้ง แล้วต่อด้วยเรื่องเล่าสั้นๆ
เช่น เทพสามองค์ บัญญัติ10ประการ
666เลขแห่งซาตาน

ไม่ใช่หนังสือคณิตหรอก
แต่อ่านสนุกดี

[PS · Rating 1 out of 5]

ในฐานะผู้อยู่ในศาสนา และวัฒนธรรมหนึ่งที่ถูกเขียนในเล่ม พบเนื้อหาผิดและคลุมเครือหลายแห่ง จนทำให้ไม่เชื่อมั่นเนื้อหาที่เหลือ

[Chompoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just skim the second half of the book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. Rogerson's Book of Numbers provides a very summarized list of numbers of significance in world culture, religion, and mythology. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and other more obscure, but still practiced religions are covered, as well as Greek, Roman, Norse, and other ancient mythologies.

Although the book really doesn't have any form of citations for where information is located, it does provide some simple thoughts and jumping off points for looking up more information on a topic using other sources. I know I quite frequently would read a section, which are succinct and quick reads, only to look to the internet for further information regarding a topic.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: free copy received via Goodreads.

If you're looking for a book full of fascinating facts you never realized you wanted to know, "Rogerson's Book of Numbers" is for you.

It's a collection of all things numerical. But if math doesn't interest you, don't worry. It's not that kind of book. It's more about the cultural influence of numbers.

You get the idea. "Rogerson's Book of Numbers" is full of facts like these and the stories behind them. Take a chance on this one. You'll come away thoroughly entertained.

[Unna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Goodreads Giveaway win makes for a great short read! Perfect for keeping on the coffee table and flipping it open to any random page. There's a lack of citations, and some of the tidbits seem off, but it's highly entertaining. A range of topics are covered, so you won't easily get bored. Definitely research anything you find interesting in here. I would not recommend reading this in one sitting, the overload of information could possibly put you off for further reading!

[Erika Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just received this book free through Good Reads First Reads. It is a small paperback with a nice cover. So far I have just flipped through it, but I like what I see. It looks more like the kind of book you would use as a reference rather than read all the way through. I am excited to read some of it and will update this review when I do!

[Miliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love fact and trivia.

Is there a lots of information that don't really useful? Yes
Does it give me any benefit? Maybe.
Do I remember all the trivia and facts? No.
How about turn me to trivia nerdy? Already there!

This book all about numbers. Number can made my brain spin, but I also love it.

[Joost Perreijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book well worth reading, don't expect any specialist research in into the treated topics, but it does give a very nice introduction into the many ways numbers have been used by different cultures...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a random collection of micro-essays curated based on a numerical element. The facts are not mind-blowing, "hidden" nor terribly special; they're just numbers with facts. An interesting collection for reference purposes, although a Guinness book or Wikipedia would serve similar purposes.

[Mohsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent reference to get to know a little piece of information about a number or so.
However, I do suggest you double check. Some of the information are kind of incorrect to the mainstream understanding of history.
I wish references were added to give a full critique.

Fun nonetheless!!

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what it is but not what I was expecting. Glad I borrowed rather than bought it.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a super introduction to why certain numbers are important

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting compendium of everything.
Useful for quizzes.