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The Big Bang of Numbers: How to Build the Universe Using Only Math

by Manil Suri (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
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Finalist for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award

"What a fun escape! Reminds me of math books I read when I was coming of age." ―Neil deGrasse Tyson

An "exhilarating" (Steven Strogatz) tour through the fundamental mathematical concepts―from arithmetic to infinity―that form the building blocks of our universe.

Our universe has multiple origin stories, from religious creation myths to the Big Bang of scientists. But if we leave those behind and start from nothing―no matter, no cosmos, not even empty space―could we create a universe using only math? Irreverent, richly illustrated, and boundlessly creative, The Big Bang of Numbers invites us to try.

In this new mathematical origin story, mathematician and novelist Manil Suri creates a natural progression of ideas needed to design our world, starting with numbers and continuing through geometry, algebra, and beyond. He reveals the secret lives of real and imaginary numbers, teaches them to play abstract games with real-world applications, discovers unexpected patterns that connect humble lifeforms to enormous galaxies, and explores mathematical underpinnings for randomness and beauty. With evocative examples ranging from multidimensional crochet to the Mona Lisa’s asymmetrical smile, as well as ingenious storytelling that helps illuminate complex concepts like infinity and relativity, The Big Bang of Numbers charts a playful, inventive course to existence. Mathematics, Suri shows, might best be understood not as something we invent to explain Nature, but as the source of all creation, whose directives Nature tries to obey as best she can.

Offering both striking new perspectives for math aficionados and an accessible introduction for anyone daunted by calculation, The Big Bang of Numbers proves that we can all fall in love with math.

260 illustrations; two color design
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Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    1324065931
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1324065937
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    November 28, 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches
  7. Print length
    384 pages
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Infinitely fascinating…[Suri] succeeds in making slippery ideas easy to grasp."
― Stephen Bleach, Times [UK]

"Some of the math books out there are difficult to read, but [The Big Bang of Numbers] isn’t one of them…[A]n elegant journey explaining why we have the number and math systems that we have."
― David Hu, Five Books

"By limiting the formulas and equations, [Manil Suri] has created a very readable tour that emphasizes ideas over calculation."
― Physics Today

"[The Big Bang of Numbers] explains how understanding math helps you understand the universe."
― Marketplace Tech

"Imaginative and organized; [Suri] presents his materials clearly with nice graphics."
― Peter Pesic, Wall Street Journal

"A beautifully written meditation on mathematics: whimsical, thought-provoking, and deep."
― Alex Bellos, author of Alex’s Adventures in Numberland

"In The Big Bang of Numbers, Manil Suri invites the reader to create a universe made of mathematical ideas, sparking a thrill that may catch you off guard―an exhilarating sensation of playfulness, power, and insight."
― Steven Strogatz, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Powers and The Joy of x

"Who knew numbers could be so charming? So industrious? Suri takes us on a lighthearted journey all the way from nothing (zero) to infinity. Math has rarely been so readable."
― Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

"A most unusual, creative, and fascinating account of mathematics that relies not on equations or formulas, but on real-life examples, metaphors, paradoxes, and lovely vignettes."
― John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

"A great sneak peek ahead for anyone interested in mathematical ideas, but bored by the lack of conceptual depth in their introductory math classes."
― Mathematical Association of America

"A visual pleasure to read…[Manil Suri] is a smooth, stylish writer."
― Business Standard

"[Suri] successfully explores many areas of seemingly pure math that explain the natural world... He also sheds light on abstruse subjects (fractals, infinity, curved space) that puzzle humans more than they should, creating a text that is deeper than most popular writing on math but worth the effort. A successful contribution to the math-isn’t-boring genre."
― Kirkus Reviews

"Suri takes on the challenge of developing mathematics from scratch in this high concept thought experiment."
― Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Manil Suri is a distinguished mathematics professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Author of three acclaimed novels, including The Death of Vishnu, he is a former contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, for which he has written several widely read pieces on mathematics. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (November 28, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1324065931
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1324065937
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 62 ratings

About the author

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Manil Suri

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
62 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michael M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Who knew? This is a DIY “Build a Universe from Scratch” with the Pope as its stated audience.

And it works!
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Charles Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT PRODUCT
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023
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Item came before the scheduled time and was in excellent condition
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Richard L. Lewis
4.0 out of 5 stars A delight to read
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2022
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A river with many side streams—some dubious, some delightful.
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Robert Hoffman
5.0 out of 5 stars An accessible and entertaining review of the history of math
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2022
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An accessible and entertaining review of the history of math, and the role creativity plays in development of mathematical concepts. An easy yet educational read for the layman, delivered through a lively and animated writing style. This presents math through a creationist, almost religious lens that will change your view of math forever.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read for anyone
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023
It was a fun read, I'd recommend it to anyone regardless of if they are a novice at math or an expert. Even if you already know all the math concepts, there are a lot of philosophical questions to think about throughout the book. Maybe buy two so you can have someone to discuss with.
One person found this helpful
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Viraj Patel
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable math book
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023
The big bang of numbers utilizes the right blend of story telling and mathematical concepts to introduce different forms of thinking to the reader. Had a lot of fun reading this book start to finish, would recommend!
One person found this helpful
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Randolph Eck
4.0 out of 5 stars Want to create a universe?
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2023
The book consists of thirty-seven chapters divided among seven sections or days. The author differentiates our concept of math from Plato in that we don’t assume that all of mathematics exists in some idealized form somewhere, waiting to be discovered. Instead, we invent math through exploration, and it is this math that will create the universe, rather than explain something already in place.

The first day is entitled Arithmetic. Here we invent the numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We discover roots as well. A new word is coined: the reals. It encompasses the rational and irrational numbers. Eventually we meet the strange world of “i = square root of -1.” We are in the imaginary world. This requires the use of complex numbers.

The next day is entitled Geometry. This involves introducing points, lines, planes (including the complex plane). We need to know length and distance. Soon we are dealing with spheres and geodesics. Day three introduces the concept of algebra. Here we need to know the graphing equations of polynomials and the concept of distance. Day four talks about patterns. An interesting concept found in nature is the golden ratio, which is approximately 1.6 to 1. Of course, there is the Fibonacci sequence as well. Oh, then there is the golden angle – about 137.5 degrees. Nature makes use of these values in an approximate way, since these values turn out to be irrational. We also see a Golden Spiral and a so-called logarithmic spiral in nature. There is an interesting chapter on fractals and how we see something similar in nature. Day five is entitled Physics. Here we learn more about time, space and the curvature of spacetime, until day six takes us to infinity.

Now we explore the role of infinity in the universe and beyond. There is some discussion of the work of Gorg Cantor, who was first to think about assigning a cardinality to the naturals. Well, do the reals have the same cardinality as the naturals? What’s this talk about a higher, uncountable infinity called c? Is there an infinity even greater than this c? Is c just one in a whole hierarchy of infinities? What’s the continuum hypothesis? Hey, I’m just very confused, so you’ll have to read it and figure it out on your own.

So does nature have enough information so she can develop mathematics as needed, wonders the author. He says yes! We have started with zero and ended with infinity. We’ve gone through properties of numbers, geometry, algebra, and physics. Finally, day seven ends with the concept of emergence. So, have we created the universe? Read and decide.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Its just a piece of paper wrapped around the book, if i knew this, i would not buy this
Reviewed in Germany on September 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
Not a fan of the paper wrapped around the book, whats the rush?
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Its just a piece of paper wrapped around the book, if i knew this, i would not buy this
Reviewed in Germany on September 11, 2023
Not a fan of the paper wrapped around the book, whats the rush?
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R. N. Hope
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant description of the link between maths and physical reality.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
I wish maths had been taught this way in my school. It would have made the subject more accessible to students.
One person found this helpful
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Hsjam
2.0 out of 5 stars annoying
Reviewed in India on May 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
At times the repetitive use of pope is annoying. The story of math development from first principle is interesting but told as if the reader is dumb and needs to be taught in an over simplified manner
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