The Art of More

Bestselling science writer Michael Brooks takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of civilisation, as he explains why maths is fundamental to our understanding of the world.

1, 2, 3 ... ? The human brain isn't wired for maths; beyond the number 3, it just sees 'more'. So why bother learning it at all?

You might remember studying geometry, calculus, and algebra at school, but you probably didn't realise—or weren't taught—that these are the roots of art, architecture, government, and almost every other aspect of our civilisation. The mathematics of triangles enabled explorers to travel far across the seas and astronomers to map the heavens. Calculus won the Allies the Second World War and halted the HIV epidemic. And the mysterious Pi is one of the essential building blocks of the 21st century.

From ancient Egyptian priests to the Apollo astronauts, and Babylonian tax collectors to the MIT professor who invented juggling robots, join Michael Brooks and his extraordinarily eccentric cast of characters in discovering how maths shaped the world.

The Art of More brings to life in accessible, lively terms how maths helps us navigate pandemics, space travel, and encrypted apps ... Why isn't school maths taught like this?

- David Rowan, founding editor-in-chief of WIRED UK and author of Non-Bullshit Innovation

Michael Brooks has a rare gift for making science come to life, and in this book he is at his best, fusing mathematics with storytelling as he takes us on an exhilarating sweep through human history.

- Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling historian

If you've ever wondered what the maths you did at school was for, and what it has done for us, you'll find the answer here. Michael Brooks' enthusiasm for the beauty and utility of the subject shines from every page.

- Ian Stewart, author of What's the Use?