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Description
The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of ZeroA symbol for what is not there, an emptiness that increases any number it's added to, an inexhaustible and indispensable paradox. As we enter the year 2000, zero is once again making its presence felt. Nothing itself, it makes possible a myriad of calculations. Indeed, without zero mathematics as we know it would not exist. And without mathematics our understanding of the universe would be vastly impoverished. But where did this nothing, this hollow
A symbol for what is not there, an emptiness that increases any number it's added to, an inexhaustible and indispensable paradox. As we enter the year 2000, zero is once again making its presence felt. Nothing itself, it makes possible a myriad of calculations. Indeed, without zero mathematics as we know it would not exist. And without mathematics our understanding of the universe would be vastly impoverished. But where did this nothing, this hollow circle, come from? Who created it? And what, exactly, does it mean?Robert Kaplan's The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero begins as a mystery story, taking us back to Sumerian times, and then to Greece and India, piecing together the way the idea of a symbol for nothing evolved. Kaplan shows us just how handicapped our ancestors were in trying to figure large sums without the aid of the zero. (Try multiplying CLXIV by XXIV). Remarkably, even the Greeks, mathematically brilliant as they were, didn't have a zero--or did they? We follow the trail to the East where, a millennium or two ago, Indian mathematicians took another crucial step. By treating zero for the first time like any other number, instead of a unique symbol, they allowed huge new leaps forward in computation, and also in our understanding of how mathematics itself works.
In the Middle Ages, this mathematical knowledge swept across western Europe via Arab traders. At first it was called "dangerous Saracen magic" and considered the Devil's work, but it wasn't long before merchants and bankers saw how handy this magic was, and used it to develop tools like double-entry bookkeeping. Zero quickly became an essential part of increasingly sophisticated equations, and with the invention of calculus, one could say it was a linchpin of the scientific revolution. And now even deeper layers of this thing that is nothing are coming to light: our computers speak only in zeros and ones, and modern mathematics shows that zero alone can be made to generate everything.
Robert Kaplan serves up all this history with immense zest and humor; his writing is full of anecdotes and asides, and quotations from Shakespeare to Wallace Stevens extend the book's context far beyond the scope of scientific specialists. For Kaplan, the history of zero is a lens for looking not only into the evolution of mathematics but into very nature of human thought. He points out how the history of mathematics is a process of recursive abstraction: how once a symbol is created to represent an idea, that symbol itself gives rise to new operations that in turn lead to new ideas. The beauty of mathematics is that even though we invent it, we seem to be discovering something that already exists.
The joy of that discovery shines from Kaplan's pages, as he ranges from Archimedes to Einstein, making fascinating connections between mathematical insights from every age and culture. A tour de force of science history, The Nothing That Is takes us through the hollow circle that leads to infinity.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 12/01/2000
ISBN: 9780195142372
Pages: 240
Weight: 0.58lbs
Size: 7.73h x 4.68w x 0.60d
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4.7 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 1
Not impressed
Color: Beige, Size: 21.5"- 1 Panel
Very flimsy but does the job intended
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
★★★★★ 3
Fair
Color: Black, Size: 88"- 4 Panel
Fair product. Very cheap quality.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Sturdy and Easy to Move
Color: Black, Size: 132"- 6 Panel
This 6 ft black partition on wheels is exactly what I needed to divide space without sacrificing style or stability. It’s sleek, professional-looking, and blends in well with any environment—from office spaces to home studios.
The build quality is impressive—very sturdy and doesn’t wobble at all once it’s in place. The wheels glide smoothly and lock securely, making it easy to reposition or keep stationary as needed. Assembly was quick and straightforward, with all parts clearly labeled.
Overall, this partition is a perfect combination of functionality and design. Highly recommend it if you need a durable, mobile room divider that looks great and performs even better.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Nice once put together.
Color: Black, Size: 88"- 4 Panel
I really enjoyed these ones. They got put up, putting them together was a two-man task and not very easy at all. They work really good. They're very heavy duty. You can hang things on them. I kick mine out of the way and they work like a charm!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Excellent quality, excellent privacy.
Color: White, Size: 4 Panel
I love this room divider! Was easy to put together. It's easy to move around. I also bought the eight panel. I move it and change it around all the time. Good color good material good privacy.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2026
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