---
product_id: 1699098
title: "Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers"
brand: "joseph mazur"
price: "$58.23"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 6
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/1699098-enlightening-symbols-a-short-history-of-mathematical-notation-and-its
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers

**Brand:** joseph mazur
**Price:** $58.23
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers by joseph mazur
- **How much does it cost?** $58.23 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1699098-enlightening-symbols-a-short-history-of-mathematical-notation-and-its)

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## Description

Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Deeper Etymology, less scary symbols, and Works Well on Kindle too...
*by P***Z on April 24, 2014*

We've all been disappointed when we got a Kindle title (or any e reader) and the MathML or LaTex was slaughtered. Since this book has numerous symbols but not a lot of complex formulas, Kindle is not a problem. Where there are "sentences" in math symbols, they are handled well.That said, the hard cover is a treasure. This is a very well produced historical survey that should be in every library, including yours if you're into history, math or even language. I personally find that I understand the subtleties of (English) language better if I understand the etymology of a word. This is equally true albeit in a slightly different way with the fine treatment of symbolic evolution in this gem of a book.Understanding how a summa symbol came to be won't tell you how to use it in combinatorics or a power series, or in double form in a logistic regression error term. However, the good news is we don't have to understand that to really enjoy this book. Flip side, if you ARE into math, you'll REALLY love this. I like books that don't just parrot formulas but give an idea of the "intuitive" meaning or reason for the formula, like "putting these numbers in a matrix makes it easier for a computer to change coordinate axes which is one reason we do it."This text takes that a step further, and not only gives context, but HISTORICAL context in genuinely useful human endeavors-- the WHY and how of the underlying value as use evolved. This turns on a LOT of light bulbs if you're into math, and is still fun and a great "detective" read even if you're not. Which is my final point: don't get turned off due to the math side if you love history and detective (deductive) logic-- the writing is crisp, well paced and "leads" you quickly forward-- IOW NOT DULL or dry. And frankly, as I look at other math books, the symbols also seem a little more friendly and familiar, and less intimidating, knowing about the neighborhood in which they grew up. Would also make a great gift for a detail oriented picky person in your life!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A history of the symbols used for the addition of numbers
*by K***8 on December 20, 2014*

Somebody should mention that this book is about the symbols used to represent mathematical numbers, i.e. 1,2,3. The mathematical operators are not covered beyond addition. Thus most of the book is about the history of the addition process. While the history is interesting and fascinating, I was hoping for a history of the semiotics used for the operators in math at a higher level than the third grade. That aside, I would recommend the book if for no other reason than it helps examine the role of symbolic representation in expressing elementary logic. The symbols both enable and limit the logic. The efforts used to overcome those limitations are important milestones in technological progression at any level.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good enough to read aloud to the wife
*by N***Y on January 12, 2016*

First off, I loved this book and highly recommend it. With respect to readability, this was much easier for me to read than The Rainbow of Mathematics: A History of the Mathematical Sciences (The Norton History of Science). We used Journey through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics for a mathematics history course when I was an undergrad and to me, Mazur's book was similar to that in readability, but with a focus on symbols of mathematics.As a math educator, I especially loved "Sans Symbols" which introduces the development of symbolic algebra. The start of the chapter has an exceptionally interesting account of the author reading in person the oldest surviving manuscript of Euclid's Elements.I read many parts of this book aloud to my wife. She listened and appreciated those excerpts. This speaks to the quality of writing, and I cannot say this of very many mathematics books I've read.

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-28*