The Secret Lives of Numbers: The Curious Truth Behind Everyday Digits

From the seven-day week to 24-carat gold, Chanel No. 5 to five-star luxury—the curious histories of everyday numbers

This is a book for the observant and the curious, for people who take in their surroundings and wonder at the smallest detail: why? Above all, it's a book about the numbers that surround us every day, and the intriguing stories behind them. Why is the U.S. international dialing code 001, and the UK's 44? Why is 13 considered unlucky? What is so great about cloud nine? Revealing the facts behind those figures, this book outlines where to spot each digit, what it means, and how it came to be, in meticulously researched and entertaining entries, creating an absorbing and intelligent book that's perfect for any numbers fan.