Counting: Humans, History and the Infinite Lives of Numbers

by Benjamin Wardhaugh

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COUNT? WHY ARE HUMANS THE ONLY SPECIES ON EARTH THAT CAN DO IT? WHERE DID COUNTING COME FROM? HOW HAS IT SHAPED SOCIETIES ALONG THE WAY? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Counting is an innovative, erudite, world-wrapping journey through humanity’s marvellous ability to impose numbers on things. Acclaimed historian and mathematician Benjamin Wardhaugh draws on stories from the Stone Age to cyberspace in pursuit of the elusive, fascinating, endlessly diverse history of human counting.

Starting with the roots of counting in human brains, bodies and environments, Wardhaugh tours us around the world and through time while exploring the different flavours of counting that have developed over millennia. We meet the makers of bead necklaces in ancient South Africa, the inventors of writing in the world ’ s first metropolis, and the ‘counter culture’ of classical Athens. We see counting used – and changed – by Indian scholars, Chinese peasants and Papuan shopkeepers; we meet the distinctive numerate agendas of Mayan kings, US governments and Korean vloggers.

Weaving these stories together, Wardhaugh shows how cultures have shaped counting, and how counting has shaped culture, in a rich tapestry spanning thousands of years. This is the vast story of human attempts to find some order in an unruly world; or, perhaps, to impose on a reluctant world the order that humans find within themselves. It is a history as wide, deep and tangled as that of humanity itself

Genres: Science, History, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 2, 2025

Reviews

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Counting: Humans, History and the Infinite Lives of Numbers explores the fascinating history and cultural significance of numbers, tracing how humans have developed counting systems and mathematical concepts across different civilizations and time periods. It examines the infinite ways numbers have shaped human society, from ancient counting methods to modern mathematical thinking.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars, though I'll admit I rounded up from 2.5. It was a good read, but I found myself thinking I'd encountered much of this material before in other popular "numbers" books. The content itself was interesting enough, but there was a sense of familiarity throughout that dulled the impact. I suspect timing played a role here: if this had been my first foray into the history of numbers and counting systems, I probably would have been much more enthusiastic about it. As it stands, it felt like competent but well-trodden ground. Not a bad book by any means, just one that arrived a bit late to make a strong impression on me.

[Kalyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Stuck to theme and topic. Learnt something on language and cultures.

I liked the book recommend it to all who is interested in this genre.

[Alex Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book did a great job of making what could've been a dry topic captivating. thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of things I often take for granted, like why there are 60 seconds in a minute and where number symbols come from

[SWC · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are counting if you are paying repeated attention to some item and have means of keeping track of that process. Humans have a great diversity of ways of keeping track of such things