But the dearth of common themes demonstrates the sheer illogicality of significant numbers. There are a few obvious ones like 10 (thanks to our fingers) and 365 (our trip round the sun). It is, however, rare to find numbers that are significant across different cultures. But there are also a few surprises like 56, which is much-favoured by the builders of columns (Stonehenge, Tiananmen Square and Washington’s National War Memorial). All the big hitters are there, like 40 (a recurring figure in Semitic religions) and 12 (the astrologer’s staple).
Laid out like a miniature encyclopaedia, Rogersons’s beautifully crafted references take us from the millions down to zero. Now, thanks to Rogerson’s Book of Numbers we have a delicious collection of the world’s holiest, most significant and wackiest integers.
And, boy, have we humans spent time giving meaning to numbers.
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