SKU: 8638417556

The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero

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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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SKU: 8638417556

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Fort Morgan, US
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Sheer Sensitive SPF 50 ☀️
Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Style: SPF 50, Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Style: SPF 50
Application: Specifically purchased for use on the face. ​ Finish: Leaves the skin feeling moisturized, not greasy. ​ Appearance: Blends in perfectly with no white cast. ​ Value: Highly concentrated formula—a little goes a long way. ​ Verdict: A rare mineral-based sunscreen that actually feels lightweight and looks invisible on the skin. Ideal for daily protection without the heavy, oily feel of traditional sunscreens.
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I LOVE this sunscreen!! Super affordable and lightweight for your skin!
Size: 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Style: SPF 50
I love this sunscreen!! Love it so much I bought 3 bottles of it! Super lightweight and blends right into the skin, and I don’t feel not sticky! I got super excited and got this primarily because it’s lightweight, super affordable, SPF 50 for high protection, and it said there’s no alcohol or fragrance…heres the catch tho, there IS a slight sunscreen smell, but you only notice it when applying it and if you keeping smelling it on yourself up close during the day. Other than that, it’s truly fragrance free in the sense that you aren’t just standing there doing your thing, and keep getting HIT with the scent of sunscreen for hours, like other sunscreens! The scent is extremely light and pleasant when you go to smell it on yourself. Don’t EVER discontinue this please please please!!!!
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Lemonie
Alexandria, US
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It’s great! So light weight!
Size: 3 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Style: SPF 50
I have been testing this out for a month now. I love it. This does have avobenzone in it, and because of that, I do NOT put it around my eyes as avobenzone is a chemical sunscreen ingredient that typically tends to cause the of sensation of burning eyes! At least for me it does. I use an Australian sunscreen around my eyes that doesn’t have anything that irritates my eyes. So for the rest of my face, this stuff is great. It literally is so serum like sinks into your skin within five minutes or sooner. Now it’s not the most hydrating thing in the world so if you have a dry skin, you still wanna go in with a moisturizer before however, if you have oily skin, this is your girl right here. Skin like finish, not super matte and not dewy at all. I do not wear primer so I don’t know how it plays with that. Works great under my makeup and has never caused pilling. Quick, easy, simple ingredients, definitely sensitive skin friendly, and no fragrance at an affordable cost-effective price! Now if only banana boat decided to go cruelty free😭 9/10 bc not CF 💔
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Linsey R.
Birmingham, US
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Great sensitive skin sunscreen
Size: 3 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Style: SPF 50
Love this! I have sensitive skin. this did not sting my eyes, or burn my cheeks. Left no white cast. I'm not noticing any scent. It just feels like bare skin, it's not heavy, drying, oily or sticky. No pilling. Went on smooth, not streaky, looks like skin once dried down, not patchy. I hope they keep this in stock forever!
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Hydrating Itch Relief for Sensitive, Reactive Skin
I recently dealt with an allergic reaction that left me with red, intensely itchy hives across my body. Medication helped calm most of the symptoms, but this itch relief balm from Aveeno made a noticeable difference in soothing the lingering itch and rehydrating my irritated skin. The formula is very concentrated, so only a small amount is needed to cover a large area, and it begins to work quickly. There is no added fragrance, which is ideal when your skin is already reactive and sensitive. The jar is generously sized, and the wide opening makes it easy to dip your fingertips in and smooth the balm over affected areas without fuss. The texture spreads well, absorbs cleanly, and leaves the skin feeling comforted rather than coated. I found it especially helpful during the recovery phase when my skin still felt dry and unsettled. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with post‑reaction itch or general irritation.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2026

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