Description

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“A great storyteller.”—Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist

Malba Tahan is the creation of a celebrated Brazilian mathematician looking for a way to bring some of the mysteries and pleasures of mathematics to a wider public. The adventures of Beremiz Samir, The Man Who Counted, take the reader on a journey in which, time and again, Samir summons his extraordinary mathematical powers to settle disputes, give wise advice, overcome dangerous enemies, and win for himself fame, fortune, and rich rewards. We learn of previous mathematicians and come to admire Samir’s wisdom and patience. In the grace of Tahan’s telling, these stories hold unusual delights for the reader.

About the Author

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Júlio César de Mello e Souza, a Brazilian mathematician, published more than one hundred books under the name Malba Tahan. Even after his identity was exposed, he wrote as Tahan until his death in 1974.

Poet and translator Alastair Reid lives in New York City.

Praise For…

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I love The Man Who Counted. The book transports you into a magical world of Bedouins, viziers, sheiks, princes, and kings, rich in references to Islamic traditions and locations in the Middle East. The math is gentle, accessible, and drives the stories.

— Alex Bellos, author of The Grapes of Math