God Created the Integers
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Stephen Hawking (editor) |
| Products | Compilation of mathematical texts |
God Created the Integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History is a 2005 compilation edited by Stephen Hawking, containing selected passages from thirty-one landmark mathematical texts throughout history.
Each segment focuses on a distinct mathematician, starting with a brief biography. Hawking explores their significant achievements, provides formal demonstrations of pivotal theorems, and examines their impact on the advancement of mathematics.
The book’s title alludes to a statement credited to mathematician Leopold Kronecker: "God made the integers; all else is the work of man."
Content
Arranged in chronological order by author, the collection introduces each mathematician with commentary on their life and key contributions. Featured figures include:
The 2007 updated edition incorporated additional works from Euler, Bolyai, Lobachevsky, and Galois that were absent in the initial 2005 publication.
Editions
- 2005, Running Press, 1160 pages (Hardcover), ISBN 0-7624-1922-9
- 2007, Running Press, 1358 pages (Paperback), ISBN 978-0-7624-3004-8