Short Synopsis
The history of pi, says the author, though a small part of the history of mathematics, is nevertheless a mirror of the history of man.

Full Synopsis
The history of pi, says the author, though a small part of the history of mathematics, is nevertheless a mirror of the history of man. Petr Beckmann holds up this mirror, giving the background of the times when pi made progress—and also when it did not, because science was being stifled by militarism or religious fanaticism.