A History of Pi

Name: A History of Pi
Price: 3.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (350 reviews)
Author: Petr Beckmann

by Petr Beckmann

Nonfiction

4.3 (350)

4.3 stars from 350 reviews

Published 1970-01-01

$3.99Deal67% off peak

Last checked: Jul 8, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $11.99

Good deal — this title is discounted today.

Price range: $1.99 – $11.99

Buy on Amazon - $3.99

0 readers are tracking this book's price

Fans of these authors will like this...

Carl Sagan
Simon Singh
James Gleick

Fans of these books will like this...

Fermat's Enigma
The Code Breaker
Gödel, Escher, Bach

Perfect for you if...

You're curious about how mathematics shaped civilisation and want a narrative that connects abstract ideas to real historical moments.
You enjoy accessible science writing that doesn't condescend to non-specialists but doesn't shy away from actual mathematics either.
You appreciate unexpected angles on history. Pi's story touches ancient Egypt, medieval Islam, Renaissance Italy, and modern computing in ways that feel genuinely surprising.

Maybe not for you if...

You need heavy mathematical rigour or proofs. This is history first, maths second, and Beckmann keeps the technical content deliberately flexible.
You're looking for a pure recreational maths book or puzzle collection. This is narrative history with equations, not recreational numeracy.
You want an exhaustive modern reference. Written in 1971, it captures the spirit but doesn't include recent computational breakthroughs.

About this book

A History of Pi traces the mathematical constant through human civilization. Petr Beckmann argues that pi's history, while a small part of mathematics overall, reflects the broader history of humanity. The book examines periods when pi advanced as well as periods when progress stalled due to militarism or religious fanaticism suppressing scientific inquiry. The mathematical content is presented at a flexible level, making the book accessible to readers of varying ages and backgrounds.

Get the best deal every time

We track price drops, sale patterns, and predict when this book will go on offer next.

Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $11.99

Currently on sale at $3.99 — 67% off peak. Price has dropped 7 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 63 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #272K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.3★ from 350 reviews

Gaining approximately 2 new reviews per month. Rating has dipped slightly from 4.4 to 4.3.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $3.99. It typically returns to around $11.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.