This is a book for the observant and the curious. A book for people who take in their surroundings and wonder at the smallest detail: why? Above all, it’s a book about numbers – those that surround us every day, and the intriguing stories behind them. From A4 paper to 24-carat gold, Chanel No. 5 to 5-star luxury, 10 Downing Street to the ubiquitous price tag £9.99, The Secret Lives of Numbers reveals the curious background to the numbers we encounter on a daily basis. Have you ever thought about international dialling codes – how come the USA got pole position 00 1 but the UK only lowly 44? Why do we have a 7-day week, when the Soviets once had a 5-day week, and the French originally had a 10-day week? Why do we avoid unlucky 13 – and how can it be lucky for some?Exposing the facts behind the figures, this entertaining book has it all figured out.