The Arithmetic of Life and Death - by George Shaffner (Paperback)

About the Book

Maverick computer executive George Shaffner answers life's most perplexing questions in this book. His new life philosophy offers no complex equations or proofs. Whether readers are contemplating the risks of smoking, the advantages of teamwork, the miracle of birth, or the mysteries of middle management, Shaffner's insightful and unconventional wisdom will forever change the way readers think about life.

Book Synopsis

Whether you realize it or not, numbers are everywhere--and integral to almost every facet of your life . . . from your next raise in pay to the inevitable rise of inflation, your weekly family budget to your end of the national debt. And as George Shaffner amazingly reveals, there are discerning answers (and a great measure of comfort) in numbers. In The Arithmetic of Life, he applies the basic principles of mathematics--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--to some of the most profound and just plain puzzling questions of our time.

Illuminated with anecdotes, humor, and insight, each chapter explains a unique part of life that can be understood only through the magic of numbers. Whether it's an unconventional theory on why more things go wrong than right, a simple calculation of how much it will cost you to smoke for a lifetime, why crime (accumulatively) doesn't pay, or a glimpse into the probability of life after death, this enlightening and lucidly reasoned book will forever change the way you think about numbers--and the world around you.

Review Quotes

"AN APPEALING MIX OF COMMON SENSE AND SOLID REASONING . . . Written in lively style, with sly wit . . . Shines light into several interesting corners of everyday life, often with surprising results--and the numbers don't lie."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Shaffner's writing is . . . clever and clear. . . . It's highly probable that many readers will learn from it."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

George Shaffner has worked in the computer industry for twenty years, most recently as CEO or COO of three international computer companies. He is the father of three children, who are all math refugees.