In this title, Eli Maor examines the role of infinity in mathematics and geometry and its cultural impact on the arts and sciences. He evokes the profound intellectual impact the infinite has exercised on the human mind - from the 'horror infiniti' of the Greeks to the works of M.C. Escher; from the ornamental designs of the Moslems, to the sage Giordano Bruno, whose belief in an infinite universe led to his death at the hands of the Inquisition. But above all, the book describes the mathematician's fascination with infinity - a fascination mingled with puzzlement. "Maor explores the idea of infinity in mathematics and in art and argues that this is the point of contact between the two, best exemplified by the work of the Dutch artist M.C. Escher, six of whose works are shown here in beautiful color plates". ("Los Angeles Times"). "[Eli Maor's] enthusiasm for the topic carries the reader through a rich panorama". ("Choice"). "Fascinating and enjoyable...places the ideas of infinity in a cultural context and shows how they have been espoused and molded by mathematics". ("Science").

伊萊·馬奧爾是以色列人，他於1969年從以色列理工學院獲得博士學位。長期以來，他對數學和藝術之間的關係有著瀋厚的興趣。他在美國、英國和以色列的期刊上發錶過大量論文，所涉及的領域有應用數學、數學教育和數學史。他還積極投身於闡釋科學的寫作，並因這方麵的著作而數次獲關奬。他的文章“音樂有什麼樣的數學特性？”曾在1979年被國傢教學教師委員會評選為數學應用最佳文章全國競賽一等奬。馬奧爾博士從1981年以來一直在美國數學學會訪問講師和顧問計劃的成員。他在國內外的專業會議上作過多次講演，而且還就科學和教育問題對一般公眾作過多次講演。