Discover the origins of our quantitative age. In an era where numbers rule finance and politics, this compelling history traces how calculations gained their immense public authority. William Deringer argues that the widespread reverence for numbers emerged not solely from scientific advancement, but from the very crucible of partisan politics in Britain. Explore how debates over taxes, trade, and debt transformed figures into potent evidence. Essential for students and professionals interested in the historical roots of data-driven governance and financial capitalism, this book offers critical insights into how numbers became indispensable political tools.