This book investigates the historical erosion of the belief that mathematics provides an absolute, infallible description of physical reality. Morris Kline, a professor of mathematics, examines the evolution of mathematical thought from the Greeks to the modern era, highlighting the recurring crises that challenged the logical foundations of the field. He argues that the development of mathematics has been far more intuitive and inconsistent than the traditional image of a perfectly logical structure suggests.

Experts recognize this work as a significant critique of the formalist view of mathematics, often citing it for its accessible historical narrative. Readers frequently note the density of the philosophical arguments, which challenge conventional assumptions about mathematical certainty.