I dedicate this book to Myroula with the blue dress, who one spring day many years ago took me by the hand to show me in which secret and remote part of the forest square roots sprout and thrive.

I dedicate the numbers at the edges of the pages to my friend Unknown Chi.

I dedicate all the shapes - except for the circles - to the Area Seeker, so that he can find their area.

I dedicate the circles to the Geometry professor, who in the dream drama "The Escapes of the Chessboard" dreams of squaring them and when he untangles them, to square the sun and the tear.

(from the author's preface)