Soul Invictus

I'm trying to find a reliable book that deals with the history of numbers and their significance in certain cultures. I received one as a reference. This one was The Mystery of Numbers (Oxford Paperbacks) by Annemarie Schimmel, Franz Carl Mysterium Der Zahl Endres .

I'd heard of Universal History of Numbers by Georges Ifrah via a bookclub I was in.

Some of the reviews at amazon.com don't look too favorable on the latter book, however I was wondering what info I can look into peer reviews. I'm just looking for the most valid source.

Any help?

Edited for revenue links - liv