Learn the history behind the most commonly-found symbols across the world, including the hash tag, smiley face, dollar sign, and more Take a look at the story behind the world's most famous symbols, from the peace sign to the smiley face. See just how much importance has been attached to the smallest and simplest of ideas, and read about more than 40 of the most significant symbols from religion, politics, and popular culture down the centuries. Did you know that 15 percent of all tweets contain the hash tag symbol? That's more than 41 million uses of # each day. Or that the "smiley face" originated in Massachusetts in the 1960s? This fascinating book highlights the roles symbols have played throughout history and how they have shaped our understanding of the world.