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Around the World in 80 Games

A Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the Greatest Games
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Brief Description
'BRILLIANTLY CLEAR AND CAPTIVATING PROSE' STEPHEN FRY A WATERSTONES BOOK OF YEAR 2023 An award-winning mathematician explores the maths behind the games we love and why we love to play them. Where should you move first in Connect 4? Which property is best in Monopoly? How... Read More
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'BRILLIANTLY CLEAR AND CAPTIVATING PROSE' STEPHEN FRY

A WATERSTONES BOOK OF YEAR 2023

An award-winning mathematician explores the maths behind the games we love and why we love to play them.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'BRILLIANTLY CLEAR AND CAPTIVATING PROSE' STEPHEN FRY

A WATERSTONES BOOK OF YEAR 2023

An award-winning mathematician explores the maths behind the games we love and why we love to play them.

Where should you move first in Connect 4?

Which property is best in Monopoly?

How can pi help you win Rock Paper Scissors?

Crossing oceans, continents and millennia, award-winning mathematician Marcus du Sautoy explores how maths and games have always been deeply intertwined. As well as being integral to human psychology and culture throughout the ages, games provided the first opportunities for deep mathematical insight into the world. This grand adventure teaches us how to strategise, play better and win more often.

‘The subject matter is fun (I mean, isn’t it quite literally the definition of fun?) and du Sautoy’s enthusiasm is infectious’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘Lively, creative and humane – exactly as one would expect from Marcus du Sautoy’ TIM HARFORD, author of How To Make The World Add Up

'A delightful and addictive celebration of games. You’ll keep wanting one more go' DARA Ó BRIAIN, author of Is There Anybody Out There?

‘You do not need to be a seasoned player nor a skilled mathematician to relish this enchanting read. However, this book may just encourage you to become one or the other’ REINER KNIZIA, award-winning game designer

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008525958

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 August 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 340g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Marcus du Sautoy has been named by the Independent on Sunday as one of the UK's leading scientists, has written extensively for the Guardian, The Times and the Daily Telegraph and has appeared on Radio 4 on numerous occasions. In 2008 he was appointed to Oxford University’s prestigious professorship as the Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science, a post previously held by Richard Dawkins.

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