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Around the World in 80 Games
A Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the Greatest Games
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Format: Hardback
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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
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Description
'BRILLIANTLY CLEAR AND CAPTIVATING PROSE' STEPHEN FRY
A WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE 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?
What is the best property in Monopoly?
And how can pi help you win rock paper scissors?
Spanning millennia, oceans and continents, countries and cultures, Around the World in 80 Games gleefully explores how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined. Marcus du Sautoy investigates how games provided the first opportunities for deep mathematical insight into the world, how understanding maths can help us play games better, and how both maths and games are integral to human psychology and culture.
For as long as there have been people, there have been games, and for nearly as long, we have been exploring and discovering mathematics. A grand adventure, Around the World in 80 Games teaches us not just how games are won, but how they, and the maths behind them, shape who we are.
'A delightful and addictive celebration of games. You’ll keep wanting one more go' DARA Ó BRIAIN
‘Whether your game is Go, Dungeons and Dragons, or Chocolate Chilli Roulette, you'll find this book adorable. It's lively, creative and humane – exactly as one would expect from Marcus du Sautoy’ TIM HARFORD, author of How To Make The World Add Up
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Marcus du Sautoy's book is celebrated for bringing to life the drama and narratives of diverse games, revealing their underlying structures that connect to the universe. His engaging, clear prose is praised for its appeal to both mathematicians and casual readers, encouraging a deeper appreciation for games. Reviews highlight its infectious enthusiasm, potential to inspire new gaming interests, and its broad appeal to fans of mathematics and history.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780008525910
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 12 October 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 36.0mm
Width: 159.0mm
Height: 240.0mm
Weight: 600g
Pages: 384
About the Author
Marcus du Sautoy is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Wadham College. He 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. He is the author of ‘The Music of the Primes’ and has presented ‘Mind Games’ and ‘Music of the Primes’ on BBC television. He was the Royal Institution Christmas lecturer in 2006, broadcast on Channel 5, and is filming ‘The Story of Maths’ for the BBC. In October 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. He lives in London with his wife and three children.
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