Around the World in Eighty Games - by Marcus Du Sautoy

About the Book

"Do you know where you should always move first in Tic Tac Toe? Understand the betting cube in backgammon? Want to know the best property in Monopoly? Did you know that the African game Mancala might have led one of its players to make an early approximation of the number pi? Or that the nigh-magical Golden Ratio can help you win at Rock Paper Scissors? Around the World in Eighty Games is a gleeful exploration of games and math, spanning centuries and millennia, oceans and continents, countries and cultures. Renowned mathematician Marcus du Sautoy shows how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined: how games provided some of the first opportunities for deep mathematical insight into the universe; how understanding math can help us play games better; and how the knowledge and enjoyment of both math and games are integral to human psychology and cultures. But du Sautoy doesn't just look at the games we play; he asks why we play them. For as long as there has been human culture, there have been games. If you look, you can find 12,000-year-old dice, game boards carved in church pews and chiseled into the stones of temples, monuments, and tombs. And for nearly as long, humans have been exploring and discovering mathematics. Taken together, math and games tell us the story of ourselves"--

Book Synopsis

A "fun" and "unexpected" (The Economist) global tour of the world's greatest games and the mathematics that underlies 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 Eighty Games gleefully explores how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined. Renowned mathematician Marcus du Sautoy investigates how games provided the first opportunities for deep mathematical insight into the world, how understanding math can help us play games better, and how both math 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 Eighty Games teaches us not just how games are won, but how they, and their math, shape who we are.

Review Quotes

"Full of engaging opinions."--The Wall Street Journal

"Fun, unexpected... offering insights into everyday life". --The Economist (UK)

"Excellent on the cultural histories of the various games, as well as the question of why we play them at all."--The Spectator (UK)

"The subject matter is fun and du Sautoy's enthusiasm is infectious."--The Sunday Times (UK)

"Marcus du Sautoy's brilliantly clear and captivating prose manages to bring to life the drama of so many different games. With the lightest of touches du Sautoy manages persuasively to show how games are both narratives that speak about us and structures whose ideas underlie everything in our known universe. And on top of it, the book serves as an absolutely indispensable compendium. Rainy weekends in Cornwall will now be welcomed."--Stephen Fry, actor

"Maths is fun? Who knew? Certainly not me when I was growing up, but I think I'd have got on differently had I been handed a copy of Marcus du Sautoy's book."--Prospect Magazine

"This meticulous and deeply researched survey will appeal to math-lovers and history buffs alike."--Publisher's Weekly

"A delightful and addictive celebration of games. You'll keep wanting one more go"--Dara Ó Briain, comedian

"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 Hartford, author of How to Make the World Add Up

"In this book, you will learn beautiful facts about games you have enjoyed all your life as well as games you have never played but can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Written by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, this book can be appreciated by game players of all mathematical backgrounds. Highly recommended!"--Arthur T. Benjamin, professor of mathematics and author of The Magic of Math

"An engrossing tour... delivered in refreshingly simple and consistently entertaining terms."--Kirkus (Starred)

"A delightful global tour of how humans think and play, led by one of our finest mathematical storytellers."--Ben Orlin, author of Math Games with Bad Drawings

"The book encapsulates the very essence of human ingenuity and our intrinsic love for play and exploration. You do not need to be a seasoned player nor a skilled mathematician to relish in this enchanting read. However, this book may just encourage you to become the one or the other."--Reiner Knizia, award-winning game designer

About the Author

Marcus du Sautoy is Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford. He is author of eight books and two plays. Du Sautoy is a Fellow of the Royal Society and recipient of many awards, including the Berwick Prize and an OBE. He lives in London.