'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
