Around the World in Eighty Games: From Tarot to Tic-Tac-Toe, Catan to Chutes and Ladders, a Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the World's Greatest Games

by Marcus du Sautoy

Overview

"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"--

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541601284
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	11/07/2023
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	332,162
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

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.

Table of Contents

Backgammon
Senet
Royal Game of Ur 
Knucklebones
Symmetrical Dice
Ludus Latrunculorum
Tafl
Nine Men's Morris
Mancala
Gulugufe
Fanorona
Achi
Bolotoudou
Agram
Chocolate Chilli Roulette
Nim
Tsyan shizi
The Ultimatum game
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Dobble
Set
Carrom
Chess
Ludo / Parcheesi
Chutes and Ladders
Hopscotch
Dungeons and Dragons
Cranium
Mah jong
Zi Pai, Khanhoo and The Origins of Playing Cards
Go
Pick Up Sticks
Chinese Chess
Dominoes
Hanafuda
Pokémon Cards
Whist
Bridge
Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs
The Game of Parliament
Tarot
Mu Torere
Azad and The Player of Games
Cluedo / Clue
Mexican Bingo, UK Bingo, and US Bingo
Jogo do Bicho
Adugo and Komikan
Sapo
Truco
Perudo or Dudo or Liar's dice
Pitz, the Mayan ballgame.
The Casino Roulette and other games
The Mansion of Happiness
Monopoly
Scrabble
Wordle
Rock Paper Scissors
Ticket to Ride
Prince of Persia
Spacewar!
Tetris
The Game of Life
Tic tac toe or noughts and crosses
Pipopipette or Dots and Boxes
Pandemic
Catan
L'Attaque
Mornington Crescent and Non games
Infinite games
Glass Bead Game
 

Editorial Reviews

09/18/2023

Mathematician Du Sautoy (Thinking Better) contends in this entertaining study that such classic games as pick-up sticks, Scrabble, and Dungeons & Dragons all have one thing in common: they center around complex math. Du Sautoy tours the globe, introducing readers to 80 games both familiar and obscure, and describing how each is governed by probabilities, algorithms, geometry, and algebra. Positing games as “a living archaeology capturing the passions and pursuits of the people of the past,” Du Sautoy also delves into their history to reveal the cultural and political values behind their creation. For example, the Chinese strategy game Go, which evolved in the sixth century BCE, emphasizes the acquisition and holding of territory (Du Sautoy contrasts this with the more aggressive war game of chess that emerged in India around the same time), while Monopoly teaches the capitalistic values of 20th-century America. Each section details how to “solve” the math behind the game and come out ahead, while throughout Du Sautoy touches on such issues as the need for more female game creators and the possibly addictive properties of computer games. This meticulous and deeply researched survey will appeal to math-lovers and history buffs alike. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 2023-08-01
According to one of the world’s most respected mathematicians, the games we play have made us who we are.

Du Sautoy, an Oxford academic and author of The Music of the Primes, Symmetry, How To Count to Infinity, and other acclaimed works, admits to a fascination with games. When he has travelled to attend conferences and meetings around the world, he has tried to find out how the locals amuse themselves. In his latest book, the author examines the mechanics and history of each game (he does not include sports) as well as the underlying math. “Tell me the game you play,” he writes, “and I’ll tell you who you are.” While he has great affection for rational, strategic games like chess, his main interest is games that require both skill and luck. The games that have endured are those with simple rules that give rise to near-infinite complexity. Some games, like backgammon and bridge, transcend national borders, while others, such as mancala (mostly in Africa) and truco (South America) are played mainly in their culture of origin. The author acknowledges that his list is somewhat arbitrary, but he thoroughly knows his subject, and he writes with self-effacing charm. He discusses the odds that apply to dice games, cards, and even roulette, although he emphasizes that the most that math study can give you is a slight edge, not an unbeatable advantage. In fact, many regular game players have an intuitive grasp of the odds, which leads du Sautoy to speculate that games played a crucial part in the brain development of early humans. “Both games and mathematics combine the creativity and imagination of the artist with the logic and practicality of the scientist,” he writes, adding that “we will keep on inventing new games”—a fitting conclusion to an engrossing tour.

A complex package delivered in refreshingly simple and consistently entertaining terms.

Kirkus Reviews

"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

“The subject matter is fun and du Sautoy’s enthusiasm is infectious.”—The Sunday Times (UK)

“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)

“An engrossing tour… delivered in refreshingly simple and consistently entertaining terms.”—Kirkus (Starred)

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

“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

“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

“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

"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

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

“Full of engaging opinions.”—The Wall Street Journal

From the Publisher