Around the World in 80 Games cover art

Around the World in 80 Games

A mathematician unlocks the secrets of the greatest games

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Around the World in 80 Games

By: Marcus du Sautoy
Narrated by: Mark Elstob
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Summary

'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?

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 keeping 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

©2023 Marcus du Sautoy Education Mathematics Game
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Critic 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
‘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 this enchanting read. However, this book may just encourage you to become the one or the other’ Reiner Knizia, award-winning game designer
'Du Sautoy’s enthusiasm is infectious … perhaps it will ignite a search for new gaming horizons beyond lazy Cluedo sessions on Boxing Day. It may even awaken a recognition in those who don’t see themselves as gaming fans that it’s not that they are fundamentally averse to games, it’s that they have yet to find the right one’ Sunday Times
‘The world of games is vast and du Sautoy ranges across it boldly, his lively and engaging style keeping things readable, even for those with non-mathematical minds … An excellent Christmas present for anyone who seriously enjoys playing games’ Literary Review
‘[du Sautoy] thoroughly knows his subject, and he writes with self-effacing charm … A complex package delivered in refreshingly simple and consistently entertaining terms’ Kirkus starred review
‘This meticulous and deeply researched survey will appeal to math-lovers and history buffs alike’ Publishers Weekly
All stars
Most relevant
The book is extremely interesting but if you want to really focus on the mathematical explanations you will benefit from the paper copy. That or sometimes you might listen to very long string of numbers that are difficult to hold in your mind without visualising. Otherwise am inspiring read.

Do yourself a favour: buy the paper copy

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It is not a book do enjoy in audio format. Too many references to the pdf and it has math so you need so follow some formulas

Not great for audiobook

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This book is entirely satisfying. A clever and enthusiastic man (Marcus du Sautoy) makes the case that games are maths and maths are games, and both of them are absolutely delightful. He visits games so ancient that their exact rules are a matter of conjecture; and games that were played for millennia. He visits set theory and probability theory. He visits card games, sinister games, silly games, non-games, computer games, computers that solve games, pi and the Fibonachi series. It’s lovely, philosophical, it’s a kind of travelogue and life pursuit. There are many charming episodes from Marcus’s childhood. There are some mind-jiggling ideas, and crazy big numbers that made me laugh out loud, a lot. It’s a shame about the chapter on women who have authored games. The women cited are a very impressive crew but the chapter is a girl Smurf among its non-gendered companions. The Audiobook is narrated by Mark Elstob, who uses the same kind of intonation as Miles Jupp, the comedian - a bit hammy. Don’t let these gripes put you off though - definitely read this book :-)

Delight and Wonder

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Learning about the history of famous games and learning about new games from around the world was very interesting. The maths behind some of the more famous games was also interesting, although the maths often was maths which wasn't relevant to the game and was more about the various sizes of board or combinations you can get, which was a little tedious. All in all, it's a nice read if you're a fan of board games as it will give you a list of new games to try, and perhaps even some history or strategy of games you already love.

The origins and maths of 80 games

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