Around the World in 80 Games

‘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

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.