Around the World in Eighty Games

September 1, 2023
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.

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September 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.