The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets Spiral-Bound | 2014-10-14

Simon Singh

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The brainy book by the bestselling author of Fermat's Enigma--a must for anyone interested in numbers and mathematics, as well as for the millions of Simpsons fans worldwide.

Simon Singh, author of the bestsellers Fermat's Enigma, The Code Book, and Big Bang, offers fascinating new insights into the celebrated television series The Simpsons: That the show drip-feeds morsels of number theory into the minds of its viewers--indeed, that there are so many mathematical references in the show, and in its sister program, Futurama, that they could form the basis of an entire university course.

Recounting memorable episodes from "Bart the Genius" to "Homer3," Singh brings alive intriguing and meaningful mathematical concepts--ranging from the mathematics of pi and the paradox of infinity to the origin of numbers and the most profound outstanding problems that haunt today's generation of mathematicians. In the process, he illuminates key moments in the history of mathematics, and introduces us to The Simpsons' brilliant writing team--the likes of David X. Cohen, Al Jean, Jeff Westbrook, and Stewart Burns--all of whom have various advanced degrees in mathematics, physics, and other sciences.

Based on interviews with the writers of The Simpsons and replete with images from the shows, facsimiles of scripts, paintings and drawings, and other imagery, The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets will give anyone who reads it an entirely new insight into the most successful show in television history.

Publisher: Macmillan
Original Binding: Trade Paperback
Pages: 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1620402785
Item Weight: 0.6 lbs
Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches

"Engaging (and educational) . . . Singh delves into the academic backgrounds of some of the most poindextrous Simpsons writers." --Wired

"Mathematical concepts both useful and obscure explained via the antics of America's favorite yellow family!" --Mental Floss

"Plenty of solid, vest-pocket profiles of both the show's writers and great mathematicians of the past . . . A fun trip with the 'ultimate TV vehicle for pop culture mathematics.'" --Kirkus Reviews

Simon Singh received his Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Cambridge. He directed the BAFTA Award-winning documentary film Fermat's Last Theorem and wrote Fermat's Enigma, the bestselling book on the same subject. His bestseller The Code Book was the basis for the BBC series The Science of Secrecy. Big Bang was also a bestseller, and Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts About Alternative Medicine, written with Edzard Ernst, gained widespread attention. Singh lives in London.