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clivemeister's review against another edition
4.0
Very nice little book of mathematics as applied to various Christmas problems. Although this is in the long tradition of seasonal stocking-fillers, the execution was great: the maths was non-trivial, but not so hard as to require a degree in the subject (although there were extra-hard sums in the footnotes, where appropriate), and the whole subject was treated with the appropriate degree of tongue in cheek sillyness. In the meantime, everything from simple geometry to Markov chains was used to solve various seasonal sillyness. Excellent!
lucasilievskie's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This was quite a fun, light, and merrily mathematical read.
Although it does lack some of the technical rigor from Fry’s other books (I mean, this is meant to be a simple, easy, and digestible Christmas-y read, after all), the author’s witty humor, distinct voice, and amusing insights into the maths of the holiday season – everything from the statistics of winning Monopoly, to the optimal area of wrapping paper, to the thermodynamics of cooking turkey, and of course to the logic of Santa Claus’s existence – made the experience as festive as taking the surface integral of a snowflake.
Rating: Three
This was quite a fun, light, and merrily mathematical read.
Although it does lack some of the technical rigor from Fry’s other books (I mean, this is meant to be a simple, easy, and digestible Christmas-y read, after all), the author’s witty humor, distinct voice, and amusing insights into the maths of the holiday season – everything from the statistics of winning Monopoly, to the optimal area of wrapping paper, to the thermodynamics of cooking turkey, and of course to the logic of Santa Claus’s existence – made the experience as festive as taking the surface integral of a snowflake.
Rating: Three
rebecca_holloway's review against another edition
5.0
I had so much fun reading this book, just a shame that I didn't read this before Christmas so that I could implement some of the fun suggestions! However, do not fear, next year I will be partaking in some Queenie bingo, making some mathematically interesting tree decorations and will be organising the most secret 'Secret Santa' that my office has ever seen.
I think the maths is reasonably accessible and for the trickier parts you always have the option of just looking at the pretty pictures, or just trust that the authors know what they're talking about. I think it is a charming and enjoyable read for the festive season and if nothing else will teach you the best spaces to buy in your annual game of Monopoly. For the more nerdy, there are references and footnotes for all the studies/further mathsy goodness.
I think the maths is reasonably accessible and for the trickier parts you always have the option of just looking at the pretty pictures, or just trust that the authors know what they're talking about. I think it is a charming and enjoyable read for the festive season and if nothing else will teach you the best spaces to buy in your annual game of Monopoly. For the more nerdy, there are references and footnotes for all the studies/further mathsy goodness.
bobmanasco's review against another edition
2.0
A cute concept, but the math here is pretty weaksauce.