sodope's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Un libro bastante entretenido si te gustan las matemáticas y sobre todo si tienes un nivel "avanzado". El libro desglosa cada uno de los episodios en los cuáles las matemáticas relucen de más, nos cuenta datos curiosos detrás de lo que sea usa y también la gente detrás de estos mismos.
Un libro bastante entretenido si te gustan las matemáticas y sobre todo si tienes un nivel "avanzado". El libro desglosa cada uno de los episodios en los cuáles las matemáticas relucen de más, nos cuenta datos curiosos detrás de lo que sea usa y también la gente detrás de estos mismos.
jaller's review against another edition
4.0
As a fellow math nerd how could I not love this book? Fun read and the author did a great job (I thought) of breaking the math down into understandable bits. I've never seen the Simpsons or Futurama but I still enjoyed learning about all of the math that goes into the writing of each episode.
danidavar's review against another edition
3.0
3 ⭐️
Este libro nos descubre numerosos y distintos guiños matemáticos en la famosa serie Los Simpson. Contiene explicaciones y datos que desconocía de carácter divulgativo que he disfrutado mucho, como buen curioso de las matemáticas que soy. Si a vosotrxs también os gustan, ¡os recomiendo este libro!
Expectativa: 3 ⭐️
Este libro nos descubre numerosos y distintos guiños matemáticos en la famosa serie Los Simpson. Contiene explicaciones y datos que desconocía de carácter divulgativo que he disfrutado mucho, como buen curioso de las matemáticas que soy. Si a vosotrxs también os gustan, ¡os recomiendo este libro!
Expectativa: 3 ⭐️
whatdotheyknowaboutfriends's review against another edition
2.0
This book presents some legitimately interesting mathematical puzzles. However, in order to get to these parts, you need through some fairly boring Simpsons-writers' life histories. The basic idea is that there are a number of writers on the Simpsons who have mathematical backgrounds, and they like to incorporate math gags into the Simpsons, particularly the "freeze-frame" gags for which the early seasons were so well known. So far, so good. The problem is that there aren't quite enough of these gags, or they aren't deep enough (streets named "pi" avenue, etc) that the writer spends too much time tell the stories of Simpsons writers with math degrees. Or engaging in some fairly sycophantic praise of the glorious nerdiness of the staff, and their contributions to geekdom. I love the Simpsons as a show, but the level of fandom suggested for reading this book is high.
The latter third of the book, which focuses on Futurama, is much better, largely because it's a science fiction show, and there's less of a strain to find material. As I said, some of the digressions on pi, Flatland, Klein surfaces, Cantor, cryptography, etc are actually very interesting. But they don't go very deep into these subjects, and the overall sense is of a book trying an odd tact to glorify a show that's, well, better as a show.
The latter third of the book, which focuses on Futurama, is much better, largely because it's a science fiction show, and there's less of a strain to find material. As I said, some of the digressions on pi, Flatland, Klein surfaces, Cantor, cryptography, etc are actually very interesting. But they don't go very deep into these subjects, and the overall sense is of a book trying an odd tact to glorify a show that's, well, better as a show.
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
This very quick read is neither complete (there are websites for that, referenced in the introduction) nor comprehensive (it can be sold to those without a math PhD). It was enjoyable.
Each chapter starts with a reference or three from the Simpsons (and later Futurama) then moves forward to explore the mathematical concept referenced (from Pi and Fermat to Topologies and Klein Bottles, with a side trip into Bill James and Erdos/Bacon Numbers). The explorations are necessarily brief. Singh also introduces the reason for all this math - the nerdy writers of both shows.
Each chapter starts with a reference or three from the Simpsons (and later Futurama) then moves forward to explore the mathematical concept referenced (from Pi and Fermat to Topologies and Klein Bottles, with a side trip into Bill James and Erdos/Bacon Numbers). The explorations are necessarily brief. Singh also introduces the reason for all this math - the nerdy writers of both shows.
laurakaplan's review
3.0
Solid 3.5 stars. Easy to read with plenty of Simpsons and Futurama jokes as well as Math history lessons throughout. Entertaining in a math nerd sort of way.
gothwin's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good at his previous books (FLT is probably my favourite popular maths book), but a good book to dip in and out of.
hardbyte's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this easy read, and also quite surprised by just how much mathematics has made its way into the Simpsons and Futurama.