Dr Richard Elwes is a writer, teacher and researcher in Mathematics and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Leeds. He contributes to New Scientist and Plus Magazine and publishes research on model theory. He is the author of Mathematics 1001 published by Quercus.

'Here is a brilliantly conceived book on the history, working and going-ons of mathematics ... Go out and get a copy for yourself today and become the maths boffin your teacher always wished you were!' Vision Magazine.

• Introduction. How to solve every equation there has ever been. How to become a celebrity mathematician. How to square a circle. How to win the ultimate mathematics prize. How to slay a mathematical monster. How to excel at Sudoku. How to unleash chaos. How to survive a whirlpool. How to make a million on the stock market. How to outrun a speeding bullet. How to solve the Da Vinci code. How to admire a mathematical masterpiece. How to count like a supercomputer. How to visit a hundred cities in one day. How to arrange the perfect dinner party. How to paint the world in four colours. How to be alive and dead at the same time. How to draw an impossible triangle. How to unknot your DNA. How to find all the holes in the universe. How to feel at home in five dimensions. How to design the perfect pattern. How to build the perfect beehive. How to count to infinity. How to build a brain. How to bring down the internet. How to ask an unanswerable question. How to detect fraud. How to create an unbreakable code. How to avoid prison. How to mislead a jury. How to slow time. How to win at roulette. How to have beautiful children. How to talk to a computer. Glossary. Index.