Johnny Ball – författare

Popular television presenter Johnny Ball shares his love of maths and the essential part numbers play in our lives, from measuring, counting, and predicting to solving all sorts of problems.But maths isn't just about counting and calculations. In All about Numbers, you'll explore a fantastic world that is full of surprises. Learn how to crack codes and unravel mazes, and discover why finding a prime number can make you a millionaire. Impress your friends with magic tricks and mind-reading techniques, and find out about the simple puzzles that have stumped the world's brainiest mathematicians for centuries.With a colourful and quirky design, All about Numbers also includes fun and humorous facts that many math books leave out, such as why a flea can jump higher than an elephant and why zero doesn't always mean "nothing". You'll also discover how maths evolved throughout history, from the first counting system in ancient Iraq to the complex maths the Egyptians used to build the pyramids.Let Johnny Ball show you how maths can take you anywhere - to infinity and beyond.

In this book, Johnny Ball tells one of the most important stories in world history – the story of mathematics. By introducing us to the major characters and leading us through many historical twists and turns, Johnny slowly unravels the tale of how humanity built up a knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers and patterns from ancient times, a story that leads directly to the technological wonderland we live in today. As Galileo said, ‘Everything in the universe is written in the language of mathematics’, and Wonders Beyond Numbers is your guide to this language.Mathematics is only one part of this rich and varied tale; we meet many fascinating personalities along the way, such as a mathematician who everyone has heard of but who may not have existed; a Greek philosopher who made so many mistakes that many wanted his books destroyed; a mathematical artist who built the largest masonry dome on earth, which builders had previously declared impossible; a world-renowned painter who discovered mathematics and decided he could no longer stand the sight of a brush; and a philosopher who lost his head, but only after he had died.Enriched with tales of colourful personalities and remarkable discoveries, this book also has plenty of mathematics for keen readers to get stuck into. Written in Johnny Ball’s characteristically light-hearted and engaging style, it is packed with historical insight and mathematical marvels; join Johnny and uncover the wonders found beyond the numbers.

From an idyllic childhood in Bristol, with my gag-a-minute dad inspiring me to become a comedian, to dreadful teenage years in Bolton where education overlooked me, and all I learnt was how to be funny.My first job gave me a taste of success and confidence, followed by my real education in the RAF. Butlins gifted me an enduring smile, and in Liverpool, I worked with the less fortunate while crossing paths with future stars.Then came seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy, which took me across the UK and abroad, entertaining the British Forces, before a TV career began in failure, only to rise from the ashes with Di, the love of my life, and a new career in Maths and Science.Packed with wildly funny tales, this book isn’t half a good story – or is it?