I bought this book after a recommendation from a work colleague, I quite like maths but I wouldn’t say I am particularly strong. I’ve found this book really interesting because it gives you a history and a background about the mathematics. I’ve started watching the Simpsons episodes that are mentioned in the book. I remember reading a bit in the book that one of the writers in the show said (paraphrasing) they get quite excited about putting in bits of mathematics to get people talking about the maths. I like that 🤩

Singh is, as ever, entertaining but I can't help feeling that there is just a little too much anecdote and not enough actual mathematics.The book is marvellous at teasing us with the more esoteric mathematical ideas that, courtesy of the many geeks on the writing team, have seen their way into the world of Bart and Homer but sometimes it is a little too content with lauding the 'accomplishment' (and who can blame the author for being a little start struck by the number of bona fide mathematicians who are able to combine their number nous with the comedic skills to keep the world's most watched animated series at the forefront of world television?) at the cost of truly opening up the theorems and insights it represents. Nevertheless, it's a good write-up of the unique creative process behind The Simpsons and the unexpected offshoots of Springfield culture and ample proof that knowledge need not be stuffy or boring. Perhaps teachers should be first in the queue for a copy?

I have just finished reading this book, I found it very exciting and I believes it is a must buy for A-level and prospective university students who have an interest in Mathematics and a good sense of humour.

Truly inspiring to those willing to pursue mathematics either at university or as a career!

Go back to the equation at the start of the book, after reading the acknowledgements, it'll make sense then!

This is a book that I was excited about reading. I love maths and I love the Simpsons. I'd also really enjoyed Simon Singh's book on Fermat so was particularly intrigued to read it.

Simon again takes the reader on a journey through the history of maths, he covers a couple of things mentioned in Fermat’s last theorem, but generally the maths topics covered are very different.

For decades, the writers of The Simpsons have been sneaking maths into their show, and Simon uses these jokes and references to take us on a journey through maths. He also explores why there are so many mathematicians on the writing team, and how the series has evolved.

The book is written so that the maths gets increasingly more complex, and there are even 5 “exams” for the reader to sit. The clever part is that even though the episodes mentioned aren’t in chronological order, there is a real feeling of chronology while reading it, and anecdotes about the writers etc are blended seamlessly in with the maths. I have mentioned that there could be a library of books on the topic, and I would love there to be, but I cannot see this happening because the closing chapter brings the book to such a perfectly satisfying conclusion.

The maths sections of the book are well written, and are set out in a way that should be accessible for those with a decent high school mathematical background. Simon uses the appendices to set out more complicated maths, which is great, and appendix 5 especially took me some time to get my head around!

I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in maths, or The Simpsons.

You can read my more thoprough review at: [...]

With his fascinating insight into the making of The Simpsons, Simon Singh presents the deft and subtle approach the writers take to initiate its audience into the world of mathematics and integrate it into their daily lives. This book excellently combined two of my passions: Simpsons and maths into an entertaining and fascinating tale of the writers origins and backgrounds; the vast majority beginning in STEM subjects and bringing their passion into the show's comedic writing. He also dedicates the later sections to Futurama which shares cores writers (David X. Cohen and Matt Groening.)

Unfortunately, the book lacked the full explanations of deeper and higher maths that I was expecting. For example, it touched on Fermat's last theorem, but lacked a satisfying explanation of the current proof. It is still an enjoyable and engaging read that provides an in depth look into the history of mathematics and The Simpson's behind-the-scenes.

I like Simon Singh. I love Maths. I love The Simpsons.

For a while, this is an interesting and engaging idea, but sadly he just didn't have enough material for a whole book. I don't mind that Singh branches off into Futurama - it's from the same stable, that's fair enough, but I do mind the repetition. You know those TV programs (usually reality or makeover shows) where they start off by showing you clips of what they're about to so, then about every 10 minutes they show you what they've just done. or what's coming up? It's a bit like that.

There's good stuff here, but stretched too thin, and it starts to grate.

Singh is an excellent science writer in fact I would rate him probably the best I have read. He makes the subject accessible and interesting without being condescending to the reader or going over the reader's head. I teach maths to reluctant maths students and so I am always looking for ways that I might hook them and show how maths can relate to them. So this is a great book for showing how a very high level of maths can be embedded in a popular cartoon series. The examples from Futurama are even more impressive (and perhaps Futurama should have a mention in the title - but it would be too long then).

Bought this book for my son who is studying maths at university. He loved it and said it was at just the right level for him. He had picked up on some of the in "maths jokes" when watching the Simpsons on TV but had missed many others so he found it really interesting. It has also made him more aware that there are many avenues open to maths graduates as many of the people involved in writing the Simpsons have a maths background.

Das Buch finde ich sehr witzig und unterhaltsam geschrieben. Sicherlich hilft es, wenn man ein mathematisches Grundverständnis (oder zumindest Interesse) mitbringt und die eine oder andere Folge der Simpsons schon mal gesehen hat, aber diese Voraussetzungen halten sich in Grenzen.

Ich habe mir das Buch in Englisch schenken lassen, das eine oder andere Wortspiel musste ich aber durchaus schon zwei- oder dreimal lesen. Trotzdem kann ich die englische Version sehr empfehlen, ich denke, es ist den Aufwand wert ist.

Ansonsten, nicht unbedingt ein Kandidat für den nächsten Literaturnobelpreis aber kurzweilige Unterhaltung...

Viel Spaß!!

数学的な内容がちりばめられたSimpsons 、「Fermat の定理」の著書で知られるサイモン・シンが解説しています。

Un livre très bien construit, qui reprend l'histoire des Simpsons et de leurs auteurs, presque tous diplômés de grandes écoles américaines (Harvard entre autre) dans des domaines scientifiques. Etant fan des Simpsons et des mathématiques, j'ai trouvé très intéressant ce parallèle entre ces deux univers. Mais je pense qu'il peut plaire également aux "non-fans".

Attention, disponible en anglais seulement !

Such a good book and super interesting to learn about the geniuses behind my favourite show.

I would like to think I am not a nerd, but I KNOW I am not a math whiz. In fact, I would label myself as "challenged" in this area. Neither am I a particular fan of the show, although when I have watched it I've found it funny and enjoy the targeted humor. So I'm not sure what attracted me to buy this book, but having it, I am reading it with enormous delight! Singh uses the tv show The Simpsons as the hook to investigate and explain all sorts of mathematical concepts -- both complicated and relatively simple -- in ways that even I can understand and see the humor, logic, importance and at times, application of. (I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition. Maybe I am a nerd, after all!) Although, I must amend that last sentence, I still don't see the practical application of prime numbers, but maybe by the end of the book I will? There are explanations and anecdotes which prompt laugh-out-loud reactions, and Singh's writing has a dry humor and is clear. For fans of the Simpsons it will expand their appreciation of just how intelligent and clever the writing is, but even if you are not a fan of the show, the book really is mostly focused on the delights of mathematics. Get the book and read it!