Much Ado About Numbers
Headscratchers
Maths on the back of an Envelope
What is a Googly?
books

Books

I've written or co-written fourteen books, some of which have appeared in several languages. The majority are about the maths of everyday life, but I've also written books on cricket, memory and creative thinking.

maths-and-puzzles

Maths

I am Director of Maths Inspiration, a national programme of interactive lecture shows in theatres that has reached around 200,000 teenagers in the last fifteen years. I'm closely involved with the UK maths community, from primary schools to universities.

talks-and-radio

Talks & Radio

I give talks to adults, teenagers and children that range from small interactive workshops to keynote lectures in front of several hundred. I've also done lots of radio (including numerous appearances on BBC Radio 4's More Or Less) and many podcasts.

Recent Blogs

There's a problem...
4 February 26

Exams are designed to test mathematical problem-solving, but they often inadvertently strip away the features that make real world problem-solving so valuable. more...


Start with a Half Volley
2 February 26

The first rule of an exam should be to relax the candidate. It's the equivalent of a batter receiving a half volley first ball. more...


The Day I Forgot Everything
21 January 26

There was nothing particularly special about 24th July 2025. Except that was the day that I forgot everything. more...


Cabinet Conversation
8 January 26

The UK government holds its cabinet meetings around a table. But what shape is the table? more...


What A Coincidence!
20 November 25

On his BBC 5Live show, Matt Chorley picks three numbers out of bags to find a random constituency. Why do repeats happen so often? more...


'From Year 10 we put on Blinkers'
12 November 25

Some schools are so focused on GCSE content that they regard enrichment as not just a distraction, but actually harmful. Ouch. more...


Much Ado About Numbers
6 November 25

We can change attitudes to maths if we connect it to the humanities - and in particular history and Shakespeare. more...


Circle Theorem Gets an Art Attack
1 September 25

When art broadcaster Neil Buchanan needed to find the centre of a circle, he made a surprising use of a circle theorem. more...


A Blog Index
2 September 25

Use this to find blog posts that relate to particular maths topics more...


Rob on Bluesky