Hi ,
It looks like you're using an ad blocker.



The revenue generated from the adverts on the site is a critical part of our funding - and it's because of these ads that I can offer the site for free. But using the site for free AND blocking the ads doesn't feel like a great thing to do, which is why this box is so large and inconvenient. Some sites will completely block your access, but I'm not doing that - I'm appealing to your good nature instead. Did you know that you can allow ads for specific sites, whilst still blocking them on others?

Thanks,
Ian Williams aka Fetch
or for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus - December 2023 Book Group discussion thread

6 watchers
McGoohan
McGoohan
Dec 2023
8:40am, 4 Dec 2023
53,412 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
McGoohan
Hannah Fry and Thomas Oleron Evans have provided a book of mathematical and scientific proofs for the existence of Santa Claus. Not only that, but it's the December Fetcland Book Group choice as chosen by Serens-Dippers. It's a Christmas miracle!
westmoors
westmoors
Dec 2023
9:14am, 4 Dec 2023
7,956 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
westmoors
Absolutely loved this, then again, I love maths and logic. Thought it was presented in a very readable and humourous manner. Read it in just two sittings with a smile on my face throughout. However, I doubt I'll put any of the suggestions into practice as family Christmases are a thing of the past.
McGoohan
McGoohan
Dec 2023
9:16am, 4 Dec 2023
53,416 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
McGoohan
And a score of 10/10? This is very encouraging :-)
McGoohan
McGoohan
Dec 2023
8:53am, 9 Dec 2023
53,439 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
McGoohan
Right-o. I finished this last night.

I'd started quite enthusiastically and thought I was going to enjoy it but for such a short book it rapidly became a bit of a slog. My problem is, I think, that I would quite enjoy a book applying maths and mathematical modelling to everyday situations but the Christmas elements felt really forced. I ended up skimming the chapters a bit once I was about halfway through.

Sorry, didnae like it very much: I've given it a 5
westmoors
westmoors
Dec 2023
11:32am, 9 Dec 2023
7,970 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
westmoors
But many of the elements weren't necessarily Christmas - wrapping presents, playing monopoly.
LindsD
LindsD
Dec 2023
3:17pm, 9 Dec 2023
65,432 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
LindsD
I said on the main thread I shouldn't have bought this and I was right. I don't like non-fiction much at all. I just don't find it engrossing and I cba with it. I've got at least two books on the go that I've been reading for a year. So.... I was just very meh about this. It's me, not the book. It's just not the book for me. I found it smug and the jollity was annoying. I knew most of the maths and the bits I didn't know I didn't want to know. The only bit I found a bit diverting was the Monopoly bit as I've often wondered about that. I gave it a six. I wish I'd bought a real copy instead of Kindle because then at least I could pass it on. :(
Ding Dong Daisy
Ding Dong Daisy
Dec 2023
9:22pm, 23 Dec 2023
39,373 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Ding Dong Daisy
I'm glad I only bought a 2nd hand copy. I started off expecting to enjoy it (I'm a fan of Hannah Fry) but as it wore on it simply reinforced to me that I'm not a mathematician at heart. I got bored quite quickly :-( 4/10 from me.
Columba
Columba
Dec 2023
12:16pm, 30 Dec 2023
22,389 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Columba
At first I got rather annoyed by this book (stereotype people such as Aunt Hilda being rich but mean, Grandma having a house which is cold and smells of cats) but then decided to meet it on its own terms, and enjoyed the bizarre applications of maths to Christmas-related 'problems' particularly the ingenious analysis of Monopoly.
Columba
Columba
Dec 2023
12:29pm, 30 Dec 2023
22,390 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Columba
(Having read back): I'm not a mathematician either, and I skimmed over the more esoteric formulae but still enjoyed the general idea. I shan't keep the book, though. Thought of sending it on to Middle Son, whose degree is in maths, but he probably wouldn't read it.

I also liked the introduction of the Liar's Paradox, which goes right back to the ancient Greek philosophers.

Got something to say?

To join the discussion, sign in or join us.

About This Thread

Maintained by McGoohan
Hannah Fry and Thomas Oleron Evans have provided a book of mathematical and scientific proofs for the existence of Santa Claus. Not only that, but it's the December Fetcland Book Group choice as chosen by Serens-Dippers. It's a Christmas miracle!
  • Show full description...

Related Threads

  • bookgroup

Report This Content

You can report any content you believe to be unsafe. Please let me know why you believe this content is unsafe by choosing a category below.



Thank you for your report. The content will be assessed as soon as possible.










Back To Top

Tag A User

To tag a user, start typing their name here:
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 114,357 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here