AK Peters/CRC Recreational Mathematics Series
About the Book Series
This series aims to capture new and exciting work in Recreational Mathematics, loosely defined as ‘mathematics arising from recreational and esthetic pursuits’, though we are happy to bend that definition to accommodate almost anything that explores mathematics with a spirit of creativity, and curiosity. In the past century, Recreational Mathematics has proven itself as a way to engage a wider audience with the subject, and also as a catalyst for deep research in the field. The remit of the series is extremely broad, featuring books taking a mathematical approach to puzzles, games, origami, visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, history, magic and more besides. We welcome all manner of text-types, though we do especially value those books that can be used in an educational setting and which are accessible to readers with minimal mathematical background.
If you have a manuscript, proposal, or even just the beginnings of an idea, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Blackjack Mathematics for Non-Mathematicians
1st Edition
By Mark Bollman
August 01, 2026
This book explores the mathematics behind the casino game of blackjack or 21, with consideration given to a number of game variations that have, at times, found favor in casinos or in casual play. The emphasis is on the mathematics that underlies the game; the intention of is to present the math at...
Math Affinity Puzzles
1st Edition
By Katie Ballentine, Michael A. Jones, Lon Mitchell, Jennifer M. Wilson
June 15, 2026
Instead of treating mathematics as a collection of separate topics or isolated courses, this book highlights the patterns and relationships that appear throughout mathematics. Rather than keeping studies confined to a single field, the puzzles here look beyond boundaries and discover links among ...
Mastering Geometry Puzzles
1st Edition
By Paulo Ferro
April 09, 2026
This book will challenge mathematical skills in a totally different way from the usual geometric puzzles. These 120 puzzles are visually intriguing. Mastering Geometry Puzzles has 5 chapters of puzzles, each one corresponding to a level of difficulty, from the very easy to the very hard. Even if ...
Tic Tac Test: Beat the Book at Noughts and Crosses
1st Edition
By Barry R. Clarke
April 01, 2026
This interactive book allows readers to play tic-tac-toe against the book itself. Players can either allow the book to make the first move or take the initiative themselves. If the book makes the first move, it is randomly selected by flipping through the top-right page corners which are marked ...
Everyday Life is Full of Math
1st Edition
By Jun Mitani
March 26, 2026
This book explores how mathematics appears in everyday life. It presents math in a fun and beautiful way using knowledge at the junior high and high school level. It is written for general readers, not for experts. The book avoids difficult math and instead focuses on how new ways of thinking and ...
I Wish They'd Taught Me That: Overlooked and Omitted Topics in Mathematics
1st Edition
By Robin Pemantle, Julian Joseph Gould
November 26, 2025
I Wish They'd Taught Me That: Overlooked and Omitted Topics in Mathematics concerns the topics which every undergraduate mathematics student "should" know but has probably never encountered. These topics are not the ones which dominate every syllabus, but those magnificent secrets that are ...
The Magic Theorem: A Greatly-Expanded, Much-Abridged Edition of The Symmetries of Things
1st Edition
By John H. Conway, Heidi Burgiel, Chaim Goodman-Strauss
July 11, 2025
The Magic Theorem: a Greatly-Expanded, Much-Abridged Edition of The Symmetries of Things presents a wonder- fully unique re-imagining of the classic book, The Symmetries of Things. Begun as a standard second edition by the original author team, it changed in scope following the passing of John ...
The Secret World of Flexagons: Fascinating Folded Paper Puzzles
1st Edition
By Scott Sherman, Yossi Elran, Ann Schwartz
March 20, 2025
The hexaflexagon is a folded paper strip of colored triangles that has long delighted people with how it “magically” changes its appearance when “flexed”. This hands-on, comprehensive book goes beyond the hexaflexagon, the standard version of this folded puzzle, exponentially expanding the barely ...
Mathematical Meditations
1st Edition
By Snezana Lawrence
February 24, 2025
Mathematical Meditations identifies, explores, and celebrates those aspects of mathematics that are good for you and your overall wellbeing. It is necessary for everyone to have a little time to think every so often: to contemplate, meditate, and try to understand where you are and what is going on...
The Four Corners of Mathematics: A Brief History, from Pythagoras to Perelman
1st Edition
By Thomas Waters
December 02, 2024
The Four Corners of Mathematics: A Brief History, from Pythagoras to Perelman describes the historical development of the ‘big ideas’ in mathematics in an accessible and intuitive manner. In delivering this bird's-eye view of the history of mathematics, the author uses engaging diagrams and images ...
A Stitch in Line: Mathematics and One-Stitch Sashiko
1st Edition
By Katherine Seaton
November 29, 2024
A Stitch in Line: Mathematics and One-Stitch Sashiko provides readers with instructions for creating hitomezashi items with minimum outlay. The reader is guided through the practical steps involved in creating each design, and then the mathematics which underpins it is explained in a friendly, ...
Intermediate Poker Mathematics
1st Edition
By Mark Bollman
November 25, 2024
Intermediate Poker Mathematics provides a fascinating collection of mathematical questions set in the diverse world of poker. While it is absolutely possible that a poker player will glean some insight that will improve their skill at the table, this book is not intended primarily as a players’ ...