Johnny Ball

After seventeen years in stand-up comedy and, by 1981, fourteen years in children’s television, Johnny’s self-created shows Think of a Number and Think Again were attracting huge audiences. Yet his roller-coaster career was anything but steady. Each success seemed to be matched by a setback, as if someone, or something, was always waiting to pull him back down. Before long, the world of engineering and big business came calling. Johnny found himself not only presenting but also writing and lecturing on an extraordinary range of subjects, always in support of new ideas and initiatives. And, more often than not, he came out smiling and armed with new, funnier or sometimes more shocking stories that simply just ‘must be told’. Today, the roller-coaster ride continues. The lows may feel steeper than ever, but the highs are even more thrilling and exhilarating. Through it all, one thing remains certain: it’s still a laugh-a-minute adventure. Enjoy the ride!

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?

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, there is also plenty of mathematics for keen readers to get stuck into. Written in Johnny Ball's characteristically light-hearted and engaging style, this book is packed with historical insight and mathematical marvels; join Johnny and uncover the wonders found beyond the numbers.