Mathematics
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The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind
‘A must-read for anyone curious about how we think.’ Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators
From the coauthor of Algorithms to Live By, an exploration of the quest to use mathematics to describe the ways we think, from its origins three hundred years ago to the ideas behind modern AI systems and the ways in which they still differ from human minds.
Everyone has a basic understanding of how the physical world works. We learn about physics and chemistry in school, letting us explain the world around us in terms of concepts like force, acceleration, and gravity–the Laws of Nature. But we don’t have the same fluency with concepts needed to understand the world inside us–the Laws of Thought. While the story of how mathematics has been used to reveal the mysteries of the universe is familiar, the story of how it has been used to study the mind is not.
There is no one better to tell that story than Tom Griffiths, the head of Princeton’s AI Lab and a renowned expert in the field of cognitive science. In this groundbreaking book, he explains the three major approaches to formalizing thought–rules and symbols, neural networks, and probability and statistics–introducing each idea through the stories of the people behind it. As informed conversations about thought, language, and learning become ever more pressing in the age of AI, The Laws of Thought is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of technology.
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The Score: How to Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game (Audio Download): C. Thi Nguyen, C. Thi Nguyen, Penguin Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Brought to you by Penguin.
Is this the game you want to be playing?
Scoring systems are everywhere. Underpinning our daily lives – whether it’s the fit bits on our wrists, likes on social media, and even school rankings – they have become pervasive and increasingly dangerous, warping our desires and outsourcing our values to external institutions. Instead of encouraging us to be more playful, to take pleasure in the journey of striving towards a goal, institutions, corporations and bureaucracies weaponize scoring systems to impose their own interests. No matter what, we always seem to be playing by someone else’s rules.In The Score, philosopher C. Thi Nguyen shows us how this newly ‘gamified’ world has fundamentally captured our value systems, turning what might be moral or personal life choices into numerical data, and forcing us to prioritise what can be measured and monetized over what is truly meaningful to us.
A life-long lover of online and board games himself, Nguyen argues that we should not stop playing games but rather take a step back and become more aware of their immersive and profound power, so that we might chart a way towards more creative and joyful lives. To start playing our own game.
‘This is the best book on the topic you’ll ever find’ Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple
C. Thi Nguyen 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026Read more
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The Times Fiendish Su Doku Book 19: 200 challenging Su Doku puzzles (The Times Su Doku)
Challenge your brain with these enjoyable puzzles.
The latest book in The Times Fiendish Su Doku series – previously unpublished quality Su Doku puzzles. Includes 180 Fiendish and 20 Super Fiendish puzzles.
You don’t need to be a mathematical genius to solve the treacherous puzzles in this collection of Fiendishly difficult puzzles – it’s simply a question of logic.
Perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles, and guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.
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The Times Ultimate Killer Su Doku Book 18: 200 of the deadliest Su Doku puzzles (The Times Su Doku)
Challenge your brain with these enjoyable puzzles.
Specially compiled to provide the most deadly Su Doku challenge, this is the only volume for Su Doku enthusiasts who need a puzzle that really tests their mettle.
Prepare yourself for the toughest Su Doku challenge there is. These diabolically difficult Ultimate Killer Su Doku puzzles will really put your brainpower to the test as you ‘warm up’ with the 100 Deadly Killer puzzles before steeling yourself to take on the 100 Extra Deadly Su Dokus. Are you ready for the challenge?
Not for the faint-hearted. The puzzles use the same 9×9 grid as a regular Su Doku, but have an extra mathematical element that multiplies the challenge. The aim is not only to complete every row, column and cube so that it contains the digits 1 to 9, but also to make sure that the outlined sections, called cages, add up to the number given in each cage.
Warning: Not suitable for amateur puzzlers!
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From £7.06£7.99
