How can sprinter Usain Bolt break his world record without expending any
additional effort? What dates of birth give rise to the best
professional athletes? Is it better to have the inside or outside lane
during a race?
Drawing on vivid, real-life examples, mathematician John D. Barrow
entertainingly explores the eye-opening, often counterintuitive,
insights into the world of sports that math and physics can give us. For
example, we learn that left-handed boxers have a statistical advantage
over their right-handed opponents. Through clear, detailed, and
fascinating mathematical explanations, Barrow reveals the best
techniques and strategies for an incredible range of sports, from soccer
and running to cycling, archery, gymnastics, and rowing.