After reading Power-Up, parents, teachers, and nongamers who have eschewed letting young people play video games may see that games are not the 'evil distraction' they have been made out to be.
Robin Angotti, University of Washington What a delightful journey through the math of hidden worlds! This is much more than a book about video games. It's an ... Read moreexploration of interconnectedness and an invitation for the perpetually curious.
Karim Ani, founder of Mathalicious Are you a video game enthusiast who is getting tired of being asked 'How can you waste time on such stuff?' This book is your answer! Matthew Lane skillfully weaves a tale of how video games can be important tools for teaching mathematics and physics. As a long-time video gamer, I highly recommend Power-Up.
Paul J. Nahin, author of In Praise of Simple Physics Overall the book is excellent. Lane has written a high readable text with colorful illustrations. You won't regret reading it and maybe Power-Up will add a new level of insight to your computer gaming.
MAA Reviews Power-Up is a very readable book based on examples taken from popular video games. . . . It is a pity that too many people are deprived of the pleasure of finding things out via the intellectual game of mathematics. Hopefully, the effort of the likes of Matthew Lane will someday solve the severe marketing problem of mathematics.
Computing Reviews The examples [in Power-Up] were carefully chosen from very popular games, so even the most casual player will have heard of the vast majority of the games discussed. In general, Lane's writing is easy to digest, and the use of color and high-quality paper gives the book a nice look and feel.
Choice Lane explains some pretty technical concepts in an accessible way. . . . A fun survey of interesting maths related through the lens of video games.
-Paul Taylor, Aperiodical Lane explores secondary, or hidden, mathematical gems that a player might discover upon mature reflection. . . . Just as most car drivers prefer not to inquire how the internal combustion engine works, most video-type users prefer not to ask how computer magic works. For the few who do ask questions, Lane assures us and as his book testifies, 'there's a lot of mathematics under the surface'.
-Andrew James Simoson, MathSciNet Show Less