Rob Eastaway is an English author. He is active in the popularisation of mathematics and was awarded the Zeeman medal [1] in 2017 for excellence in the promotion of maths. He is best known for his books, including the bestselling Why Do Buses Come in Threes? and Maths for Mums and Dads. His first book was What is a Googly?, an explanation of cricket for Americans and other newcomers to the game.
Eastaway is a keen cricketer and was one of the originators of the
International Rankings of Cricketers.[2] He is also a puzzle setter and adviser for
New Scientist magazine and he has appeared frequently on BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live.
He is the director of Maths Inspiration, a national programme of maths lectures for teenagers which involves some of the UK’s leading maths speakers. He was president of the UK
Mathematical Association for 2007/2008.[3] He is a former pupil of
The King's School, Chester, and has a degree in engineering and management science from the University of Cambridge.[2]
Books
1992: What is a Googly?
1995: The Guinness Book of Mindbenders, co-author David Wells
1998: Why do Buses Come in Threes?, co-author Jeremy Wyndham, foreword by
Tim Rice
1999: The Memory Kit
2002: How Long is a Piece of String?, co-author Jeremy Wyndham
2004: How to Remember
2005: How to Take a Penalty, co-author John Haigh[4]
2007: How to Remember (Almost) Everything Ever
2007: Out of the Box
2008: How Many Socks Make a Pair?
2009: Improve Your Memory Today, with Dr Hilary Jones
2010: Maths for Mums and Dads, co-author Mike Askew
2011: The Hidden Mathematics of Sport (new edition of Beating the Odds)
2013: More Maths for Mums and Dads, co-author Mike Askew
2016: Maths on the Go, co-author Mike Askew
2017: Any ideas? Tips and Techniques to Help You Think Creatively
2018: 100 Maddening Mindbending Puzzles
2019: Maths On The Back of an Envelope
2023: Headscratchers - The New Scientist Puzzle Book