How Many Pikachus Would It Take to Power a Lightbulb?

(Penguin, 2026)

(From the publisher)

From Oxford lecturer in mathematics and math YouTuber Tom Crawford, a humorous, rigorous, and surprisingly profound dive into the math of popular cultureHow would an actuary price out the risk of Frodo Baggins’s journey to Mount Doom?

How many calories must Charizard consume each day to keep his flaming tail alight?

And who is richer—Sonic the Hedgehog or Super Mario?

For most of us, such thoughts are passing curiosities as we immerse ourselves in our favorite movie, TV show, or video game. For mathematician Tom Crawford, these are questions that demand answers, and this book will provide them. Each chapter of How Many Pikachus Would It Take to Power a Lightbulb? is devoted to the math of a pop culture world: The Lord of the Rings; Pokémon; Harry Potter; Star Wars; the MCU; as well as an eclectic mix of video games and literary characters. Along the way, readers will learn about risk, probability, the laws of physics, and, of course, how best to defeat the Avengers.Breathtakingly fun and original, this is the perfect gift for the pop culture nerd in your life.

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