Stephen Stigler, Ernest DeWitt Burton Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Statistics, won the 2023 Neumann Prize for his book entitled Casanova’s Lottery: The History of a Revolutionary Game of Chance (University of Chicago Press, 2022).

The prize is awarded for a book in English (including books in translation) dealing with the history of mathematics, aimed at a non-specialist readership, and published in 2023 or later. Conferred by The British Society of the History of Mathematics (BSHM), Stigler’s book was recognized for “blending compelling mathematical content with fascinating historical context as it describes the remarkable story of the French lottery (Loterie) established in 1757.”

The British Society for the History of Mathematics:

  • promotes and encourages research into the history of mathematics and the dissemination of the results of that research;
  • develops awareness of the history of mathematics for the public benefit; and
  • supports teachers and lecturers at all levels of mathematics education to incorporate the history of mathematics into their teaching, enriching their students’ experience.

To read about this story in more detail visit BSHM’s website by clicking here.