---
title: 'Live Q + A with Matt Parker'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=aes29YXIrRk'
video_id: 'aes29YXIrRk'
date: 2026-06-29
duration_sec: 613
---

# Live Q + A with Matt Parker

> Source: [Live Q + A with Matt Parker](https://youtube.com/watch?v=aes29YXIrRk)

## Summary

Matt Parker (Stand-up Maths) hosted his first live Q&A to celebrate his book 'Humble Pi' hitting #1 on the UK bestseller list. He answered questions about book availability (US edition delayed until spring 2020), his unique Post-it note writing method, and gave personal math advice.

### Key Points

- **Book hits #1 bestseller** [01:07] — The Q&A celebrates 'Humble Pi' reaching #1 on the Sunday Times list, beating Michelle Obama's book by 340 copies.
- **US release delayed** [02:34] — US edition not out until spring 2020 due to traditional publishing divisions; Parker is already working on it, including spelling changes.
- **Post-it note writing process** [03:34] — Parker writes one concept per Post-it note, arranges them on a wall, then reorders them. Post-it notes from drafting are now included with signed book orders on Masticar (while supplies last).
- **Third book in the works** [06:21] — Third book confirmed; Parker is already in discussions with Penguin. Topic not yet decided.
- **Math student advice** [07:49] — Advice for math students: mathematicians aren't those who find it easy, but those who enjoy the challenge. 'Give it a go' and don't fear mistakes.

## Transcript

Okay. I think this is working. So, hello, if you're watching this live stream, it's
the first time I've done a live video here on my Stand Up Maths channel, I'm going to try a live Q&A. We will see how this goes. I am mildly optimistic it will work. So, I've
got some planned questions. People are complaining that the audio is a choppy. We'll see how we go. No promises. So, my planned questions, I've got kind of printed out here because it
is live, but I'll do some of these first, and then if I get some good questions, I'll do them here. The vast majority of you who are watching this, however, will be watching it after it was live. So, if you're on a computer where you've got a keyboard, if you press
any of these numbers, you will skip straight to that question. So, you can pick your favorite question and go straight to it. So, people watching it live put them in. I'm going to start now,
however, with question number one, why am I doing a Q&A? So, as is a YouTube tradition, this is a celebratory Q&A. So, my book, Humble Pie, a comedy of maths errors, which I'm
sure I've mentioned enough times on this channel. It was number one in the UK. It was the number one bestseller, which is insane. So, in the Sunday Times bestseller list, so this one is from the Times Magazine, it's a bit like the New York Times list for the UK. You can
see, there it is, look at that, how it just, I mean, I sold 340 more copies than Michelle Obama. So, I mean, that's just, thank you so much, everyone who got the book. This happened
because of you. And the celebrate is the first of a maths book to be number one in the UK, by the way, is Jess Bonkers. So, to kind of thank you, I thought I'd do a risky live Q&A
video because when things go wrong, it's not like everyone's got a classic go-to joke. Question number two, when is it out in the USA? So, I get a lot of questions on Twitter and
comments on my videos saying, when will it be out in the USA? Why can't I buy it on US Amazon? Why can't I get the audio book version on my, you know, whatever device, and it's because of publishing. So, publishing is particularly old school, and it's divided
up around the planet. I haven't got any say in the matter. The US edition is not due out until spring 2020. So, it's a full year after the UK edition. So, I've already started
working on the US edition. So, it'll probably look different. They change the cover when it goes out in the States. So, I'm taking out a lot of use, putting in some zeds or some zes. It's not going to be bilingual. And it'll be out in 2020. So, I'm really sorry.
And I know the audio book is locked because of that. I've asked and there's absolutely nothing I can do. I'm so sorry. But, you know, it'll be out at some point. Number three. What's with the Post-it notes? Now, if you follow me on Twitter, you will
have seen people commenting when they've got their copy of the book. And they've had Post-it notes in some of the photographs when they're kind of, you know, unboxing it. So, there's one here about DC. Someone's got a thing about precision. And this person tweeted their
copy when they got it. And there's a Post-it note with one of the concepts from the book on the Post-it note. That's because when I write a book, here's me very pleased to finish writing a book. I have one concept per Post-it note. I put them all on the wall. And then I
move them around as I write the book. And when I was finished, I was like, well, these are a waste. I shouldn't goodness. I shouldn't just throw them out. So, if you want, one of the Post-it notes that I used when I was writing the book, if you buy it on Maskier, put bookmark
in the checkout box and you will get it. Which kind of brings us nicely. The question for, can you sign my book? Well, yes, is the short answer. So, if you buy it on Maskier,
I, all the books are signed on Maskier. And if you put a special request in the comment box, at the moment, there are so many books coming through. So, I'm sorry if I missed anyone's special request. I try and do it, but I can't guarantee it. Actually, anything
I can guarantee is because the Post-it notes originally gave to my Patreon supporters which is why there were those ones online in the Twitter photos. Now, I'm opening up to everyone because everyone can watch this video. So, if you put bookmark in the comment, this
is only on Maskier. I've got about 200 Post-it notes left. So, the first 200 people who buy it on Maskier. I haven't done the description on this video yet. So, don't look at it, but I will later on do the description for the video. I have a link to Maskier. If you find
it first, hey, you're a winner. And you can get one of the Post-it notes. They're unique. They come with a certificate. Very exciting. Okay, question number five, the first live question.
So, let's have a look. Someone who's username is pi has asked me, do you like cubing? And I assume they're just referring to multiplying numbers by themselves twice. So, yeah, I love
cubing numbers huge. No, I guess they're referring to several Rubik's cubes in the background over here. So, I'm still not great on the myth. Like, those last two sides. Anyway, yes, I do.
I absolutely love cubing. I'm not very good at it, but I very much enjoy it. Pi, that is a good question. And I made a video ages ago where I went to the UK national championship. And I'm a little embarrassing. Like, I'm not fast. But it was fun to go and compete. So, you can
check that out. I know Felix Zemdegs, who's like the, you know, cubing legend. So, you can check out a video I did with him. So, yeah, I quite enjoy cubing, which is why they're kind of like one of my fidget toys. Get it on the office. Good question. Let's go on to question
number six. Next live question. They're flying by too fast for me to read. Will there be a third book? I didn't even catch your username. Someone said, will there be a third book? So,
my first book, things to make and do in the fourth dimension. There's the UK. Oh, actually, yeah, this is an example. There's the UK cover. But up here, that's the hard back when it first came out. And that's the US edition. They just love mixing it up. Probably. I need to recover
from it takes a long time to write a book. And I don't like the fact that I get behind on doing other stuff in my life, but I am already talking to Penguin about doing a third book,
particularly when this one was the best seller. They were super keen. So, yes, there will be a third book. I've not decided what it's on yet, but I'll do it at some point. And I mean, to be honest, I only get to write the books because all your fantastic people, I mean, I know I
go on and on about it, but I'm hugely appreciative of everything you do. Question number seven. I think we're up to seven. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Let's go in. Everyone, you've got to slow it down. You know, I'm just going to scroll through these. Which, oh my goodness. I did not think
through. This is why it's the first time I've done a live video. How should we just say audio? Has the audio gone? Look, if the quality on this has gone, I really apologize. I've got my kit rigged
up. Just like into the picture and picture, but I'm not great. So, you know, I'm just going to scroll through and find. Oh, here we go. So, do snap. Do snap. Any advice for math students? Give it a
go. You know, I've been known to say, give it a go. And I go on and on about this as well. You know, mathematicians are not people who find math easy necessarily. There are often people who just enjoy
that it's difficult. So put the effort in. Give it a go. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Final live question. Question number eight. So, number eight. Someone just did Hashtag of Parkesphere. That's not a question. Audio is not synced. Well, you're just going to have to
mentally, mentally slow it down. So, maybe my bandwidth isn't taking it. Here we go. I'll do Skull Vikings. Will you celebrate June 28th, also known as Talday? No. That was easy. That bought
me some extra time. So, I'll start the wrap up now. I'm not going to let this drag on. If you want to, you know, this has been fun. I'll do this again. This one I'm keeping quite short because I want to see
how it goes. And I know if the audio is out of sync. There's a lot of Hashtag Parkesphere comments going on. But when I hit a significant number of subscribers, I will do a new Q&A or something
like this. So, if you want to subscribe, look at that. How did that get there? That'll be great. I know only a third of the people who watch my videos are subscribed. So, come on. Get on with it.
So, anyway, I'm not doing question nine. Sorry, a little bit out of alignment with the button. What videos are you working on? I'll put all of these in the description. Once there is a description later on. I got loads of videos coming up. In fact, I'm in the process of moving office. So, people on
Patreon, keep an eye on that. I'm going to get a better office where I can do more videos in the studio, which is going to be great. I've got a new video with Hannah Frye. So, Manopoli video is
very popular. We filmed that quite recently. And that should be out next week. And the other thing with a helicopter. No further comments. That should be out soon. Okay. So, I'm going to wrap it up there. I am going to... Everyone is just saying lovely things. That is so nice of you. I will go through
and try and apply just some comments. In a moment, this has been my first attempt at a live Q&A stream. I would do it again once I get to a significant multiple of 10 number of subscribers.
We'll see. Or a fraction. There are.