Alex Bellos author page

Alex Bellos biography

Alex Bellos is a British author, journalist, and broadcaster, recognised for his work in popularising mathematics and his writing on Brazilian culture. He studied Mathematics and Philosophy at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he also edited the student newspaper Cherwell.

Bellos began his journalism career at the Brighton Evening Argus before joining The Guardian in London. Between 1998 and 2003, he worked as the newspaper’s South America correspondent, based in Rio de Janeiro. During this time, he wrote Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life (2002), a detailed account of Brazil’s football culture. He also co-wrote the autobiography of Pelé, which became a UK bestseller in 2006.

Returning to the UK, Bellos focused on mathematics communication. His book Alex’s Adventures in Numberland (2010) was shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. Its follow-up, Alex Through the Looking-Glass (2014), further explores mathematical ideas in daily life. Since 2015, he has written a puzzle column for The Guardian.

Bellos has contributed to BBC Radio 4 documentaries and presented the television series Inside Out Brazil (2003). In 2012, he received the Premio Letterario Galileo for the Italian edition of his book on mathematics.

He is co-author of the children’s Football School series, which introduces academic topics through football. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have sold over one million copies worldwide.