Brain Teasers Books

Hard, YES. I have yet to solve this maze. It is not your typical maze more like walking thru a fun house and you can never find your way out.

I work at it about an hour then give up always ending up in the same wrong place.

If you like a challange then this is the puzzle for you.

The concept of this book/puzzle is simple: each page is a separate room. Left-hand pages include brief descriptions of the rooms, while right-hand pages feature detailed illustrations of the rooms. The two major puzzles of the book are: 1. to get to the "center" of the maze (room 45), and find the shortest route back to page 1, and 2. to solve the riddle feature in the center of the maze.

The illustrations are fun to look at and, to my eye, resemble the work of Chris Van Allsburg ("Jumanji", "Polar Express", "Zathura", "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick").

I recommend this book for lovers of riddles and puzzles or anyone who enjoyed "MYST" or the old Infocom games, like "Zork".

This is a must in any library, whether you like mazes or not. Beautifully done.

The format of this book is interesting: each numbered page is a room. The reader's goal is interesting: find the path from the first room to the 45th room and back. The text follows a person (the narrator) guiding a small group of visitors around the maze-building. The drawings are all pen & ink (no color). The task & setup are fun, but ...

Here are my issues: (1) The narrator is a bit nasty -- nothing unsuitable for young children, but certainly not pleasant. (2) You absolutely MUST solve at least one riddle to find a path from room 1 to room 45. (3) There is no way to know whether you have found the correct answer to a riddle -- or for that matter, the shortest path.

My daughter & I have enjoyed reading this book together. It was intersting & fun. You'll enjoy it more if you aren't expecting a 5-star book.

A puzzle not for the faint-of-heart -- there is NO solution available to brute force and you are not expected to solve it in an evening. It's an exciting, detailed trip through a fiendish den of riddles and allusions with an untrustworthy guide, and I've used it as a great conversation piece with smart people. (Somewhere I have whole notebooks filled with sketched maps and riddle notes, the combined efforts of my theatre group ...) Highly recommended for those who love difficult, DIFFICULT puzzles.

Great book for math problems. Although high school level and there is no calculus, it still has great problems that touch up on important ideas.

This is a rather complete book for students and coaches who are preparing for mathematics competitions such as the IMO. It is loaded with problem-solving strategies for a large variety of mathematics problems ranging from combinatorics, number theory, sequences, polynomials and geometry to game theory, a topic which is not normally included in mathematics competitions. There are tons of problems (around 1300) to hone your mathematical skills. Another very good book in a similar category is the IMO Compendium. The books by Titu Andreescu are also excellent for mathematics competitions.

I am a student at a college in New England and I bought this book in high school. The book claims no knowledge of higher mathematics is necessary to complete the problems but that claim is simply untrue. You need higher mathematics to solve some of these problems. The author says anyone with a standard high school mathematics education can solve these problems. I strongly disagree. They are similar to high school problems but they are in much much greater depth.

Wow! The problems in the book are extremely difficult but not impossible. I would recommend only buying this book if you have access to mathematics professor(s) who can help you understand these problems for the Putnam Competition or you have a committed group of friends who like math. It takes me hours to solves these problems but I love it!

This is my top recommendation.

This is one book that I would like to keep with me all the time even after all my interest in Maths. is gone. For, it gives me food for thought and does not allow my mind to be dried of thoughts. This is a most fascinating book since the author, even when he gives hints at the solution, he does it in such an effective manner, that you have to really pursue a very thrilling chase of the solution. The challenge and thrill make it a pleasurable experience. I am sure this will be so for both the learner and the learned. Every mathematician should possess this book.

V. Krishnamurthy

At the time this book was written, Raymond Smullyan was one of the world's leading experts on Godel's Incompleteness Theorems -- some of the deepest mathematical results of the 20th century.

This book is actually a gentle intro to these topics, and the most amazing part of it is that Dr. Smullyan keeps the level suitable for children.

That does NOT mean this book is not suitable for adults. It is extremely entertaining no matter what your age is.

The book is mostly a progression of logical conundrums. You are started out on the island of knights and knaves. These two types of people are visually indistinguishable, but knights always tell the truth while knaves always lie.

You are then presented with various scenarios where the objective is for you to ask one question from which you obtain some meaningful information without knowing whether or not the person you are asking is a knight or a knave. The classic example is that you meet two people one of whom is a knight and one of whom is knave. Your objective? Ask one of them one question that allows you to determine which one is the knight and which one is the knave. Answer? "If I were to ask your friend if he was a knight, would he say 'Yes'" A knight will always answer this question "Yes" and a knave "No". If you can follow the logic through to conclude this, you are on your way!!

The situations through the book grow more complex. For example, later you find yourself on a similar island where the natives no longer speak English. They words for yes and no are "boo" and "da". The problem is, you don't know which is which!

At the end of the book, you are presented with the ultimate level of complexity where not only do half the people always lie and half tell the truth, and not only do they use the words "boo" and "da" for yes and no (without you knowing which is which), but half of the population is also insane which means that whatever is true, they BELIEVE the opposite. So an insane liar always inadvertantly tells the truth because what they believe is false...and then they lie about it.

Sound hard?

Yeah, that's the point.

Nonetheless, the book is a nice progression, and you definitely get better and better and following the logic through and thinking in these terms, which makes this book GREAT mental exercise! Some of the best I have found, in fact.

One final comment, John Houston's review is very wrong on the point of implication: an implication of the form a->b, is ALWAYS true when a is false. This is elementary logic -- a subject in which Dr. Smullyan was a world renowned expert.

I have no doubt that Dr. Houston is a very knowledgeable physicist, but unfortunately -- in spite of his apparently strong feelings to the contrary -- this has not prepared him to comment competently on formal logic.

The beauty of this book that the problems in it do not require any special knowledge. It can almost equally be tackled by old and young. I was 11 or so when I read this book and was able to enjoy many problems ... I still enjoy them when I am 31. Please, reprint the book!

An amazing book that trains you to use your brain effectively through a careful structure that increases in complexity as you progress. I read it when very young and would like to get copies for all my staff as it is an excellent tutorial on logic and perfect for orienting systems programmers into looking at complex problems with a fresh viewpoint. Sadly it appears to be out of print and I join the cry in asking the publisher to pull it out of the archives.

This book is a chockful of puzzles and riddles, humorous and bizarre. The author (Raymond Smullyan) uses these puzzles to introduce formal logic in a particularly fun and interesting way. This book also illustrates the unique sense of humor many mathematicians. He characterizes a drunken mathematician as one who says, "I can prove anyshing!"

Added January 2003

I used some questions from this book in my college physics class last fall (2002). I noticed a couple problems with the book and what it tries to present. The book is still fun and amusing, but not fully accurate. Consequently, I reduce my rating to a four.

I believe that logic is nothing more than reading (or hearing) and comprehending sentences, and identifying whether sentences are true or false. This book does an excellent job of training the reader to read what he reads. This is something the modern reader needs desperately -- witness the success of persons like Hugh Ross in persuading people that the Bible says what the Bible manifestly does not say.

However, the book emphasizes something that is very wrong: the claim that "A false statement implies anything" and its logical equivalent, "Anything implies a true statement."

"If we hadn't stopped and turned back, we would have been caught in an avalanche" would be just as true (after stopping and turning back) on the hottest summer day in the desert as on a stormy snowy day in the mountains in winter. Likewise, "If Al Gore had been allowed to take office as President, 9/11 would have not occurred" and "If Al Gore had been allowed to take office as President, 9/11 would have occurred" would both be equally true without considering what might have happened had Gore been President.

If "a false statement implies anything," then we cannot discuss intelligently what might have happened if we'd made different choices.

The book does prove that "If 2 + 2 = 5 then I am the Pope." It is possible that false statements of a certain type are guarranteed to imply anything.

I would like to see this book back in print. Most of it is excellent and on target in logic. Perhaps a second edition could be published, adjusting its take on these issues.

A true delight to read, although the one reviewers comments (John Morrison from Houston) brought to mind the truth of Pope's comment,"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again." As you read this book hopefully your brain will be stimulated to ask questions AND to dig deeper to learn ther answers. Smullyan is NOT wrong when he says that a false hypothesis yields a true conditional statement. I haven't read the book in decades, so I can't comment on whether or not Smullyan explicits says this, but conditional statements do not express causal relations (I can understand how a physicist would think this.)
Anyhow, this is a great book for young children with inquisitive minds and even for old children who think they know it all.

MB

If you're not inherently super outgoing but want to invite friends, neighbors, etc. to your home to socialize, this book will give you many, many ideas to choose from on how to create a warm, friendly atmosphere. Most of the icebreaker ideas and party games are practical and fun. This book is also great for school teachers looking for ways to break the ice in their classrooms on those first couple of awkward days. I confidently recommend this book to those of you who want to throw a party or have a get together, but are hesitating out of fear of what to do with your guests. It's truly a fun book and will bring people together.

The main reason I purchased the book was because I was out of ideas for good party games and activites. This book certainly solved that problem. It has a ton of things for great parties, not lame games either that people throw in just to fill space. This thing is 100% usable. And what else is nice its adaptable, and they show you how. Really great book worth every cent and more. I do have one problem with though. I only have one party to do right now and too many ideas !

This book has lots of good ideas and gives ways to adapt them or change them to suit almost anyones needs. In the back, the games are broken down by category (for ex, icebreakers, pre-party games, quiet games, hunts, etc...) and then another section has them organized by name. It has a nice section on party planning, things to think about when throwing a party and motivating guests that will be helpful to any newcomer to party throwing. There are no risque games but lots of them are easily adaptable and can be made less "family oriented" if that is your crowd. The majority of these games are for ADULTS not kids.

This book revolutionized my parties. It is chockfull of practical suggestions for organizing a party, energizing your guests and making your party the talk of the town. I love how the author not only suggests great games, but has the games categorized by what kind they are and when they should be played. Lots of helpful advice on how to warm up your group. I was absolutely amazed at how ENTHUSED my guests became the first time I followed her advice and used the games to make them mingle, break the ice, split a part couples, and get them laughing. It is a hoot. Double thumbs up.

It's so hard to get people together, once they are together you want to keep them occupied and happy. This book was my savior. I had fun gathering all of the supplies and making the games as well as playing them.

The problem with many "brain teaser" books is that they all have many of the same questions. That is not the case with this book. The questions in this book are challenging and fun. Makes for a great book to keep at the office to break up the monotony of the work day.

Excellent book, especially for those who are preparing for a case interview, I would recommend it for everyone. Easy reading and superb explanation!

I've alredy been thru the typical i-banking and consulting interview rush and I only wish I had this book back then. Not only will it introduce you to the type of questions you may be asked, it will also get you to start thinking in a smarter way. I highly recommend this book.

hi! i just wanted to let everyone out there whos interviewing for any investment banks or other jobs that this book will definitly help you out. the author worked in the best investment banks on wall street and gives you common interview questions that will have you very prepared. also, the book is really interesting, and just really fun to read through.

The puzzles and brain teasers presented in this book have been enormously helpful for my recent interviews! i was astonished when top banks asked me the EXACT same puzzles that were illustrated in this book! i HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYBODY who is interviewing at any banks, it will help you tremendously!

Terry Stickels is a great entertainer for the mind--and his puzzles are both challenging and wonderful fun for the entire family!

Bought the book to while away the hours on a flight to the "Big Apple" it did a great job, I even ended up lending it to one of my fellow passengers :-)

I discovered the Frame Game phenomena about a year ago and have been busily buying up back issues. I find the puzzles deceptively challenging, and the Pocket Book addition lives up to that billing. I have been using this particular edition to introduce Frame Games to my friends. Everyone has found these brainteasers to be a real exercise in mental flexibility. Each time you solve a puzzle on a page, you feel a sense of accomplishment, but can't wait to get to the next one. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun challenge. A good time will be had by all who read.

Excellent and fun set of frame game puzzles. Its fun for a wide range of ages and even fun to do in groups. My whole family enjoys these puzzles. My brother and I (11 and 23) worked on them together (or in competition as brothers do) -- it was amazing, he really took to them and got many of them before me! Of course, at our house, I'm still king of our other puzzle book, "Are you as Smart as you Think?" ;-)

Terry's Frame Games have made him world famous, and just when you think all of the possible phrases and ways to utilize them in Frame Games puzzles have been used up, he makes more! All 200 (count 'em) of these puzzles are completely new. The answer to each puzzle is found 2 pages later, upside down, in small print, right at the bottom of the page. This keeps you from having to hunt around at the end of the book for the answers, but also from seeing the answer too soon by accident. At $9.95 for 200 puzzles, that's less than a nickel per Frame Game. You can't beat that.

I think it's always good to keep your mind challenged. This book is perfect for that.

I like the variety of puzzles in this book...as opposed to all crossword,etc. One has to figure out the rule before solving the puzzle.

As a fan of Will Shortz's other puzzle books I was eager to try the puzzles in this volume. There is a good variety ranging from fairly easy to extremely challenging puzzles. The topics are varied with both puzzles and answers presented in an easy to use format. Many puzzle books do not provide adequate space to properly fill in your answers but this book does.

Will Shortz has delighted puzzle lovers world-wide for years. This collection is another excellent offering from the man who has dedicated his life to the pleasure of solving puzzles.If you have neither listened to Will's radio show nor purchased this book,you're missing out on a great opportunity to have a good deal of challenging fun. I still get a kick ( and feel honored) when Will features one of my puzzles on his show because of the way he makes it come to life with his enthusiasm. If you don't know by now, Will Shortz is the master of wordplay. Do yourself, friends, and family a favor. Get this book for hours of good,clean-cut fun and then tune in his show on NPR for more.

If you listen to Will Shortz on Sunday's Weekend Edition, you know what kind of puzzles are in this volume. Half the puzzles are of the type that he conducts with a call-in listener. This usually involves a series of word puzzles with short answers you can come up with on the spot. The other half of the puzzles in The Puzzlemaster Presents are of the sort that he leaves us with to solve during the week. They are harder and have one correct answer.

The first type of puzzle is fun, but the second type is my favorite because you usually have to do these in your head. I like to keep one or two in mind for occasions like being stuck in traffic or standing in line. They really make the time fly and you don't need pencil and paper. I find they are also great if you have trouble getting to sleep. Concentrating on a tricky word puzzle or arithmetic calculation sure keeps your mind from wandering all over the place.

And don't look for clever tricks with these puzzles. One thing about Will Shortz is that even though he loves puzzles, he is scrupulously fair. He gives you all the information you will need to solve each problem.

I buy these books for my elderly parents. They love to work through them and it helps to keep their minds active!

Enjoy these puzzles and the puzzles are entertaining. The puzzles are ranked as beginning on up. Very fun!

The pictures in this book are really great. Don't want to write on them.
It is lots of fun and quite challenging at times.

I love brain teaser puzzles and this book is great fun. I purchased the 3 pack and gave a book to my 9 year old son, he loves it. It is addictive and hours of fun! Fun for the entire family. I would recommend these as great gifts for kids instead of video games. My husband enjoys the puzzles too, I use him when I can't find something.

As a child I loved hidden picture books and as an adult I still love it. This books is great for all ages. It has different degrees of skill levels for everyone. I am own my way to collect them all!

This is a great book full of many categories to stretch your mind, including math, science, and story problems. Many of the questions can be played in a group, like 20 questions. Then you also have to arrange things like pencils and coins certain ways. This book is a great introduction to lateral thinking puzzles!

If you are a fan of lateral thinking puzzles, this is a wonderful book you can take anywhere to tantalize your brain.
Lots of fun to try to solve these intriguing challengers! Be a logic detective to come up with a solution. A true delight for fans of all ages who love lateral thinking puzzles!

This is a brilliant little book that can be used for party games or just to while away the time if you enjoy puzzles. It has something for everyone and apart from the entertainment value I have also found some of the puzzles to be quite educational. What is most fascinating is that although many of the puzzles seem to be impossible to solve there is always an answer. A little gem and an ideal fun gift.

One day my Language Arts teacher said that we would try something fun today. Yeah right I thought, but he read us some lateral thinking puzzles, and I just loved trying to figure them out. I bought this book and read every one, some were hard, and some I could figure out after thinking for about 5 minutes. It is a perfect thing for boredom, and is just fun and interesting. A man was born before his father, killed his mother, and married his sister, and was perfectly normal. What was going on?

This is a collection of puzzles designed to be solved quickly using only thought. While it is true that for some it may help to construct a diagram or write options down, for most the answer is just a matter of using the right approach. Most of the puzzles are not new, I recognized over fifty percent as having appeared elsewhere. Examples of such puzzles are:

1) If you are in a boat and throw something overboard which immediately sinks, does the boat rise or fall?
2) When in the last 200 years has there been a year that reads the same upside down?
3) A woman has five children and half of them are boys. How is this possible?
4) There are several problems where matches are to be moved.
5) The problem of a three-cornered duel where the odds of each hitting their target are different and the poorest shot shoots first.
6) How to arrange five circular coins so that they all touch each other.
7) If everybody in a family always votes Republican, then how come one person did not last election?

Nevertheless, I read through it with interest, even when I was only checking my memory rather than my wits. Solutions to all puzzles are in the back and there are some real sneaky ones. It is a good book for the beginning puzzle solver, although veterans may not be impressed.

Published in the recreational mathematics e-mail newsletter, reprinted with permission.

This book is SO much fun, and there are many challenging puzzles to figure out. It's addictive!

I bought this as a Christmas present for my 3 kids, who I homeschool. They have all been enjoying the puzzles, which are very challenging for both kids and adults! The graphics are very colorful and appealing to kids. This is a great book to leave out on the coffee table - I highly recommend it!

This book is great! Very fun...the only parts we don't enjoy are the parts you are supposed to cut. We don't want to cut up our book so we most likely won't do those activities. Our favorites are the activities that don't require anything but our mind or that we can read to each other. Very fun to do with another person to pass the time.

A superbly designed book of puzzles. You will find all types of "brain games" with different degrees of difficulty clearly marked. An index at the end of the book allows you to choose a "brain game" according to its type and degree of difficulty. Solutions to all brain games are at the end of the book.
Very colourful and inviting for all ages. Just leave it on your coffee table and all the family will stop to browse it and try their hands (or brains rather) at any of these attractively presented puzzles.

This was purchased for two kids, 9 and 13, to take on a trip for use in the car or the expected rainy afternoons. Fun to do and a challenge for their grandparents, too.