The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems

by Martin Gardner

Book Overview

For more than twenty-five years, Martin Gardner was Scientific American's renowned provocateur of popular math. His yearly gatherings of short and inventive problems were easily his most anticipated math columns. Loyal readers would savor the wit and elegance of his explorations in physics, probability, topology, and chess, among others. Grouped by subject and arrayed from easiest to hardest, the puzzles gathered here, which complement the lengthier,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393061140
• ISBN13: 9780393061147
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.0" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

excellent in content and scope

This is a delightful collection that, while scarcely new (and it admits to being, with scant exception, a rehash of previous material), presents the puzzles in a delightful format. The organization into sections--chess puzzles, physics puzzles, word puzzles, etc.--is refreshing and an incisive aid to locating just the type of tickler that appeals to you at the moment, and the diagrams, typography, and even feel of the paper are all first-class. In summary, this is a comprehensive and handsome volume that would do well on the intelligent person's bookshelf, even if the material isn't as mathematically sophisticated as Joukowsky airfoils.

A big enjoyment

This is a superb collection of puzzles of all kinds. Anyone experienced or not in the puzzle field should own this book. Martin Gardner is a guarantee for this book's efficiency, and highly educational and entertaining content. 5/5

The home trainer for the brain

Great collection of thought puzzles, some well known, some highly original. What I like most is that every problem, from the simplest up to the really difficult, has a twist to it: You may think you immediately see the answer, but there is always something you didn't think of. For example Problem 1.1 (to be seen in the Excerpt when you click on the image of the book): How many dates in a year can be confusing if you don't know whether they are in European notation (28/2/2007) or US (2/28/2007)? Your first thought is "That's easy, just 12x12", until you think a second time. If you want to train your brain, solve a few of Martin Gardner's puzzles every day. Or just do it to have fun.

I predict this book will be a Mathematical Recreations classic.

Martin Gardner is the name that always comes to mind when one thinks of Mathematical Recreations. Anyone who ever read Scientific American magazine will remember his column in every issue. He wrote the column for 25 years;and made puzzle lovers of millions of readers. His fans ran the gamut from those with a very elementary background in mathematics to those with a high degree of knowledge. What he did was to make mathematics something to enjoy and use as a recreational pursuit. Over the years, he wrote about 70 books,many that have been popular for a long time. In this book, he has chosen 340 puzzles from his columns of over 25 years. He has selected simple problems as well as medium and difficult. Each problem is supplied with an answer or solution . Often, answers in puzzle books are sketchy;but here we not only get an answer but also a good idea and explanation on arriving at the solution. The most interesting thing about this book is that it is geared to all levels of puzzle solvers (OMNIHEURISTS). I am sure that someone who has worked only a few puzzles,and who hasn't,will find many quite easy and in a short time will progress to those with more challenge; due particularly to the answer explanations.At the same time ,those with a lot of experience will find plenty to amuse themselves. Along with a pick of some of the best of the columns over the years,Gardner has included 12 of the best brainteasers to have come his way since he stopped writing the column in 1986. Also, we are given a list of all the other books that Martin Gardner wrote over the years. Along with that, there is a list of selected titles for those interested in more in the world of Recreational Mathematics. If you like Mathematical Recreations or puzzles of any kind ;take a look at this book and you'll surely want to own it.

Gardner's collection of puzzles over the years (from Scientific American)

What a great collection of puzzles. Anyone who likes puzzles SHOULD own this. I initially bought this for myself. But my brother-in-law loved it so much (when it arrived) that I gave it to him as a present. Just ordered it for myself again!