The Puzzle Instinct


Book Description

"Humans are the only animals who create and solve puzzles--for the sheer pleasure of it--and there is no obvious genetic reason why we would do this. Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening." --Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times "... Puzzle fanatics will enjoy the many riddles, illusions, cryptograms and other mind-benders offered for analysis." --Psychology Today "... a bristlingly clear... always intriguing survey of the history and rationale of puzzles.... A] splendid study...." --Knight Ridder Newspapers










Mathematical Puzzles


Book Description

Research in mathematics is much more than solving puzzles, but most people will agree that solving puzzles is not just fun: it helps focus the mind and increases one's armory of techniques for doing mathematics. Mathematical Puzzles makes this connection explicit by isolating important mathematical methods, then using them to solve puzzles and prove a theorem. This Revised Edition has been thoroughly edited to correct errors and provide clarifications, and includes some totally different solutions, modified puzzles, and one entirely new puzzle. Features A collection of the world’s best mathematical puzzles Each chapter features a technique for solving mathematical puzzles, examples, and finally a genuine theorem of mathematics that features that technique in its proof Puzzles that are entertaining, mystifying, paradoxical, and satisfying; they are not just exercises or contest problems.




An Anthropology of Puzzles


Book Description

An Anthropology of Puzzles argues that the human brain is a "puzzling organ" which allows humans to literally solve their own problems of existence through puzzle format. Noting the presence of puzzles everywhere in everyday life, Marcel Danesi looks at puzzles in society since the dawn of history, showing how their presence has guided large sections of human history, from discoveries in mathematics to disquisitions in philosophy. Danesi examines the cognitive processes that are involved in puzzle making and solving, and connects them to the actual physical manifestations of classic puzzles. Building on a concept of puzzles as based on Jungian archetypes, such as the river crossing image, the path metaphor, and the journey, Danesi suggests this could be one way to understand the public fascination with puzzles. As well as drawing on underlying mental archetypes, the act of solving puzzles also provides an outlet to move beyond biological evolution, and Danesi shows that puzzles could be the product of the same basic neural mechanism that produces language and culture. Finally, Danesi explores how understanding puzzles can be a new way of understanding our human culture.




The Greatest Puzzles of All Time


Book Description

Challenging collection includes some of the worldrsquo;s most perplexing brain-teasers by such masters as Sam Loyd, Johnny Eck and Henry Dudeney. Also, the stories behind the creation of the puzzles, the worldrsquo;s earliest riddles, the birth of the crossword puzzle, much more. Introduction. 146 illus.




The Puzzles of Nobuyuki Yoshigahara


Book Description

This book convenes a selection of 200 mathematical puzzles with original solutions, all celebrating the inquisitive and inspiring spirit of Nobuyuki “Nob” Yoshigahara – a legend in the worldwide community of mathematical and mechanical puzzles. A graduate from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yoshigahara invented numerous mechanical puzzles and published over 80 puzzle books. In 2003, he was honored with the Sam Loyd Award, given by the Association for Games & Puzzles International to individuals who have been made a significant contribution to the world of mechanical puzzles. In this work, the reader will find some of the most ingenious puzzles ever created, organized in ten categories: Logic, matchstick, maze, algorithmic, combinatorial, digital, number, geometric, dissection, and others. Some of them could rivalry with those found at Mathematical Olympiads tests around the globe; others will work as powerful brain teasers for those with an interest in problem-solving. Math teachers, curious students of any age and even experienced mathematicians with a taste for the fun in science can find in this book unconventional paths to develop their problem-solving skills in a creative way.




Collier's


Book Description




Conversations on the Wall


Book Description

Roland Giduz, who calls himself a “notorious hometown ne’er-do-well,” has written in and about Chapel Hill for more than a half-century. His latest work is an anthology of newspaper columns written in recent years as a contributor to The Chapel Hill Herald. Through his imaginary mentor and local oracle, Cameron Henderson (see introduction for an explanation) he dissects, declaims and reminisces on the unique personality of the fabled Southern Part of Heaven and its denizens. People who are curious about Chapel Hill need to see it through his eyes and words – according to the author himself!




Our Young Folks


Book Description