The Complete Book of Solitaire (Paperback)

by Pierre Crepeau (Author) "This classic game of solitaire, named after the wise hero of the Trojan War, will hardly strain your intellectual capacities..." (more)
Key Phrases: ascending suit sequences, maneuver zone, foundation zone, The Complete Book of Solitaire, Material One, Material Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Everyone has played basic Solitaire at one time or another, but there is a world of Solitaire enthusiasts who play every variation of the game.

In compiling this authoritative Solitaire collection of 179 variations, Pierre Crépeau took joyful inspiration from his grandmother, a noted Solitaire aficionado. The Complete Book of Solitaire is structured according to the object of each game and grouped accordingly: tableau-clearing, pile games, combination games, and building by suit, color or sequence. Each game is illustrated in color and is introduced by the author with either a personal anecdote or useful background information. Players will find many of these games highly clever, constantly changing and evolving with a host of wonderful surprises or devilish traps awaiting.

Learning the Solitaire variations is greatly facilitated by the book's numerous illustrations. Winning at Solitaire does not depend on luck alone, it takes a good memory and some strategic thinking. Here is an ideal way to exercise the mind in mathematics and the art of precision while learning the benefits of perseverance, honesty and, of course, patience.

About the Author
Pierre Crépeau is an anthropologist specializing in representational systems, the arts, and popular traditions. Author of several books and a feature writer, he retired in 1991. He plays Solitaire whenever he can.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books; illustrated edition edition (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552095975
• ISBN-13: 978-1552095973
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #440,644 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection, August 10, 2001

By	Sen Peng Eu "ESP=Math+Music+Literature" (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Great collection of Solitaire.

The whole book divide 179 games(in addition to hundreds of variations) into 3 catogaries: Elimination/Amalgamation (1-62); Ascending Suit Sequences on the Ace (63-91); Suit Sequence and other runs(92-179). The rules are clearly explained. What's more, each game has an example illustrating the rule and/or a strategy for good-play. With full-color print and 179 different solitaire games, this is both a resorceful book for solitaire lovers and a collection itself.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" for solitaire players, April 7, 2004

By A Customer

This is a book based on playing and learning solitaire card games as learned from the author's grandmother. My own interpretation, based on responses in the book and the book itself, is that his grandmother was quite a mathematician/statistician and card player, who spent most of a lifetime studying solitaire card games. It is apparent they were/are both enthusiasts of solitaires and cards. The book is accurate, readable and possesses more solitaires than you would ever try to learn. It is beautifully illustrated, in color, with easily understood tableaus. It is a must for those who enjoy solitaires with real cards. (I play with real cards. I sometimes question the accuracy and randomness of computer programs/seeds/potential bugs and could swear certain programs cheat by changing the outcomes of the cards based on your choices to increase randomness, but cannot prove it. Slow as it may be, I trust outcomes using real cards because strictly speaking, in this manner, I am the programmer. And no, I do not cheat.) This is a wonderful book. I gave it 5 stars.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complete, but many errors, August 22, 2002

By A Customer

Excellent collection of solitaire games. Unfortunately, there are also quit a few errors. This includes discrepancies between the text and illustrations, and in some cases, the rules a simply too vague, making it impossible to play the solitaire. Despite these flaws, this book contains a lot of gems and is well worth the price.