Book of Curious and Interesting Puzzles (Dover Recreational Math) [Paperback]

David Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2006 | Series: Dover Recreational Math

This collection by a bestselling author consists of more than 560 puzzles from around the world and throughout history. Only a familiarity with elementary algebra and geometry is needed, and complete answers appear at the end. "Of immense interest." — Mathematical Gazette. 382 illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover Ed edition (January 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486443418
• ISBN-13: 978-0486443416
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,666,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good collection of historical puzzles, March 1, 2006

By 

George Bell (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Curious and Interesting Puzzles (Dover Recreational Math) (Paperback)

This is an "unabridged republication" of "The Penguin Book of Curious and Interesting Puzzles", which means nothing was changed except for slight modification of the title. Half the book presents several hundred puzzles taken from various sources, in more or less chronological order. The last half of the book gives solutions to all the puzzles.

Many of the puzzles seem to involve "a trick" around the interpretation of the problem. Some may be frustrated by this, but at least solutions are included, and many of the tricks are quite clever. This book teaches "outside the box" thinking!

My only gripe about the book is that it is an exact copy of the previous edition. I noticed a few errors in the statement and solution to one problem in particular, and these have not been corrected.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Puzzling realities, May 13, 2008

By 

Wj Te Molder - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Curious and Interesting Puzzles (Dover Recreational Math) (Paperback)

David Wells' Book of curious & interesting Puzzles is an outstanding collection of all kinds of puzzles, arithmetic, visual, plain intelligent etc. The book is interesting, because it tells you the history of a particular puzzle, beginning with the oldest ever, found at Luxor, Egypt, in 1650 BC.

You can use these puzzles in a math class, but also to solve them together with friends or collegues. I bought it to help me find a solution for picturing a four dimensional object. Everyone should have it at home for his or her children or visitors.
It's great fun.