Doctor Ecco's Cyberpuzzles: 36 Puzzles for Hackers and Other Mathematical Detectives [Paperback]

Dennis E. Shasha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

"Dennis Shasha is the absolute best puzzle writer alive."—David Gelernter, professor of computer science, Yale University

In the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Ecco is one of the greatest sleuths of our time, a mathematical wizard who uses logic and computer programming to solve crimes, find treasures, and explore space. Join his team, expand the frontiers of your knowledge, and match wits with him on intriguing cases like "The Virus from the Spy" and "The Secrets of Space" and "The Caribou and the Gas." The puzzles collected here require no formal background beyond arithmetic and elementary algebra—just lively curiosity and keen intelligence. With thirty-six illustrated cases organized around eight major mathematical themes (from Combinatorial Geometry and Geography to Ciphers and Secrecy) this book will encourage you to use your mind and your computer in ways you never previously imagined.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A delightful collection of original mathematical puzzles based on some of the newest developments of mathematics and computer science. (Ron Graham, University of California, San Diego )

About the Author

Dennis E. Shasha, professor of computer science at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, has written the "Puzzling Adventures" column in Scientific American. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393325415
• ISBN-13: 978-0393325416
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 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: #1,523,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ecco strikes again, July 17, 2003

By 

Ron K. Cytron (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. Ecco's Cyberpuzzles: 36 Puzzles for Hackers and Other Mathematical Detectives (Hardcover)

As a fan of Ecco's Puzzling Adventures, I was eager to take a look at his cyberpuzzles. Ecco and his protege Shasha have done it again, and I recommend this book to anyone looking for interesting, challenging, thoughtful problems.

The book is a fun and intersting read on its own, but I have also drawn on the book's puzzles in teaching (a course on logic and discrete math).

It's very cool to have a book that can entertain and educate at the same time! Looking forward to Ecco's further adventures.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting puzzles, but who's Dr. Ecco?, June 11, 2004

By 

Maggie the Lizard Tamer (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. Ecco's Cyberpuzzles: 36 Puzzles for Hackers and Other Mathematical Detectives (Hardcover)

Presumably, this collection of mathematical puzzles is for fans of one Dr. Ecco whose life is full of adventures. For people not familiar with the character, the book appears very dull and the characters contrived, uninteresting, and, well, kind of lame. The narration is a little over the top, but all in all, the book is not terribly written.

The puzzles on the other hand are pretty interesting. Ranging from solving codes through organizing buildings in space to transporting monkeys, the puzzles are a nice way of teaching mathematical concepts. As the descriptions of the puzzles and Dr. Ecco's solutions thereof progress, the reader is asked to participate on different levels in solving of the puzzles. Cybernovices and cyberexperts can learn about math in a fun way.

I recommend this book for those interested in solving puzzles of any kind who are not detered by corny storylines. If you are not sure whether you'd like this book, I recommend you flip through it at a book store to make sure.