A Gardner's Workout: Training the Mind and Entertaining the Spirit [Hardcover]

Martin Gardner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568811209 | ISBN-13: 978-1568811208 | Publication Date: June 1, 2001

For many decades, Martin Gardner, the Grand Master of mathematical puzzles, has provided the tools and projects to furnish our all-too-sluggish minds with an athletic workout. Gardner's problems foster an agility of the mind as they entertain. This volume presents a new collection of problems and puzzles not previously published in book form. Martin Gardner has dedicated it to "all the underpaid teachers of mathematics everywhere, who love their subject and are able to communicate that love to their students."

Editorial Reviews

Review

" ""[Gardner's writings]are the best explanations of mathematics you can find and it has already been proven that they light a fire of enthusiasm for mathematics."" -Charles Ashbacher, Journal of Recreational Mathematics , November 2002
""The effectiveness of this book derives in large part from the passion with which Gardner shares his mathematical enthusiasm and on the breadth of erudition of his discussions. This is another winner!"" -Edward J. Barbeau, Crux Mathematicorum , October 2001
""This collection differs from his previous collections in that the articles cover a much wider range than before."" -David Singmaster, LMS , January 2003
"". . . even well-known puzzles retain their power, as was made clear again and again last month at the seventh ""Gathering for Gardner."" These conferences of mathematicians, puzzlers, game-players and magicians at the Ritz-Carlton here began as personal tributes to Martin Gardner, Scientific American's legendary Mathematical Games columnist, and now take place without the master's presence (he is 91). During four days of talks and tricks, the oldest puzzles mixed freely with the newest."" -Edward Rothstein, The New York Times , April 2006
""There are many choice plums among this [collection], some containing a pointer to deeper ideas, some unsolved, and some plain fun, but all entertaining . . . I shall enjoy dipping into the book from time to time . . ."" -The Mathematical Gazette , March 2002
""This is a remarkable book. . . . It will surely produce a paradise for anyone who wants to enjoy teh pleasure of the creative work in his brain."" -EMS Newsletter , March 2003"

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568811209
• ISBN-13: 978-1568811208
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,524,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For 25 of his 95 years, Martin Gardner wrote 'Mathematical Games and Recreations', a monthly column for Scientific American magazine. These columns have inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to delve more deeply into the large world of mathematics. He has also made significant contributions to magic, philosophy, debunking pseudoscience, and children's literature. He has produced more than 60 books, including many best sellers, most of which are still in print. His Annotated Alice has sold more than a million copies. He continues to write a regular column for the Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gardner at his best, which is saying a lot!, February 21, 2002

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Gardner's Workout: Training the Mind and Entertaining the Spirit (Hardcover)

It is most certainly not an exaggeration to say that more people have learned more mathematics at the literary knee of Martin Gardner than from anyone else. His columns in Scientific American and subsequent collections in book form have been an inspirational and educational experience for millions. When he "retired" from writing the column, he was succeeded, not replaced.
Since his departure from the duties of writing regularly for Scientific American, he has kept busy writing occasional articles for many different publications. He also stays active in following advances in mathematics and how it is taught in the American society. This book is a collection of many of the mathematical articles as well as some of his comments regarding how mathematics is currently taught.
While reading the book, I was once again placed in awe of his ability to state the mathematical experience in clear terms. One point follows from another with little or no extraneous fluff. There are many writers of technical books who adopt the style of adding in cutesy dialog that supposedly makes it easier to understand. In keeping with his personality, Gardner simply explains it and is done. It is very refreshing to read material in this form.
The topics are generally recreational in nature, although some, particularly those about artificial intelligence (AI) are philosophical. He dismisses the success of the chess playing computers as an insignificant special case. This is true, but he misses what should be the real point of Deep Blue defeating Gary Kasparov. The fact that it took such a computational monstrosity that does only one thing and years of programming to defeat Kasparov shows us how efficient the human brain is and how difficult it is to mimic human intelligence.
The remaining topics, such as magic squares, tiling, dissections and word play all sum up recent advances in the field. My favorite essay is one that details how to program magic tricks on a computer. The strategies used are very simple and show how easy it is to perform tricks that seem impossible.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and consider it a necessary read for anyone interested in recreational mathematics. An entire generation has arisen since Gardner ceased his regular writings and I encourage all math teachers to examine his essays for material to use in their classrooms. They are the best explanations of mathematics you can find and it has already been proven that they light a fire of enthusiasm for mathematics.