Customer Reviews

How to Solve Sudoku: A Step-by-Step Guide (52 Brilliant Ideas)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have written several reviews on Sudoku books.Generally
they start of with some instructions,some are very brief and some are quite extensive.Then they give you a bunch,usually 100 to 3 or 400 puzzles.The puzzles are graded ,usually as 3 to 5 levels of difficulty.Then you get the solutions.Personally,I don't find them of much use other than proof that the puzzle is solvable.In other words, you know when you 've got it solved.
This book is very different in that it is a 116 page book dedicated to instruction and tips with just enough puzzles to apply the methods to.The only other book that even comes close is Carol Voderman's "Master Sudoku" which I reviewed on September 30,2005.
Not only an excellent and very detailed instruction book,it covers just about everything you would like to know about Sudoku's history,the originators,the involvement of computers in their construction and a brief look some other number puzzles we are already beginning to appear in pictures and books.
Definitely the book any Sudoku Puzzler would like to have.If you don't know all the methods and tips covered in this book,you're 'working' with one hand behind your back,if not with blinders on.

This gives the impression you are going to be taken through the whole gamut of techniques right to the most difficult. In fact 52 is the numbers (1 to 52) marked on the subsections in what amounts to 2 or 3 main sections in the book and the few methods described hardly pass those needed for a moderate puzzle. Marking in actual possibilities is only mentioned in the end of the book in relation to a brief mention of doubles and triplets. The book is strictly for beginners and is a complete waste of time for anyone who has any proficiency. There are almost no brilliant ideas and the title is completely misleading. I passed the level of this book within the first few days of doing puzzles. The book was a complete waste of money for me.

****
I have read quite a few Sudoku books trying to figure out strateies. Most books say the same things---they just have different covers; the ones that are bigger have more puzzles (and these are readily available all over the place).

This book is:
Short and sweet, easy to understand (for those people who don't want to devote their life to learning Sudoku!)
Just enough practice.
Walks you through some of the puzzles step-by-step (this is really helpful).
My favorite book so far, plus it's cheap!

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't find it hard to understand at all.

I wanted more strategies and techniques, or I'd have given it a "5"...such as it is, it is a "4+" and well worth buying.
****

I got hooked on Sudoku a while back and although have gotten the hang of it, the harder puzzles, well, leave me puzzled.
I got this book to see if they have any new ideas and they sure do! I tried it on Sudoku puzzles that have stumped me in the past, and I solved them! All it took was a concentrated look how to follow the logic and place the numbers accordingly -
For those interested in Sudoku, a great teacher for all who enjoy these puzzles.

This is an ok book, but the description given led me to believe that it covered advanced solving techniques. It doesn't. Also the practice puzzles are small and difficult to work within. Also, there is no level of difficulty given for the puzzles. A much better book is Carol Voderman's "Master Sudoku."

This book has no original ideas, only a hokey scheme for numbering the grid that is horrible followed by poor explanations on how to solve Sudoku puzzles.

This might pass as a beginner's book, but it is too confusing to be even that.

The best book for beginners and mid-level Sudoku solvers is still Carol Vorderman's Master Sudoku.

This book is a waste of time and money!!!!

AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keith S. :{)>

This A6 size book(HtoSS} while OK on basic scanning techniques ,is very deficient on twins and triplets,
but these are what you need to solve the difficult puzzles in mags, books, and papers. You need to know the how, when, and where of these and all variations.This book only has one instructional diagram on them, seeming to just mention them in passing. The only easy to understand guide that covers them properly is 'So Do Sudoku' (SDS) which has ten instructional diagrams on them.Also the intermediate technique in HtoSS is covered easier and better by an alternative scanning technique in SDS. All these books have been said to be useless by people who assume everyone else is up to their level, when in fact these books are written for the majority of people who struggle with the puzzles in general circulation, and contain tips to help you complete them. None of them are useless to the right people ,but some are better than others.

This guide is well organized and easy to follow. Mr. Wilson offers several puzzles for you to apply what you've learned as you go. I now find myself solving the most of the hardest puzzles I come across using just the techniques learned in this little book. Mr. Wilson says, "Using these little numbers [the final technique he demonstrates] you should now be able to solve all but the most difficult puzzles." Instead of taking you all the way, Mr. Wilson points the way to other resources, in case you want "to hone your sudoku skills further." (He particularly recommends a newspaper article by Hugo Rifkind in "The Times" of 14 May 2005.)

Exceptionally well done guide for beginners -- logical presentation, jargon-free instructions. For anyone who can do "moderate" to "demnding" puzzles, this little book has nothing new to offer. Strictly for beginners -- but a fantastic beginner book!!

I've been doing SuDoku puzzles for years and have beaten every level of the video game version Carol Vonderman's (PS2). Still, I wanted to be able to solve the really tough puzzles so I figured a book such as this would help. It's worthless unless you've never tried the game before. It has NOTHING about the advanced techniques like X-wings and Swordfish which are necessary to do the VERY hard ones. The book is very short, too; less than 100 pages. I suggest you save your money, do the easy ones, get practice, and go to the web for forums and sites which tell how to do the tough puzzles because the methods in this book aren't adequate, trust me!