Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles [Paperback]

Paul Sloane (Author), Des MacHale (Author), Myron Miller (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Learn to "think laterally" and you'll solve pesky puzzles. These 110 puzzles start out fairly easy and the clues get more and more tantalizingly hard to figure out. They come in five sections: Dangerous and Deadly, Easy and Elementary, Interesting and Intriguing, Chastening and Challenging, and Fascinating and Fiendish. Just when you're on a roll, here comes a "Wally Test," a series of rapid-fire questions to make sure you're paying attention. 96 pages, 25 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806942525
• ISBN-13: 978-0806942520
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,392,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of over 20 books including The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills and The Innovative Leader published by Kogan Page. I have also collaborated with Des MacHale to produce a series of Lateral Thinking Puzzle books published by Sterling Publishing. I help organisations think differently and improve innovation. I speak, write, give courses and run company audits on innovation. My talks and courses are fun and stimulating but with strong business content. I play chess, tennis, golf and keyboards in a rock band. I have met Mick Jagger, Jonathan Ross and Douglas Adams. I blog and tweet. Why not book me to speak at your meeting?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't take this book too laterally ;-), June 2, 2003

By 

Matt (Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles (Paperback)

I got this book, along with 3 other Sloane & MacHale lateral thinking puzzle books for Christmas one year. At first it seemed like a sorry excuse for a gift, but as I read this one first, I found that it was a challenging endeavor of the mind. Lateral thinking, it seems, is taking a situation and finding a solution that is not the most obvious, but usually the most logical. That said, this is challenging to say the least. A good book for people who enjoy mind games.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cleverly Done Puzzle Book, May 18, 2007

By 

drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles (Paperback)

"Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles" contains 110 puzzles that have strange situations that need a rational explanation. The puzzles don't include everything needed to solve them, but there is a clue section to help. The book is designed for two or more people, with one person asking the puzzles and answering questions with either "yes, no, or irrelevant" while others try to solve the puzzles. There are five puzzle sections: Dangerous and Deadly Puzzles; Easy and Elementary Puzzles; Intriguing and Interesting Puzzles; Challenging and Chastening Puzzles; and Fascinating and Fiendish Puzzles. The clue section, which immediately follows the puzzle section, is arranged by puzzle name, however, the answer section is arranged alphabetically. There is one WALLY test, which is fourteen fairly easy riddles.

"Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles" is one of the best lateral thinking puzzle books that I've read. It's not perfect, while they are meant to be solved using clues, some of the puzzles are too short (some are only one sentence long!) and there's just not enough information to solve them. Examples of this are: "The Hasty Packer", "Poor Dogs", "Untying the Rope", "The Cloth", and "Nun-plussed". Several of the puzzles are implausible, which makes it frustrating to try to solve them. These puzzles include: "New Shoes", "40 Feet Ahead", "Strange Reactions", "Desert", "Mutilation", "The Parcel", "The Missing Diamond", "Three Notes" and "Catching a Bullet". However, for the most part the book is a nice mix of puzzles ranging from easy to puzzles that require real lateral thinking. Some of the easier puzzles include the WALLY test as well as "School Friend", "The Clinch", "Precognition", "Red Light", "Call Box", "Library Lunacy", "The Crash", "Doctor's Appointment", and "Poor Impersonation". Some of the best puzzles in the book, the ones requiring real lateral thinking, include: "The Sign", "Heartless", "Thirsty", "The Tree and the Axe", "Confectionery Manufacturer", "The Painter", "Beautiful Girls", "Orange Trick", "Good-bye, Mother", "Car in the River", "The Typist", "Two Jugs", "Twin Trouble", "Invaluable", "The Code" and "Time of Arrival". "Fair Deal" is a classic lateral-thinking puzzle that still caught me off guard. The clue section is a mixed bag - the most helpful clues were for the puzzles "The Deadly Melody", "Dead Drunk", and "The Hasty Packer". Having the answers in alphabetical order is a great idea because it prevents you from accidentally seeing the answer to the next puzzle.

"Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles" is extremely clever and well done.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles (Paperback)

I love this type of puzzle and this book has some great ones. They are great for making a long road trip more interesting. I am in college and I love them but so does my mom and younger sister. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes lateral thinking games.