THE LADY OR THE TIGER? [Hardcover]

Raymond M. Smullyan (Author)

Book Description

This text presents a series of logic puzzles, ranging from the simplest problems to the most tantalizing complexities. An array of imaginary characters - sane and insane vampires, psychiatrists, dreamers, hermits, kings, knights and knaves - pose questions, giving just enough information to enable the reader to solve problems of increasing difficulty. The final section of the book, "The Mystery of the Monte Carlo Lock", is a mathematical novel. Beginning with the problem of finding a combination to open a safe, Inspector Craig of Scotland Yard finds himself in ever deeper mathematical waters, which lead eventually to the very heart of Godel's revolutionary theory of undecidability.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 235 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1st edition (May 12, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394514661
• ISBN-13: 978-0394514666
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked gem, July 22, 2003

By 

Dr. Hoenikker "drhoenikker" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: THE LADY OR THE TIGER? (Hardcover)

I find it surprising that this book is almost unknown and out of print. This collection of logic puzzles is easily one of the best ever written. Starting with a small set of lighthearted teasers, continuing with progressively more serious problems, including probably the most complete variations on liar/knight and metapuzzle themes, and finishing with the best amateur level introduction to "serious" mathematical logic I have ever seen. The ideas are presented with amazing clarity and in the form digestible to the most casual reader, preserving the beauty but without compromising the essence of the arguments.

Don't let this one get away if you can find a copy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, and Challenging, December 31, 2009

By 

R. Olson (IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Lady or the Tiger?: and Other Logic Puzzles (Paperback)

I'm a novice when in comes to logic puzzles but this book just kept my attention....the puzzles get pretty hard towards the end but answers are included at the end of each chapter.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deduce like Holmes!, April 8, 2007

By 

Souvik Mitra "S!" (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: THE LADY OR THE TIGER? (Hardcover)

Well, or at least, think about it. This small little book by Smullyan is a fantastic collection of logic puzzles arranged in the increasing order of complexity & complete with solutions.

For those of you not intimately familiar with logic puzzles, Wikipedia provides a good definition. And interestingly enough, Smullyan's name & this book are mentioned in that very article. I cannot quite understand why such a book would be out print, but may be there are other ways of passing your time.

Back to the book. The great thing about a verbal puzzle, unlike a non-verbal one like Sudoku, is that there is a story behind it. So while both may be mathematics, if you get a Sudoku wrong - yes, well, nothing much happens. However, if a prisoner who has to deduce an escape route or die - now that's an entirely different proposition. So the "old-fashioned" story-telling continues - different situations, doctors & patients, sane or insane, vampire or human, the Isle of dreams & so on.

Even if you do not have the time yourself, I think this is still a great book to give a child. It is a fun way to learn Mathematics without realizing that you're learning Mathematics. And frankly, wouldn't you just love just love to say something that begins with "Elementary, my dear Watson"

S!