Customer Reviews

Mathematical Mind-Benders

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Mathematical Mindbenders does have a lot of math puzzles... and a lot of hard ones, which I do appreciate. However, there are enough puzzles that are riddles or trivia... and too many that are full of tricks. I thought I would give Peter Winkler a try, but I definitely prefer Martin Gardner's work. If you're looking for a good math puzzle book, try anything of Gardner's before you buy this book.

This puzzle book is targeted at people interested in mathematical thought and logical thinking. This is not a book for someone looking for math free logic only puzzles.

I found the puzzles in this book to be at least as, if not more, challenging than those in the other books I have read. There are no bunnies here, nearly all of them require significant thought, and some need it before you can even understand the problem. Solutions to all but those labeled as unsolved are given and there are times when I really had to think hard and long before I understood the solution.
There are some that are classic puzzles, such as the maximum possible overhang you can achieve by stacking bricks so that there is an overhang as you go up from one layer to the next. If you are looking for new mathematical mountains to scale, then this is a book for you. It is challenging, occasionally forbidding, and keeps your neurons devoted to mathematical activity firing as rapidly as is physiologically possible.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission

I own both this book and Winkler's "Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's Collection". Both are my favorite brain teaser books. People with a mathematical, programming, or engineering bent will probably be the most likely to enjoy Winkler's books. Most of the puzzles end up stumping me. But that is what I want in a puzzle book. Since my exploring down many trails of my own, before seeing Winkler's solution is a great learning experience. Google "Seven puzzles you think you must not have heard correctly" if you want a taste of Winkler's puzzles.

Like its predecessor, this book is an extremely good collection of mathematical puzzles. Strongly recommend for those who are serious about mathematics or those who are interested in solving some of the serious puzzles.