Soma Cube 3d - Large

by Monkey Pod Games

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 3.3 x 3.3 inches ; 12.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0012LJAMA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,768 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #43 in Toys & Games > Puzzles > 3-D Puzzles
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Product Description

The Soma cube is a solid dissection puzzle invented by Piet Hein in 1936 during a lecture on quantum mechanics conducted by Werner Heisenberg. Seven pieces made out of unit cubes must be assembled into a 3x3x3 cube. The pieces can also be used to make a variety of other interesting 3D shapes and are given with the instructions. There are 240 distinct solutions of the Soma-cube puzzle. Dimensions: 3 1/3" x 3 1/3" x 3 1/3"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic and a Joy, January 28, 2010

By 

Jonathan B. Hall (New York and environs, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soma Cube 3d - Large (Toy)

This is a classic puzzle. Its history is fascinating--invented during a lecture by Heisenberg himself--and its simplicity belies a fiendish complexity. This version, made of a pleasing tropical hardwood by Monkey Pod Games, is a tactile joy as well as a visual-spatial delight.

I love the feel of the seven different wood pieces, and I'd forgotten how much fun the puzzle itself is. The tray and cover pieces are very nice, too. It makes an attractive display piece when it's not galvanizing your right hemisphere.

You should note that there is only a minimal solution sheet, giving Piet Hein's own first solution to the puzzle. You'll be able to download a nicer PDF of the same thing from the company website. There are 239 other unique solutions...happy hunting! You'll want to look online for more information.

Most highly recommended is this large size; at close to 3.5" on a side, it's almost identical to the old Parker Brothers version, and the best to work with. The price is great, shipping was trouble-free, and the puzzle has now sat in various forms on my desk all day at work...fortunately, I'm in the arts, and this behavior is an asset, not a liability!

Highly recommended as a present for a friend, a bright kid of any age, or yourself.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Soma Cube, November 1, 2010

By 

Dr. David Groce (La Jolla, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soma Cube 3d - Large (Toy)

Good value, good construction out of good materials. Better instructions would be helpful--go to one of Martin Gardner's books.

Incidentally, it is NOT a toy; it's a very good puzzle that one can build into a multitude of different constructions. A cube is only one of many.

David

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars soma cube, February 2, 2010

By 

Busy Mom (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soma Cube 3d - Large (Toy)

My cousin had this at his home and my kids always played with it, so I decided to get one for ourselves! Fun!