The Official Book of Sudoku: Book 1 [Paperback]

Plume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

The name of the game is Sudoku, Japanese for "number place," but no knowledge of Japanese language or arithmetic is required to enjoy the game that has sparked a mania around the world. It’s a fever that is now spreading to the United States, as readers of the New York Post and Los Angeles Times can readily attest.

Veterans of other highly-addictive logic games such as Rubik’s cube, Tetris, or Minesweeper will love the fresh challenge of Sudoku. It’s a wordless logic crossword that leaves even the most dedicated puzzle enthusiasts scratching their heads. Here in one volume is all you need to get started—150 Sudoku puzzles (and solutions) along with easy-to-follow instructions and strategies. Solve these entirely with logic and you’ll arrive at the right answer—but be warned: the more you solve, the more you’ll want to play!

To solve, fill-in the blanks with the digits 1 through 9 in such a way that each digit appears in each column, row, and 3 x 3 box only once. You need numbers, but no math is involved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Plume (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452287200
• ISBN-13: 978-0452287204
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a Novice Sudoku-er!, October 4, 2005

By 

Colleen McMahon ""Omnivorous Reader"" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Official Book of Sudoku: Book 1 (Paperback)

During a recent weeklong hotel stay, I became hooked on Sudoku doing the daily puzzles in the free USA Today newspaper. I wanted more, more, more! While I've since begun seeing more sudoku books and a few puzzle magazines (yay!), this was the first book I found and in my new addiction, happily handed over the full $10.00 retail price. Since it took me about a month to complete the book, I would guess I got my money's worth. As other reviewers have noted, it is pricey, especially since there is only one level of difficulty, which I would say is about advanced beginner level, somewhere between one and two stars on USA Today's difficulty scale. By the time I finished the book I was ready for harder challenges, but the book kept me diverted and learning, and includes a helpful short text introduction with some rudimentary tips. The best thing for me was the sturdy cover and higher quality paper that stood up to lots of erasing! It's nice to have the magazines that are cheaper but they also get curled edges very quickly, and the paper quality isn't that great. Finally, the grids are of a nice size that allows you to write in possible numbers as you work the puzzles.

I probably wouldn't buy it at the point where I am now with my sudoku-ing, but it was perfect for where I was at the time, and if you or someone you know is newly hooked (or you want to hook them) this is a good place to start!

160 of 181 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nerd Crack, December 4, 2005

By 

My Uncle Stu (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Official Book of Sudoku: Book 1 (Paperback)

I did my first Sudoku puzzle on Friday, just two days ago, the one in the Boston Globe. It took me three hours but I solved it. I went home and it was all I could talk about or think about. Saturday (yesterday) I ran out and bought this book and I haven't stopped Sudoku-ing. An elderly lady looking over my shoulder at the laundromat said that it must take patience, but in fact I attack Sudokus with a fierce lack of patience.

Today, I officially proclaim that I fear no puzzle and I fear no person. I see all the world as digits in rows, columns, and boxes, and I renounce all other versions of reality. I challenge the universe to crumble around me, to reduce itself to the math and logic of the pure grids.

This will likely be my last review, as I no longer see the purpose to anything other than Sudoku. Thank you for listening and

974 185 326
813 642 975
652 397 148

237 968 514
195 473 862
468 521 793

526 819 437
349 756 281
781 234 659

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good puzzle book, October 24, 2005

By 

xraymomof3 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Book of Sudoku: Book 1 (Paperback)

This is a good Sudoku book for the beginner. The puzzles aren't as challenging as other books, but they do get harder towards the end. A big plus is that the book contains 150 sudoku puzzles.