Paul Sloane and Des MacHale--the wily puzzle masters who have written several lateral thinking collections--are back with more tear-your-hair-out challenges. And once again, the purpose of their devious conundrums is to force solvers to think outside of the box. Instead of jumping to obvious conclusions, players have to ask lots of questions, use their imagination, piece together the subtlest clues, and come at the problem from a variety of perspectives. Here’s how to do it: one person, who knows the solution, takes questions. The answers help narrow down the possible explanations--and the more logic, creativity, and sheer determination that go into the queries, the better the chance of success!

Our lateral thinking experts, Sloane and MacHale, have re-donned their proverbial thinking caps to bring solvers another selection of thought-provoking puzzles. Each one presents a mini-scenario, and it's up to you to discover the secret twist. Thinking outside the box has never been so much fun.

As Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge," and every puzzle here encourages youngsters to think creatively and find ingenious solutions--not just parrot facts they've been spoon-fed.

Try any of these 150 word, number, and logic puzzles, and you'll encounter some surprising new ways to analyze, observe, and decide. You've been warned, so don't get frustrated when you feel yourself getting pushed out of the ruts of your usual problem-solving skills. Try these sample warmup exercises: 1. If Molly's daughter is my daughter's mother, what am I to Molly? 2. Which is larger, one-third times one-third of a dozen dozen, or one-third dozen halved and cubed? 3. How old is the man who told his friend, "Four years from now I'll be twice as old as I was fourteen years ago"? Answers: 1. I am Molly's daughter. 2. The first calculation is larger. 3. He's 32 years old.

Are you good at thinking outside the box? Do you consider yourself logical? And, most important of all, do you love a good challenge? Then this Mensa collection of devious brain-bafflers will entertain you -- and your friends and family -- for hours.

A collection of mathematical conundrums with a twist. It presents you with mathematical conundrums, but instead of requiring brute calculating power, each puzzle relies upon a clever insight or unexpected shortcut.

This sophisticated and feminine puzzle book is small in size but big on fun and style. Pocket Posh Sudoku 3 has 100 fun puzzles. The cover features an irresistibly tactile design. It is the perfect accessories and go with everything. It is the perfect take-along; plus, this little gem slips nicely into either a purse or pocket. Fun and smart. What's not to love? * Pretty, smart. The slim design of this popular puzzle book makes is the go-to puzzle book for energetic girls. * Puzzles are a smart form of exercise. According to the American Society on Aging, 84 percent of people polled spend time daily in activities such as puzzle solving. While there isn't conclusive evidence that doing puzzles increases brain function, it certainly can't hurt!