"4 levels: novice, master, expert, genius."

Revised edition! People's Place Book #10. A sociologist provides a way to understand the Amish people's intentional way of living in a world far different from their own. Fun to read. How do the Amish thrive in the midst of modern life? Why do the Amish separate themselves from the modern world? Why do a religious people spurn religious symbols and church buildings? Why is humility a cherished value? Why do a gentle people shun disobedient members? How do the Amish regulate social change? Why is ownership of cars objectionable, but not their use? Why are some modes of transportation acceptable and other forbidden? Why are tractors permitted around barns but not in fields? Why are horses used to pull modern farm machinery? Why are telephones banned from Amish homes? Why are some forms of electricity acceptable while others are rejected? How is modern machinery operated without electricity? Why are some occupations acceptable and others taboo? Why do the Amish use the services of professionals -- lawyers, doctors, and dentists -- but oppose higher education? Why do Amish youth rebel in their teenage years? Are the Amish freeloading on American life? Are the Amish behind or ahead of the modern world?

The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically goes on a rollicking journey to understand the enduring power of puzzles: why we love them, what they do to our brains, and how they can improve our world. “Even though I’ve never attempted the New York Times crossword puzzle or solved the Rubik’s Cube, I couldn’t put down The Puzzler.”—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before Look for the author’s new podcast, The Puzzler, based on this book! What makes puzzles—jigsaws, mazes, riddles, sudokus—so satisfying? Be it the formation of new cerebral pathways, their close link to insight and humor, or their community-building properties, they’re among the fundamental elements that make us human. Convinced that puzzles have made him a better person, A.J. Jacobs—four-time New York Times bestselling author, master of immersion journalism, and nightly crossworder—set out to determine their myriad benefits. And maybe, in the process, solve the puzzle of our very existence. Well, almost. In The Puzzler, Jacobs meets the most zealous devotees, enters (sometimes with his family in tow) any puzzle competition that will have him, unpacks the history of the most popular puzzles, and aims to solve the most impossible head-scratchers, from a mutant Rubik’s Cube, to the hardest corn maze in America, to the most sadistic jigsaw. Chock-full of unforgettable adventures and original examples from around the world—including new work by Greg Pliska, one of America’s top puzzle-makers, and a hidden, super-challenging but solvable puzzle—The Puzzler will open readers’ eyes to the power of flexible thinking and concentration. Whether you’re puzzle obsessed or puzzle hesitant, you’ll walk away with real problem-solving strategies and pathways toward becoming a better thinker and decision maker—for these are certainly puzzling times.

Happy holidays from LIFE, and our fabulously successful and popular Picture Puzzle franchise. When LIFE created the Picture Puzzle craze a few years ago, we knew other publishers would follow us. They did, and ours is still the puzzle series that hobbyists choose-it's the one they wait for. Wait no more, for here comes our latest Picture Puzzle collection, and it's a vibrant celebration of all things Christmas, from Santa to Rudolph to the sublime images of beautiful lights on the tree. As always, LIFE's editors choose the most colorful and lively pictures, and set up the book to make certain that there are terrific, enjoyable tests for every level of player, from the kids who are tackling their first-ever puzzle to the old masters who have met every challenge in our first ten books. We know what our loyal book-buyers want from us, and we again deliver in this latest book in the Picture Puzzle series. LIFE's Picture Puzzle series has always been fun, but it's never been this warm before. These are puzzles for the family to cozy up with before the fire, and they bolster the Christmas spirit as it builds throughout December. In the latest colorful edition of the franchise, LIFE's Puzzle Master is in a festive, generous mood, and has created a book that will appeal to fans of the series, fans of the holiday and fans of both.

These are truly the ultimate in hidden pictures. Jam-packed scenes on every page give hidden picture aficionados the ultimate challenge as they search for a checklist of items that are cleverly obscured within each spread. To add to the fun, each scene is also chock-full of visual jokes and humorous word balloons that will keep kids entertained for hours. Just in time for travel, Ultimate Hidden Picturestakes us on the ultimate road trip across America. From California beaches and Arizona canyons to North Carolina caverns and New England fishing towns, no corner of the United States is left unvisited! Whether diving for sunken treasure or swimming with the fish, this is the ultimate excursion under the water. There's more to watch for than just the whales, and there's more hidden beneath the waves than you've ever suspected!