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.

It boggles the mind trying to come up with answers to these totally perplexing stumpers. Over 95 all-time bewildering puzzles are designed to confuse, confound and make you cry. It boggles the mind trying to come up with answers to these totally perplexing stumpers. Over 95 all-time bewildering puzzles are designed to confuse, confound and make you cry.

"There is mental entertainment, magic, math, and more in this collection of classic tricks and problems."-Student Library Journal. Although referring to Townsend's 'The World's Most Challenging Puzzles,' this quote is applicable to his entire puzzle cannon. If you enjoy pitting yourself against the most challenging puzzles in existence and are a glutton for punishment, then one or all of these books are for you. Take your pick among 'The World's Trickiest,' 'Most Perplexing,' 'Most Incredible,' 'Greatest,' 'Most Amazing,' 'Most Baffling,' 'Most Challenging,' and 'Best.' Choose from any of the eight, or all eight, and see how you stand up against Charles Barry Townsend-'the Professor of Perplexing Puzzles." 128 pages, 100 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Presents a collection of riddles, logic puzzles, anagrams, word puzzles, and other types of brain-teazers.

"There is mental entertainment, magic, math, and more in this collection of classic tricks and problems."-Student Library Journal. Although referring to Townsend's 'The World's Most Challenging Puzzles,' this quote is applicable to his entire puzzle cannon. If you enjoy pitting yourself against the most challenging puzzles in existence and are a glutton for punishment, then one or all of these books are for you. Take your pick among 'The World's Trickiest,' 'Most Perplexing,' 'Most Incredible,' 'Greatest,' 'Most Amazing,' 'Most Baffling,' 'Most Challenging,' and 'Best.' Choose from any of the eight, or all eight, and see how you stand up against Charles Barry Townsend-'the Professor of Perplexing Puzzles." 128 pages, 125 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

From ancient riddles to modern Sudoku, people have been fascinated by puzzles. Whether they are seen as a glorious waste of time, a harmless way to spend a train journey or a valuable way of exercising the mind, the lure of puzzles has been irresistible. By using over a hundred of examples of the most mindbending, the most challenging, the most satisfying, or simply the most humorous of puzzles throughout the ages, William Hartston traces the development of brainteasers of all varieties and the increasing ingenuity of puzzle setters from ancient civilisations to modern puzzle crazes.

11 days. 13 clues. And one kid who won't give up. Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe is "part treasure hunt, part wilderness adventure, and all heart" (Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee). How far would you go to find something that might not even exist? All her life, Cricket's mama has told her stories about a secret room painted by a mysterious artist. Now Mama's run off, and Cricket thinks the room might be the answer to getting her to come back. If it exists. And if she can find it. Cricket's first clue is a coin from a grown-over ghost town in the woods. So with her daddy's old guidebook and a coat full of snacks stolen from the Cash 'n' Carry, Cricket runs away to find the room. Surviving in the woods isn't easy. While Cricket camps out in an old tree house and looks for clues, she meets the last resident of the ghost town, encounters a poetry-loving dog (who just might hold a key to part of the puzzle), and discovers that sometimes you have to get a little lost . . . to really find your way. 2020 Mississippi Library Association Children's Author Award 2019 Southern Book Award Winner--Children's Category "A tale of adventure, full of mystery." --Robert Beatty, New York Times bestselling author of Serafina and the Black Cloak "An unforgettable story about a gutsy girl who will steal your heart." --Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces "Lyrical and endearing, this debut is a genuine adventure tale." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred