Alex Bellos

Hardcover 

338 Pages

Guardian Books

Do you have what it takes to outsmart a Singaporean ten-year-old, or perhaps even rival the deductive brilliance of Sherlock Holmes? If you believe you do, prepare to put your intellect to the ultimate test. Dive into the captivating story of the puzzle—one of mankind's oldest and most extraordinary forms of entertainment and enlightenment—brought to life through 125 of the world's most brilliant brainteasers spanning the last two millennia.

This thrilling journey will sweep you from the dynasties of ancient China and the courts of medieval Europe, through the smog-filled streets of Victorian England, all the way to modern-day Japan. Along the way, you will uncover hidden histories of espionage, groundbreaking mathematical discoveries, and legendary puzzling rivalries that have shaped the way we think.

Prepare to pit your wits against a mesmerizing array of challenges, from devious logic puzzles and kinship riddles to tricky pangrams and classic river-crossing conundrums. The answers will not come easily. Some solutions will demand a touch of sly cunning, others will spark your deepest creativity, and many will require nothing less than mercilessly logical thought. Be warned: a select few within these pages are so notoriously difficult that they can only be cracked by 2 percent of the population.

Whether you are a seasoned riddle-master or a curious beginner looking for a mental workout, this collection is guaranteed to challenge your assumptions, push your limits, and ultimately sharpen your mind. The gauntlet has been thrown—are you ready to accept the challenge?

About author 

Think of the best storyteller you know and the coolest teacher you ever had, and now you've got some idea of what Alex Bellos is like.! Steven Strogatz, Cornell University

Alex Bellos is brilliant on all things mathematical. He has a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from Oxford University. His bestselling books, Alex's Adventures in Numberland and Alex Through the Looking-Glass, have been translated into more than 20 languages and were both shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book prize. He is the co-author of a mathematical colouring book, Snowflake, Seashell, Star, and he has launched an elliptical pool table, LOOP. He writes a popular maths blog and a puzzle blog for the Guardian. He won the Association of British Science Writers award for best science blog in 2016.