I enjoy keeping a copy of Martin Gardner's Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers on my coffee table. Not so much for my own enjoyment, but because it delights others, especially young kids and teenagers. This soft cover book actually contains two full volumes of puzzles. The first contains 47 puzzles, and the second one called More Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers, contains 46 puzzles.

Actually, they're not just puzzles. There are silly riddles, mazes, optical illusions, logic questions, word games, and number quizzes. Nearly every question comes with a black and white illustration. Sometimes the picture is necessary to understand the puzzle. Other times it's just a cute addition. Some of the puzzles require pencil and paper. Some of the illusions require a mirror. Most require nothing but some common sense.

Each puzzle with its picture takes anywhere from half a page to two pages. There is no index, but a table of contents at the start of each volume lists the 47 (or 46) puzzle names with their page number. The answers are given in the back of each volume. The answers are very clearly written, so that they're easy to understand.

Who is this book for?

Though not specified, I feel these puzzles are just the right complexity for young teens. Adults will likely know many of the answers because they've heard the riddle or the puzzle before, or because they'll be able to figure it out if they spend just a few minutes working on it. Little kids will enjoy some of these puzzles, but need a lot of help. Recently my friend's 13 year old daughter stayed with me for awhile and enjoyed looking at these puzzles with me.

A few examples


Here are a few examples. Since most of the puzzles require looking at a picture, I'm limited in the examples I can give you. The answers will follow below.


1. Nine thousand, nine hundred and nine dollars is written like this: $9,909. How fast can you write the figures for this sum of money: twelve thousand, twelve hundred and twelve dollars?

2. How can you throw a ball so it goes a short distance, comes to a complete stop, reverses its motion, then goes the opposite way? You are not allowed to bounce it off anything, hit it with anything, or tie anything to it.

3. Nine matches make the equation below. The numbers are Roman numerals. The equation is wrong because 1 minus 3 does not equal 2. Move just one match to correct the equation.

I - I I I = I I


I'm paraphrasing this one:
4. Start with the word STARTLING. Remove one letter at a time, such that the remaining letters always spell a word.






Overall

This is a delightful book to have on hand for the youngsters. Or for some adults.






Answers:

1. $13,212 (12,000 + 1200 + 12 = 13,212)

2. Toss the ball in the air.

3. Move the match from the top of the equal sign to just above the minus sign. The equation then reads:

I = I I I - I I

(1 = 3 - 2)


4.
STARTLING
STARLING
STARING
STRING
STING
SING
SIN
IN
I



Recommended: Yes