4 comments about Sudoku - Blue (Sudoku).

1. Good little Sudoku book to fit in bag or pocket....a bit smaller than I had expected (I probably didn't read the description correctly) but enough puzzles to make it worth the price....



2. I bought the level three book.I bought it because I enjoy Sudoku puzzles and this one is small enough to fit in my small purse and spiral-bound for ease of use. However, the puzzles are disappointing, because usually there is only one place for each number in each square and line, but in this book, toward the end of the puzzle I find there is more than one place for some of the numbers to go. In other words, there can be more than one solution. I have solved eight or so of the puzzles and most of them are this way. I am ready to throw out this book. Oh well, it was a waste of only $2.00.



3. Like the earlier review, I find that this book of puzzles all have more than one solution. It is irritating to get to the end of the puzzle and find that there are several right choices. It doesn't give me the "completed" feel that I like to have after finishing one of these puzzles!



4. One of the criteria for a Sudoku puzzle is that it has one unique solution. I have attempted approximately 25% of the puzzles in this book and have found that 2/3 of those do not have a unique solution. (Most of the offenders are near the beginning of the book.) Therefore, it seems that this book does not contain true Sudoku puzzles and is NOT a real Sudoku book. Don't waste your pennies or your time.

1 comments about Hidden Picture Challenge (Take a Hidden Picture Challenge).

1. This book was for my niece who is eleven and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

2 comments about Sudoku Sums Book 5.

1. This is a great book and very challenging for the Suduko fan! Highly recommended.



2. I bought the Sumdoku book for my Dad's birthday. He just turned eighty and loves Sudoku and Sumdoku. The Sumdoku has a little more challenge to it.

3 comments about Will Shortz Presents Summertime Pocket Kakuro (Will Shortz Presents...).

1. This collection of kakuro contains 150 puzzles ranging from difficulty levels "light and easy" to "beware! very challenging." I go through phases of doing tons of kakuro to doing none at all and this book definately has a lot to offer even the starting kakuro solver. There is a nice combinations table at the beginning of the book for those of us that like to have the possible combinations given instead of trying to figure them all out. The table provides all possible combinations for numbers and clues that have only one or two solutions (i.e. 11: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 12: 1, 2, 3, 6; 1, 2, 4, 5). The few other books I have encountered have only show the clues that have only one possible solution. That is one of the reasons I got this book.
   
   I am annoyed with some aspects of this collection. Some of the puzzles have starting numbers already filled in the puzzle. I have no idea why this is; but I wish it was completely empty. I also don't like the fact that the clue number boxes are colored in. It makes it difficult to quickly read the number. Finally, the paper quality is not optimal and easily rips or tears with a sharp pencil. I have found that if you place scotch tape over the entire puzzle it makes it more sturdy and you can easily erase pencil from the tape. It also seems that there are more easier level puzzles and fewer of the harder difficulty levels, which may trouble some more advanced puzzlers. Of course, if you are starting out, this book contains 65 of the easiest difficulty levels.
   
   Overall, this is a nice book if you can get over the small things mentioned (or if those things do not bother you). Good luck!



2. The size is smaller and more convenient for travel than some of the other puzzle books, but is PACKED with hours and hours of fun. If you haven't discovered the number puzzle craze yet--- you can start here!



3. I am an avid Kakuro fan and have purchased quite a few books. I was excited to see a book by Will Shortz because he has such a good name in the puzzle field. But I was very disappointed by this collection. The puzzels are simply too small. I enjoy a puzzle that is at least 10 x 10, I prefer even larger puzzle, ones that take up the full page. This book is filled with small puzzles, some are tough to complete but don't have the complexity of a larger puzzle.

2 comments about Cunning Lateral Thinking Puzzles (Puzzle).

1. I have been an avid fan of lateral thinking puzzles from youth upwards. There are a number of "classics" that you come across over and over. If I were to mention the albatross, midget and countless dead bodies, you might know what I mean! However, here we have a compilation of brand new puzzles to satisfy our appetites. These are bright and fresh from novel ideas but they remain faithful to the classical formula. They have the vital lateral twist and retain the ability to leave you either clapping one hand to your forehead in dismay or brimming over with triumph when you succeed.
   
   The variety is of puzzles is worth a mention. There is a wide range of scenarios, including a good number taken from real life. Some are relatively easy whilst an equal number are very difficult. There is something for everyone here - it should suit most tastes.
   
   This book is ideal for entertaining your family or friends for an evening indoors or on a long journey. It will grip their attention, stimulate their imagination and test their lateral thinking skills, in search of the cunning solution!



2. If you are into "thinking outside the box", these puzzles will occupy your mind for hours.

5 comments about Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing (Test Your Code Breaking Skills).

1. This is a fascinating introductory book about codes and ciphers. It is very readable and understandable for young adults and older. Anyone who is interested in codes and ciphers will like, and want to own this book.



2. Very well written. This book offers an introduction to "crypto-stuff" such as mono/polyalphabetic substitutions and grille methods. It doesn't go into much of anything else in huge detail, but it offers many methods including "how to build" your own encoding/decoding tools. If you're looking for some fun reading, I highly recommend it. If you're serious about learning though, check out "the code breakers" by kahn.



3. This is a great reference of basic codes. Excellent explanations, examples. Don't expect anything too intense, and you won't be disappointed.



4. This book is a little out of date and a little too basic. It is for the beginner and is not an advanced text. The best thing that it is short. Because it is so short, it had to be packed densely with information, no wordiness. I've never had enough time to read The Codebreakers book, too big. Here I got informed in minimal time and the book is much less expensive -- it's got a better cost to read ratio and cost to information ratio.



5. This is a good, well-written book requiring essentially no mathematical background. It's appropriate for teens and older folks interested ciphers. As another writer has pointed out, it's not current (this is a Dover reprint of a 1972 Simon & Schuster work), and the very few places where it says a code is still in use, it's likely not. I don't view this as a problem.
   
   Ciphers are categorized and historical development is given. Invisible inks and the like are discussed, as are microdots, and SETI, though not by that name. Modern ciphers get no mention whatsoever--thus the non-mathematical nature. The approach doesn't consider computers to any real extent. Also, certain historical items that could have been covered, like the Enigma, aren't mentioned.
   
   There are three weaknesses, IMHO, that keep it below 5 stars.
   (1) Most of the ciphers presented have a set of possible setups, which can effectively be considered keys. E.g., the Caesar Cipher, using the Roman alphabet, has 25 different possible versions, which can be considered 25 different keys. Gardner makes no attempt to explain the relative complexities of breaking the various ciphers.
   (2) The age.
   (3) There is no index, but the table of contents is detailed.
   
   I expect to use a few of these ciphers in introductory computing classes (think CS1, CS2) in the near future--the explanations are clear enough for undergrads with no real background and minimal interest.

2 comments about SCRABBLE Crosswords.

1. Scrabble is one of my best word / board games. I have the Scrabble Deluxe on my computer. While on vacation, I was in the Barnes & Nobles Bookstore in Manhattan, saw a Scrabble Crossword and decided then and there to get another. They are really fun and definitely works the brain.



2. Based on 4th ed OSPDThe Official Scrabble Players Dictionary; this 50 puzzle crossword puzzles book is a great way to build a better Scrabble vocabulary without memorizing word lists or the OSPD. Cheap, easy to use (it's spiral bound) and a great mix of both common and unusual Scrabble words. Use a pencil and eraser and you can use the book over and over!

No comments about Will Shortz's Mind Games: 100 Alphabet Riddles.

3 comments about Sudoku - Green (Sudoku).

1. You might wonder how a sudoku puzzle can be poorly designed...the puzzles in this book violate at least two of the rules in good puzzle design. The first is that a well designed puzzle is symmetrical. You should be able to copy the puzzle and rotate it 180 degrees and the numbers should overlap. None of the puzzles in this book are designed that way. The second rule is that there should be only one correct answer. Many of the puzzles can be completed in multiple ways.
   
   Two great things about the book are the spiral binding...and the main reason I selected it initially...and the small size. It fits in your purse so you have an activity with you all the time.



2. This Sudoku book is designed as well as any other Sudoku book I've seen, in terms of puzzle design. Any numerical puzzle can be solved in more than one way if the revealed numbers are few enough.
   
   Try this puzzle. Write your review. I doubt you'll be disappointed.



3. I love Sudoku and I love this little book. It's small enough to fit into my purse and pop it out when I'm waiting for an appointment, during my kids' practices, whenever I have a few minutes to spare. Being spiral bound also makes it even more convenient and compact.

1 comments about Book of Puzzles & Brain Teasers.

1. Personally I am only able to do the very simple to the simple brain teasers because of my lack of higher level problem solving skills. But this book is a good way to improve although it will take me a real long time to really get up there. I am not sure if this was worth the $10 price though.
   
   But this is a great book for smarter people who really look for a challenge and a way to sharpen their mind.