The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations (Dover Math Games & Puzzles)
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A marvelously varied assortment of brain teasers! Regarded as the outstanding puzzle collection in the history of Russian mathematics, The Moscow Puzzles offers stimulating entertainment that will challenge your problem-solving skills!
This is, quite simply, the best and most popular puzzle book ever published in the Soviet Union. Since its first appearance in 1956 there have been eight editions as well as translations from the original Russian into Ukrainian, Estonian, Lettish, and Lithuanian. Almost a million copies of the Russian version alone have been sold.
Part of the reason for the book’s success is its marvelously varied assortment of brainteasers ranging from simple “catch” riddles to difficult problems (none, however, requiring advanced mathematics). Many of the puzzles will be new to Western readers, while some familiar problems have been clothed in new forms. Often the puzzles are presented in the form of charming stories that provide non-Russian readers with valuable insights into contemporary Russian life and customs. In addition, Martin Gardner, former editor of the Mathematical Games Department, Scientific American, has clarified and simplified the book to make it as easy as possible for an English-reading public to understand and enjoy. He has been careful, moreover, to retain nearly all the freshness, warmth, and humor of the original.
Lavishly illustrated with over 400 clear diagrams and amusing sketches, this inexpensive edition of the first English translation will offer weeks or even months of stimulating entertainment. It belongs in the library of every puzzlist or lover of recreational mathematics.
Published in 1956 by Boris A. Kordemsky, a high school mathematics teacher, this mammoth collection of brain teasers became the best and most popular puzzle book ever published in the Soviet Union.Tackle 359 mathematical recreations that are sure to excite your inner problem-solver! From simple “catch” riddles to challenging puzzles, you’ll be rewarded with mind stimulating entertainment and satisfaction.Enjoy stories that provide non-Russian readers with an inside look at customs and culture. The Moscow collection of puzzles is a window into the world of Russia.Each puzzle includes a diagram or sketch that helps make understanding easier. With over 400 illustrations throughout, you’ll have plenty of visual aids to work with!Former Scientific American editor, Martin Gardner, has simplified this book to make it accessible and enjoyable for everyone from beginners to experts. Get ready for weeks or months of mental stimulation!
From the Publisher
The outstanding puzzle collection, The Moscow Puzzles offers stimulating entertainment that will challenge your problem-solving skills!
The best and most popular puzzle book ever published in the Soviet Union
Published in 1956 by Boris A. Kordemsky, a high school mathematics teacher, this mammoth collection of brain teasers became the best and most popular puzzle book ever published in the Soviet Union.Tackle 359 mathematical recreations that are sure to excite your inner problem-solver! From simple “catch” riddles to challenging puzzles, you’ll be rewarded with mind-stimulating entertainment and satisfaction.Enjoy stories that provide non-Russian readers with an inside look at customs and culture. The Moscow collection of puzzles is a window into the world of Russia.Each puzzle includes a diagram or sketch that helps make understanding easier. With over 400 illustrations throughout, you’ll have plenty of visual aids to work with!Former Scientific American editor, Martin Gardner, has simplified this book to make it accessible and enjoyable for everyone from beginners to experts. Get ready for weeks or months of mental stimulation!
This book belongs in the library of every puzzlist or lover of recreational mathematics.
ASIN : 0486270785
Publisher : Dover Publications (April 10, 1992)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780486270784
ISBN-13 : 978-0486270784
Reading age : 12 years and up
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.6 x 0.7 x 8.1 inches
Customers say
Customers find the puzzles in the book fun and challenging. They find the book inexpensive and a good value, saying it’s worth owning. Many readers consider it an interesting gift for math enthusiasts of all ages. The translation is well-written and humorous. The material is durable and useful for daily applications.
Customer Reviews
13 reviews for The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations (Dover Math Games & Puzzles)
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Edgar A. –
Recommended! Great Puzzles to solve with your toddler or child.
This book have some many great puzzles to solve, and to have a great time and fun with your son and teach them to love mathematics. Also they are going to learn to think outside of the box, and came with impressive answers to the puzzles.
Melissa –
Challenging book!
Bought for someone incarcerated that needed help occupying their time and mind. They liked this book very much!
PPK –
Not for the faint of heart
The problems in this book are not for the faint of heart. Not a complaint but you’ll have to think hard & spend a fair amount of time on each problem. Really works your brain.
wayne –
Must have in personal library
This book will help anyone strengthen their analytical thinking and understanding. Some challenges can be solved with simple approaches while others require multiple steps and resources. Have fun and share your experiences with students preparing for college or ASVAB testing.
Donald Dalton –
Impressive
Bought for family members birthday. She was a Mathematics Professor for many years and said these are tough.
Johnnnyboy –
Fun!
Fun book if you like math and puzzles or just enjoy different types of “work” books!
Amazon_shopper –
A classic at an affordable price, buy it without hesitation
Thanks to Dover, this classic is now affordably priced. Hilariously worded – see the equation puzzle with “the weight of an elephant equals the weight of a mosquito”. A third of the book is solutions and explanations, how cool is that!! Love the fun-filled teasers, granted it’ll be hard to put the book down. Also love the fact it even has an index to look something up like “The Lucas problem” or simply look up cabbage, goats, chairs, clocks to work on random puzzles picked out by your kids. Doing some of the puzzles with the family is a great bonding time. I am sure the mathematically inclined will enjoy drawing connections to more subtle aspects, but Gardner’s editing ensures that it’s accessible to the general reader. Makes a great gift. Also check out the The Big, Big, Big Book of Brainteasers that is colorful and a favorite with the kids.
Minzoku Bokumetsu –
Just like doing math homework
As a puzzle fan, I bought this expecting math-related riddles. I shouldn’t have, nor should you unless you’re that guy who’s faster at math than a calculator, because while there are some good mathy riddles, the problems are primarily the kind of math that requires visual calculation [using coins, dominoes, etc.] vs. doing it in your head; even the “Mathematics with Almost No Calculations” chapter I found I needed to work it out on paper. This is fine, but it feels a lot less recreational if I need to use a notepad, especially if I don’t have one handy. Furthermore, this is a translation, so there are a few puzzles that are confusing/don’t work out as smoothly in English, though I was disappointed to find some glaring typos–e.g., “7/12 = 1/3 – 1/4” [maybe if you ADD them!]. On the whole, it’s an interesting thought exercise and forces me out of my comfort zone in trying to solve the puzzles, but I found it most useful as a sleep aid.
johner23 –
Nice book. I like it.
Soy yo –
Problemas bien seleccionados. Lo recomiendo para cualquier aficionado a Los problemas. No requiere mucho conocimiento en matemáticas, más bien, hay que ser persistente y tenaz
Chuck Reader –
A puzzle a night helps clear the brain of all worries. This book is perfect for spending time solving a few puzzles at a time with children and grandchildren.
a. heine –
Platzsparend mit einer Menge anregender Grafiken werden viele Rätsel bunt gemischtaus allen Gebieten und unterschiedlichen Schwierigkeitsgraden präsentiert. Natürlichsind in einer so großen Sammlung bekannte Klassiker dabei, aber auch interessanteAufgaben, die trotz ihres “Alters” neu wirken.
Sri Maruthi –
This deserves a review since Shakuntala Devi and Martin Garderner have lifted problems & exercises from this book.In USSR this used to be a staple/ a must in High school Soviet curriculum.I think this statement alone is a testament to USSR’S and author’s supremacy and primacy in Math culture.This is very essential to a thorough and no-nonsense math foundation for students.If you are a puzzle freak you will recognize many problems, if not most.