Brainstorm: Books of puzzles, riddles, and games to stimulate your brain
Ongoing reasearch on dementia shows that mental stimulation--like challenging crosswords, math games, and logic puzzles--can help the brain stimulate connections between nerve cells and develop neural plasticity to defend against cell loss. The Library has many books of puzzles and games that can challenge your brain and have fun at the same time.
Brain Candy by Garth Sundem
Tastier than a twizzler yet more protein-packed than a spinach smoothie, Brain Candy is guaranteed to entertain your brain--even as it reveals hundreds of secrets behind what's driving that electric noodle inside your skull. These delicious and nutritious pages are packed with bits of bite-sized goodness swiped from the bleeding edge of brain science (including the reason why reading these words is changing your hippocampus at this very moment!) Shelved alongside these succulent neurological nuggets are challenging puzzles and paradoxes, eye-opening perception tests and hacks, fiendish personality quizzes and genius testers, and a grab bag of recurring treats including Eye Hacks, Algebraic Eight Ball, iDread, Wild Kingdom, and Logic of Illogic.
Sherlock Holmes’ Book of Conundrums by Dan Moore
Sherlock Holmes' Book of Conundrums provides a uniquely absorbing experience quite unlike any other puzzle publication: all material is themed around Sherlock Holmes, the Victorian era, and early 20th century, and backed-up with rich and carefully chosen illustrations.
Each puzzle's solution can be found in the back of the book, but a mysterious sealed page contains the answers to the three most fiendish puzzles. There's something for every puzzle lover, which difficulty ranging from simple puzzles to challenging conundrums designed to challenge even puzzle aficionados.
200 puzzles are held within these pages and they work a variety of different parts of your brain. The puzzles cover a diverse range of topics, and include a generous selection of lateral thinking teasers. You'll also enjoy challenges for perception, memory, creativity, problem solving, math, and logic conundrums.
The Puzzle Universe : A History of Mathematics in 315 Puzzles by Ivan Moscovich
The Puzzle Universe is intended for general readers and devoted puzzlers. It is about the latent beauty of mathematics, its history, and the puzzles that have advanced and emerged from the science of numbers. It is full of challenging historical facts, thinking puzzles, paradoxes, illusions, and problem solving.
There are 315 puzzles in this book. Extended captions explain in easy terms the value of the puzzles for mathematical and educational purposes, particularly in light of the findings of recent research. This historical and pedagogical dimension sets The Puzzle Universe apart from similar books.
The puzzles appear in a dynamic layout for a visual experience that is Ivan Moscovich's trademark. There are ten chapters complete with answers. Icons show the challenge rating and the tools needed (pencil, scissors, ruler, and of course, brain) to solve the puzzle.
Complete these mental workouts and become as sharp as the Great Detective himself.
399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges Specially Designed to Keep Your Brain Young by Nancy Linde
Based on the science that shows that people middle-aged or older who solve word games and brainteasers have a significant cognitive advantage over those who do not, 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges is the illustrated game book specifically created to cross-train the brain. Here are 399 games to stretch, challenge, and push the reader, all of which stimulate the formation of neurons--literally, regrowing the brain.
Plus they're not only good for you, but just plain good--these games are fun. 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia is a lively mix of challenges, riddles, and brainteasers--all vetted by a neuroscientist who specializes in aging brains and designed to work the six key areas of cognitive function that are vulnerable in normal aging: long-term memory, working memory, executive functioning, attention to detail, multitasking, and processing speed. The games are arranged from easiest to most difficult and are labeled according to which cognitive functions they exercise so they can be mixed and matched into a custom "workout." In just 15 minutes a day, anyone can improve his brain's strength, flexibility, and long-term health.
D C-T! By Joana Avillez and Molly Young
Using a playful phonetic language first invented by William Steig in his now classic 1968 book CDB! - but which in today's world of text message and internet shorthand feels uncannily contemporary - Young and Avillez tell a different story on each page of this collection of illustrations stuffed to brim with humour and cleverness. Brought to life in Avillez's distinctively ebullient and droll style are precocious pets and pet-owners, iconic architecture, and startlingly intrepid anthropomorphic rats.
Are You as Smart as You Think?: 150 Original Mathematical, Logical, and Spatial-Visual Puzzles for All Levels of Puzzle Solvers by Terry Stickels
Everyone who is fascinated by logic, spatial-visual and/or math puzzles knows Terry Stickels' name. His puzzles have tantalized and often stumped not only super-adept puzzle mavens, but the rest of us. He has published books, puzzles, articles about puzzling, and sets of puzzle cards--all eagerly snapped up by those thousands who can't get enough of brainteasers. His puzzles have appeared on National Public Radio's puzzle program, in Discover and Games Magazines, and he was asked to provide challenges for the recent World Puzzle Convention. But one trait in particular sets Stickels' teasers above so many others: every one is original. Stickels agrees that recycling is a public duty, but not, he says, when it comes to puzzles. So whether one starts at the beginning section of So You Think You're Smart, Huh? where the author is kind enough to launch us with more gentle challenges (but still challenges, and don't forget it!) or the latter section, where he gets really tough, the reader will find wonderful fun, refreshing brain workouts, and the deep satisfaction of matching wits with the country's most prominent puzzlemaker--and coming out ahead. Sometimes.
The Great Book of Mind Teasers & Mind Puzzlers by George J. Summers
Huge collection of tantalizing logic puzzles offers hints when you're stuck, plus step-by-step solutions, imaginatively teaching problem-solving skills.
How To Solve a Rubik's Cube: The Easy Solution to the Rubik's Cube, a Beginner's Guide to Solving This Puzzle, Quick and Easily by Chad Bomberger
Finding the solution to a Rubik's Cube isn't a Mystery - It's a fun hobby!
With this comprehensive guide book, you'll even learn Rubik's cube terminology for understanding the structure of the cube - and sharing your passion with other cubers. You'll learn the basics of a simple and powerful Rubik's system, including a special code for easily identifying the various movements you can make. With these easy-to-use mental tools, you'll soon be seeing deep into the cube - and its 3D mysteries.
By grasping the clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the Rubik's cube, you'll discover how to think in many directions - and from many perspectives. While you learn to navigate this unique 3D environment, you'll also learn to see the world around you in a new way. Just like the architect who created this game, you can develop your mind to see things from every angle!
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