Crosswords, Sudoku & Number Puzzles Books

Book SynopsisChallenge yourself with number puzzlesPreviously unpublished quality Su Doku grids from The Times, which help develop your skills to take on Extreme Su Doku.The 200 puzzles in this collection of treacherously difficult puzzles will stretch even the most advanced Su Doku enthusiast. You will need to use all of your best solving techniques to get to the end of this testing challenge.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality and are perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles.Guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisContains 300 puzzles.

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Book SynopsisA brand new edition, the twelfth, of the essential reference book for all crossword addicts. The words are arranged within seven mini-dictionaries in word lengths of two to eight-letters, revealing the answers to a tricky clue at a glance. This unique format, combined with the dictionary''s updated reference sections, including prime ministers and presidents, the zodiac and the Bible, the Classical world, astronomy, geography and more, guides the reader straight to the information needed to complete the puzzle. The first ever crossword was published in 1913 and Colonel Hill''s first crossword dictionary was published in 1920. It has been in print for over seventy years, and is still an indispensable addition to the puzzle-solver''s shelf.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThis supremely challenging cryptic collection contains 50 jumbo-sized puzzles, conceived to really challenge your word skills.Selected by The Times'' Crossword Editor, Richard Browne, this original collection will challenge even the most experienced crossword buff.The ultimate and only jumbo cryptic crosswords available, these puzzles will allow you to give the grey matter a real workout. With unique grids of 23 x 23 squares (in comparison to the standard 15 x 15 grid), they require serious word power and cryptic puzzling skill.Put your linguistic prowess to the test with these quality puzzles from the Times' crossword writers.

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Book SynopsisWinner, Euler Book Prize, awarded by the Mathematical Association of America. With over 200 full color photographs, this non-traditional, tactile introduction to non-Euclidean geometries also covers early development of geometry and connections between geometry, art, nature, and sciences. For the crafter or would-be crafter, there are detailed instructions for how to crochet various geometric models and how to use them in explorations. New to the 2nd Edition; Daina Taimina discusses her own adventures with the hyperbolic planes as well as the experiences of some of her readers. Includes recent applications of hyperbolic geometry such as medicine, architecture, fashion & quantum computing.Trade Review"This beautifully and profusely illustrated second edition of "Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes" is a unique and extraordinary instructional manual and guide that is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library"—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review"This book shows just how fun deep mathematics can be and reveals the importance of thinking of mathematics with your hands, eyes and body — not just the brain. More importantly, it shows how good mathematics needs input from all sorts of people and cultures, in particular here the geometry essential to fibre arts."—Professor Edmund Harris, University of Arkansas, co-author of Patterns/Visions of the Universe with Alex Bellos"This is a lovely introduction to hyperbolic geometry and how to represent it in a tactile, playful way. The book takes you through a wonderful history of both the maths and the art, exploring how we have perceived the world around us over the centuries and how this applies today. You get to explore the concepts with your own hands and really see how it all works. As both a mathematician and a crocheter I’m itching to make my own hyperbolic planes and use them in all sorts of places!"—Samantha Durbin, The Royal Institution of Great BritainThis is the second edition of the book Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes, which won the 2012 Euler Book Prize[. . . . ]This book presents an amazing hybrid approach to two seemingly different audiences: mathematicians and fiber artists.For the mathematician, the book presents a tactile approach to the very theoretical concepts in hyperbolic geometry, providing clear directions on how to construct objects in hyperbolic geometry. This book is a great introduction to hyperbolic geometry for anyone wanting to know about the subject and would be a great asset to any undergraduate math student studying non-Euclidean geometries.For the fiber artist interested in crochet, the book does a great job of explaining very advanced mathematics in an inviting and understanding way, encouraging artists to pursue more mathematics to incorporate into their creative works. It also provides insight into the creative process of developing mathematics, showing that mathematicians and artists both use very creative processes.This book is extremely well-written and organized. [. . . .] The book also weaves together the history and development of non-Euclidean geometries and their connections to many different areas such as art, biology and nature, physics, computer science, music, chemistry, and architecture. Each chapter has a clear purpose, and the imagery really complements the writing. At the end of the book, there is a section on how to make models. For the artist interested in crochet, the directions are a little bit more mathematical, but they are presented clearly. It will definitely be quite different than any pattern you have read before! For the mathematician who would like to have some tactile hyperbolic models, there are directions for making models out of paper as well. This book is more than just a great introduction to hyperbolic geometry, it is a great book to showcase the work of mathematicians and the process of discovering mathematics. As mathematicians, we often only present our finished and most-polished versions of our work, and we don’t let many people see the process by which this polished mathematics was developed.This book gives the reader insight into that process and illuminates the creativity involved in the development of mathematics.—Rachelle Bouchat, MAA Reviews October 2019Praise for previous edition"2012 Euler Book Prize Winner ...elegant, novel approach... that is perfectly capable of standing on its mathematical feet as a clear, rigorous, and beautifully illustrated introduction to hyperbolic geometry. It is truly a book where art, craft, science, and mathematics come together in perfect harmony."—MAA, December 2011"This book is richly illustrated with photographs and colored illustrations and it has been produced on high-quality paper. It would be a useful addition to the library of a school or university."—Gazette-Australia, May 2011"Daina's crochet models break through the austere, formal stereotype of mathematics and present a path to a whole-brain understanding of a beautiful cluster of simple and significant ideas. The book helps to change the way of thinking about mathematics - an art of human understanding!"—Corina Mohorianu, Zentralblatt MATH, September 2009"The models illustrated in this book are prime examples of art influencing mathematics. Daina provides the necessary instructions for even novices to crochet and create hyperbolic models of their own."—Swami Swaminathan, Canadian Mathematical Society Notes, October 2009"It lays out the fundamental knowledge for appreciation of tactile hyperbolic manifolds cautiously and accessibly. ... an enjoyable read for a general audience."—David Jacob Wildstrom, Mathematical Reviews, December 2009Table of ContentsForeword by William Thurston. Introduction. What Is the Hyperbolic Plane? Can We Crochet It?. What Can You Learn from Your Model?. Four Strands in the History of Geometry. Tidbits from the History of Crochet. What is Non-Euclidean Geometry?. Pseudosphere. Metamorphoses of the Hyperbolic Plane. Other Surfaces with Negative Curvature. Looking for Applications of Hyperbolic Geometry. Hyperbolic Crochet goes Viral. Appendix: How to Make Models.

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Book SynopsisWith their fantastic themes and great clues, these 72 medium-difficulty Sunday-sized crosswords turn weekends into mini mental vacations. Just start your nice and leisurely solving. Then, after you've conquered a grid, take a peek behind the scenes in the answer section to get bonus fun facts and extra detail on a few of the clues.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word puzzlesThis supremely challenging cryptic collection contains 50 jumbo-sized, large grid puzzles, conceived to really challenge your word skills.Selected by The Times'' Crossword Editor, Richard Rogan, this original collection will challenge even the most experienced crossword buff.The ultimate and only jumbo cryptic crosswords available, these puzzles will allow you to give the grey matter a real workout. With unique grids of 23 x 23 squares (in comparison to the standard 15 x 15 grid), they require serious word power and cryptic puzzling skill.Put your linguistic prowess to the test with these quality puzzles from the Times' crossword writers.

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself with word puzzles.300 word wheel puzzles to test your mental dexterity with this collection from The Times, one of their most popular online word games The perfect challenge for all lovers of wordsearch and crosswords.How many words can you make?The book is split into multiple levels 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-letter polygons, and each puzzle includes grades so you can compare your vocabulary against the setters at The Times.Make words of three or more letters, always including the central letter. Excludes capitalised words, plurals, conjugated forms (past tense, etc), adverbs ending in -LY, comparatives and superlatives. Accented letters are allowed, and are considered identical to the same letters without the accent.The perfect way for lovers of wordsearch and crosswords to pass the time and exercise the grey matter.

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Book SynopsisDive into this brand new series of LARGE PRINT crosswords from The Telegraph.Solve the clues and navigate your way through this engrossing collection of 80 large print cryptic crosswords.Specially designed for puzzle enthusiasts who crave entertainment without the eyestrain, these enlarged grids are the perfect antidote to a busy day or a rainy afternoon.

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Book SynopsisAnagram Challenge presents a unique collection of word hunt puzzles to do anytime, anywhere, perfect for those who want to take their wordling skills to the next level.

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Book Synopsis*****Get thinking outside the box with this bumper edition of cryptic crosswords from the Telegraph. Utterly addictive and entertaining, these fiendish cryptic crosswords are the perfect brainteaser for beginners and experts alike. And, with 200 puzzles to choose from, The Telegraph Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords 9 is the ultimate puzzling companion for a morning commute or a quiet evening.

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Book SynopsisThe Times Crossword is the most famous in the world. Test your word power with this classic collection of 100 cryptic puzzles compiled by the Editor of The Times Crossword.The latest book in this exciting series continues the tradition of providing authoritative, challenging Cryptic Crossword, offering an enjoyable and stimulating way to while away your free time.Addictive, taxing and compelling, The Times Cryptic Crossword is packed with high-quality puzzles chosen by the Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan.

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Book SynopsisChallenge your brain with these enjoyable puzzlesGive your memory a workout, stimulate your brain and hone your general knowledge with 100 definition-only puzzles from The Times.Covering a wide range of topics, from geography to literature, history and culture, this collection will test both your general knowledge and your wordpower.Compiled by the Times2 Crossword Editor John Grimshaw, these quick accessible puzzles are utterly absorbing and addictive, yet concise enough to be done on the move.Quality is paramount to The Times' crosswords, with clues that are satisfyingly tough, but accurate. This new collection is no different, providing hours of crossword enjoyment and stimulation.

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Book SynopsisGive your brain a workout with these popular puzzles.A cracking collection of the unique two-speed crossword puzzle from The Sun. With 160 puzzles both with quick and cryptic style clues for the same puzzle, you have all you need for a word workout with this fantastic puzzle.The two-speed crossword puzzles appear daily in The Sun, Britain's bestselling daily newspaper.Providing a unique challenge amongst crosswords, each puzzle has a set of cryptic and coffee-time, quick definition-style clues, so that you can choose either to take your time, or to head for the speedy conclusion, with both sets of clues leading to the same answer.These crosswords do not rely on topical knowledge and can be enjoyed at any time, any place. This collection of 160 crosswords will appeal to anyone seeking a fun and informative break from daily life.

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Book SynopsisA quiz in a grid. Test your memory and all round general knowledge with these 80 new crosswords. Not only for crossword lovers, but quizzers of all abilities.This Crossword appears weekly in the Monday edition of The Times. The puzzles offer a fair challenge for all quiz lovers.The clues are less testing than the Sunday Times General Knowledge crosswords, but stretch your memory and brain cells, and provide hours of entertainment.

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Book SynopsisChallenging brainteasers to test your puzzle-solving skillsIf you relish a challenging mental workout, these brain teasers will demand your very best solving skills. The structure of each Mindset is the same: 3 questions, first a word puzzle, then a numerical puzzle, and a third which is shorter and easier than the first two.Written by Chris Pringle, Colin Whorlow and Daniel Shiu.But do not worry, solutions are found at the back of the book so you can get into the head of these fiendish setters and work out their devilish methods!We have included a useful Appendix at the end to help as an aide-mémoire for some recurring themes.These tricky teasers require serious application, imagination and skill to solve. Some demand a logical approach, others a methodical, mathematical mind, or a leap of the imagination!Do you have the right Mindset to take on the challenge of solving these rigorous but entertaining word, logic and number puzzles?

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Book SynopsisTest your puzzling skills with this new book of Daily Mail Giant Crosswords. With both ''Cryptic'' and ''Quick'' clues for each super-size crossword, how you tackle them is up to you, whether you''re up for a frustratingly tricky challenge, or a more speedy approach.

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Book SynopsisCryptic crosswords from the Telegraph are the most popular around, and this bumper collection will both frustrate and delight in equal measure. Perfect for any spare moment, and completely addictive, these puzzles are certain to test your thinking to the limit.

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Book SynopsisImpress all your friends at the next pub quiz by perfecting your knowledge of everything from history to sport, science and popular entertainment. This fantastic new collection of puzzles provides the perfect solitary entertainment for every quiet moment while allowing you to build a fantastic range of facts on the tip of your tongue.Covering a wide range of topics, these varied and challenging puzzles from Britain''s best-selling quality newspaper will provide hours of amusement for general knowledge and crossword enthusiasts alike.

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Book SynopsisLose yourself in this latest bumper collection of quick-fire crosswords.Solve the clues and navigate your way to completing these fast and furious crosswords. With over 300 quick-fire crosswords, The Telegraph Big Book of Quick Crosswords 4 is perfect for every puzzle fan.The fourth title in the Telegraph big quick crosswords series, with all new puzzles for 2019.Perfect for novices and experienced puzzlers alike!

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Book SynopsisPut your cryptic crossword skills to the test with this latest edition of quick crosswords from The Telegraph.The ultimate crossword compilation to test your analytical processes and your lateral thinking. Whether on your lunch break, work commute or just a relaxing afternoon, The Telegraph Cryptic Crosswords 6 is a great selection of headscratchers for any puzzle fan to ponder over.

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Book SynopsisThe Daily Mail returns with its brand new collection of devilishly difficult cryptic crosswords!Put your mind to the ultimate test with Daily Mail Cryptic Crosswords Volume 1. For novices and experts alike, this collection of crosswords will provide hours of fun, as you work your way through the puzzling clues. With 100 cryptic puzzles, these crosswords will stimulate your brain and keep you entertained at all times!

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Book SynopsisSeeking mental stimulation? Want to test your analytical thinking?Put your puzzling skills to the test with The Telegraph Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords 6!In its 6th volume in this series from the pages of the Telegraph, this book is the ultimate test of lateral thinking, with plenty of crosswords to provide hours of entertainment.

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Book SynopsisSeeking some quick brain stimulation?Want to test your logic?Daily Mail is back with another brand new collection of demanding puzzles. With 200 grids in a variety of difficulties, these puzzles are sure to put minds of all ages and abilities through their paces.Whether you''re on your daily commute or looking for a way to pass the time, Daily Mail Quick Crosswords 3 is the perfect compilation to keep you occupied.

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Book SynopsisWant to put your deducing skills to the test?Seeking logical stimulation?Put your puzzling skills to the test with this brand new collection of cryptic crosswords from the pages of the Daily Mail.Daily Mail Cryptic Crosswords 3 offers 100 puzzles to thriller crossword beginners and experts alike. With complicated anagrams and complex wordplay throughout, this will keep any crossword fan entertained.

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Book SynopsisDo you love sudoku? Do you want to test your skills with a unique maths and logic game? If you do, then you will love this collection of over 200 puzzles ideal for you to do anytime, anywhere. In Sudoku Challenge, you fill in the puzzles with the usual rules, but when the grid is complete, you then use the clue numbers to work out how to calculate the challenge number.  Unique, fun, and interactive this collection of brain-teasing puzzles, can be played offline and will keep you entertained for hours and hours. Whether you are looking for puzzle practiceto train your brain, or seeking a screen-free offline alternative to online puzzles, or a sudoku challenge like no other this collection will have you enthralled.  

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Book SynopsisThis highly enjoyable collection of more than 200 crossword puzzles is sure to have something for every puzzle fan, boost your general knowledge and put your trivia to the test as you attempt to complete them all! • TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND WORD SKILLS: Put your skills and vocabulary to the test, improving them as you go! • EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN: Give your mind a great workout as you solve each clue. • REDUCE STRESS: Feel your stress melt away as you focus on these satisfying puzzles.

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Book SynopsisSudokus are the ever-popular number placement puzzles that give your brain an excellent mental workout. Spanning four increasingly difficult levels to challenge all abilities of solver, and presented in an easy-to-read large-print type, this collection is sure to keep you entertained for hours.• LARGE PRINT: Put your reading glasses away! This large-print book allows you to puzzle away without straining your eyes. • EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN: Give your mind a great workout as you pit your wits against these number-placement teasers. • REDUCE STRESS: Feel your stress melt away as you focus on these satisfying puzzles.

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Book SynopsisThis wonderful collection of crossword puzzles is sure to have something for every puzzle fan. Each grid is packed with trivia teasers so you can boost your general knowledge and test your skills as you try to complete them all. • TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Have fun putting your general knowledge to the test. • EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN: Give your mind a great workout as you solve each clue. • REDUCE STRESS: Feel your stress melt away as you focus on these satisfying puzzles.

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Book SynopsisCrossword fans will love the highly entertaining puzzles in this collection, all designed to provide a stimulating challenge for the word and general knowledge enthusiast. Presented with a foil-embossed cover design and rounded corners, this elegant puzzle book makes a wonderful gift. • TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND WORD SKILLS: Have fun putting them to the test and learn new words as you go!• EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN: Give your mind a great workout as you solve each clue.• REDUCE STRESS: Feel your stress melt away as you focus on these satisfying puzzles.

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Book Synopsis Eric Saunders is one of the world's leading puzzle compilers. An expert crossword clue creator, IQ puzzle manipulator and innovator of many new puzzles each year, he has supplied puzzles to newspapers including The Times and is the author of many puzzle compilations for publishers around the world.

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Book SynopsisGive your brain a workout with 100 puzzles from Chambers, the most crossword-friendly dictionary in the worldPut your feet up and escape from it all with The Chambers Book of Cryptic Crosswords featuring a ''ton'' of cryptic challenges to give your brain a workout.In each puzzle there are one or two easy clues to provide a way in, and all the solutions, bar the odd exception, can be found in the Chambers Dictionary. No specialist knowledge is required: if you have a good grasp of the English language and an interest in words, you should be able to crack the clues.This collection is designed to provide a fair challenge for seasoned experts, but also give ''average solvers'' a decent chance of completing the puzzles. Entertaining, fun and challenging enough to tax even the most seasoned crossword aficionado, you''ll need quick wits to go head-to-head with Chambers.

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Book SynopsisContinuing the popular Overworked & Underpuzzled series, Serene Sudoku contains almost 200 of the ever-popular Sudoku puzzles to help focus your frazzled mind. There are nearly 200 puzzles, all of which are perfect for anyone who needs something to focus on during a brief break in their busy day. With multiple levels of difficulty provided, this is the perfect puzzle book for anyone who works too hard and loves the serene logic of a Sudoku. Table of ContentsNearly 200 Sudoku puzzles and solutions.

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Book Synopsis*****Put your lateral-thinking skills to the test with this latest edition of cryptic crosswords from the pages of The Telegraph.Whether you're looking to sharpen your analytical skills, or simply enjoy a screen-free activity, The Telegraph Cryptic Crosswords 10 is the perfect crossword companion.With 100 puzzles to choose from, this new cryptic collection will provide hours of entertainment for beginners and experts alike.

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Book SynopsisImpress all your friends at the next pub quiz by perfecting your knowledge of everything from history to sport, science and popular entertainment. This fantastic bumper collection of puzzles provides the perfect solitary entertainment for every quiet moment while allowing you to build a fantastic range of facts on the tip of your tongue.Covering a wide range of topics, these varied and challenging puzzles from Britain's best-selling quality newspaper will provide hours of amusement for general knowledge enthusiasts everywhere.

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Book SynopsisRevel in a new puzzling experience with 100 American-style crosswords from the Telegraph.With clues ranging from straight definitions to humorous wordplay, from general knowledge to current events, this is the ultimate puzzling companion to have by your side.Perfect for those seeking an alternative to the cryptic and quick variations, these Cross Atlantic crosswords will appeal to experts and novices alike!

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Book SynopsisTest your lateral thinking with these cryptic crosswords!Dive into the the latest collection 100 cryptic crosswords from the pages of the Telegraph!Perfect for beginners and experts alike, this brand-new edition is the ideal puzzle book to have by your side.

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Book SynopsisA bumper edition of 300 fiendish codewords.Test your code-cracking abilities with The Telegraph''s most addictive puzzle!With hundreds of codewords to choose from, this collection will provide hours of entertainment, whether at home or on the go.

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Book SynopsisA brand new series from internationally bestselling author, Dr Gareth Moore. Take five with over 200 crossword puzzles. Be stylish and smart with this pretty book of Crosswords, which will keep you entertained whether you’re relaxing at home or out and about. Pocket-sized and full of the Crosswords you love to solve, pick up your pen, give your brain a gentle workout and enjoy a little ‘me’ time with the over 150 brand new Crosswords found within.Also available: · Perfect Pocket Puzzles: Word Searches (9781789294200) · Perfect Pocket Puzzles: Sudoku (9781789294194)

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Book SynopsisImprove your powers of memory and recall and unlock your full potential with this brand-new title in Mensa's brain-training series.This full-colour book guides you through eight chapters, each focussed on your memory, how it works, and how you can both maintain and improve it.From tricks of visualisation and linking to mnemonics and mind palaces, as you progress your memorization skills will improve in both the short and long-term. The book will take you through the science behind memory, give instruction on how to improve yourself, and provide you with a series of puzzles and exercises to get you started on your memory-improving journey!Table of ContentsIntroduction • Meet your memory • Types of memory • How to remember • Memory techniques • More techniques • Day-to-day memory • Memory palaces • Challenge yourself • Solutions.

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Book SynopsisPit your worldly wits against family and friends, or just challenge yourself, with this ultimate travel trivia crossword book. With head-scratching questions on everything from geography and culture to history, wildlife and transport, it's a fun and challenging test for all ages and the perfect addition to any trip. With 200 cryptic crosswords, ranging from day-tripper (easy) to daredevil (cryptic) categories, there's plenty of scope here to keep you entertained whilst out on the road, at an airport or during lazy days at home. Tackle each one solo or challenge your friends or family members to a competition; whatever or however you choose to test your knowledge, you're guaranteed to learn something new. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You’ll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, eBooks, and more.

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Book SynopsisTaking a page from karate - another Japanese art - each title in the series is graded by colour: White Belt for easy, Green Belt for medium level, Brown Belt for hard, and Black Belt for the super-tough solvers.

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Book SynopsisFeast your eyes (without straining them) on this banquet of word searches! This bind-up will include 134 puzzles originally featured in Mark Danna's Gourmet Word Searches and Tasty Word Searches (which have sold a combined total of over 35,500 copies since their publication). All puzzles are themed and contain a hidden message revealing a quote or expanding on the puzzle's theme, giving each word search a fun final payoff.

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Book SynopsisEnables anyone with basic math and science skills to estimate virtually anything - quickly - using plausible assumptions and elementary arithmetic. This book presents an array of estimation problems that range from devilishly simple to quite sophisticated and from real-world concerns to silly ones.Trade Review"Dr. Adam and his colleague Lawrence Weinstein, a professor of physics, offer a wide and often amusing assortment of Fermi flexes in a book that just caught my eye, Guesstimation: Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin."--Natalie Angier, New York Times "An important skill of great use ... is the ability to derive an approximate result from insufficient data. Guesstimation is a collection of [problems] gathered from everyday life and various fields. Working out questions ... is both entertaining and enlightening. It may also help foster your career ... because making correct guesses quickly establishes your reputation as an expert."--Stephan Mertens, Science "This book is a stimulating collection that will help the reader to reach informed judgments and will be a useful source of inspiration for mathematics and physics teachers: my only concern is that if my students have read it before they arrive at university, I may have to find a new approach to my first day's teaching."--Tony Mann, Times Higher Education "While few can hope to emulate the brilliance of a Nobel Prize winner like [Enrico] Fermi, coming up with pretty good guesstimates is a skill that can be taught. And that's the aim of Guesstimation. After a quick tutorial, the authors get down to business with a host of wide-ranging worked examples, from estimating the numbers of piano tuners in Los Angeles to figuring out the impact of deforestation on greenhouse gas levels. The results are sometimes surprising."--Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine "[Guesstimation is] a left-brain book that helps you approximate answers to the types of questions actually asked in some job interviews today."--Peter Coy, BusinessWeek "[A] delightful account of mathematical approximation, which instills the beauty and power of the back-of-the-envelope calculation. The puzzles make addictive confidence builders by breaking down tricky questions into manageable parts. Never again will you take a newspaper figure at face value without feeling the need, and confidence, to guesstimate your own figure."--Matthew Killeya, New Scientist "Guesstimation is both enlightening and entertaining. I recommend it to my fellow journalists both as a tool of our trade and as a mind stretcher."--Rony V. Diaz, Manila Times "Any idea what fraction of land in the US is covered by either a roof or pavement? Known as a Fermi problem, this type of question requires the use of reasonable estimation, which is the focus of the book at hand. In the initial chapters, Weinstein and Adam briefly review good 'guesstimation' techniques involving numbers and explain why the use of the geometric mean is preferred over the arithmetic mean."--J. Johnson, Choice "How many people in the world are picking their nose right now? Weinstein and Adam 'guesstimate' the answer to this problem and 79 others, covering chemistry, physics, biology and history. The book is a step-by-step guide to problem-solving using rough-and-ready maths, the kind done on the back of a cocktail napkin. And the authors have kindly left additional questions at the end to get readers started on their own problem-solving expedition."--Cosmos "Physics educators can use this book as a guide to including the important skill of estimation in their courses. Students may find the power of estimation to be a valuable skill and will want to work their way through this book."--Arthur Eisenkrafr, American Journal of Physics "A source of imaginative problems, this book would make a nice addition to a mathematics department library."--Diane Resek, Mathematics Teacher "[I]t's quite obvious that the authors intend their book to be fun, nonthreatening, and user-friendly. There's very little not to like... [T]he book can be for everybody, 'higher-up professionals' who might know math but not physics, as well as students wrestling with 'word problems.' Teachers could very well recommend it to math majors and nonmajors alike, or even use it in the classroom, in some cases as supplementary reading for the course."--Marion Deutsche Cohen, Mathematical Intelligencer "The cumulative effect of fairly simple paths to estimating solutions to a dizzying array of difficult problems is fascinating."--Ray Bert, Civil Engineering "This book will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in estimation, but is also targeted at those applying for jobs at companies like Google, where the kind of questions considered in the book are often used in the interview process."--Paul Taylor, Mathematics TodayTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Preface xiii Chapter 1: How to Solve Problems 1 Chapter 2: Dealing with Large Numbers 11 2.1 Scientific Notation 11 2.2 Accuracy 14 2.3 A Note on Units 16 2.4 Unit Conversion 17 Chapter 3: General Questions 19 3.1 One big family 21 3.2 Fore! 25 3.3 This is a fine pickle you've got us into, Patty 29 3.4 Throwing in the towel 31 3.5 Hey buddy, can you fill a dome? 35 3.6 A mole of cats 39 3.7 Massive MongaMillions 41 3.8 Tons of trash 43 3.9 Mt. Trashmore 47 3.10 Juggling people 51 3.11 Shelving the problem 53 Chapter 4: Animals and People 55 4.1 More numerous than the stars in the sky 57 4.2 Laboring in vein 61 4.3 Unzipping your skin 65 4.4 Hair today, gone tomorrow 69 4.5 Hot dawg! 73 4.6 Playing the field 75 4.7 Ewww... gross! 77 4.8 Going potty 79 4.9 Let's get one thing straight! 83 Chapter 5: Transportation 87 5.1 Driving past Saturn 89 5.2 Drowning in gasoline 91 5.3 Slowly on the highway 95 5.4 Rickshaws and automobiles 99 5.5 Horse exhaust 103 5.6 Tire tracks 107 5.7 Working for the car 109 Chapter 6: Energy and Work 113 6.1 Energy of height 114 6.1.1 Mountain climbing 115 6.1.2 Flattening the Alps 119 6.1.3 Raising a building 123 6.2 Energy of motion 126 6.2.1 At your service 127 6.2.2 Kinetic trucking 129 6.2.3 Racing continents 131 6.2.4 "To boldly go... " 135 6.3 Work 138 6.3.1 Crash! 139 6.3.2 Spider-Man and the subway car 143 Chapter 7: Hydrocarbons and Carbohydrates 145 7.1 Chemical energy 145 7.1.1 Energy in gasoline 147 7.1.2 Battery energy 151 7.1.3 Battery energy density 155 7.1.4 Batteries vs. gas tanks 159 7.2 Food is energy 162 7.2.1 Eat here, get gas 163 7.2.2 Farmland for ethanol 167 7.3 Power! 170 7.3.1 Hot humans 171 7.3.2 Fill 'er up with gasoline 173 7.3.3 Fill 'er up with electricity 175 Chapter 8: The Earth, the Moon, and Lots of Gerbils 179 8.1 "And yet it moves" (e pur si muove) 181 8.2 Duck! 185 8.3 Super-sized Sun 189 8.4 Sun power 193 8.5 Gerbils 1, Sun 0 197 8.6 Chemical Sun 201 8.7 Nearby supernova 205 8.8 Melting ice caps 209 Chapter 9: Energy and the Environment 213 9.1 Power to the people 215 9.2 Continental power 219 9.3 Solar energy 223 9.4 Land for solar energy 225 9.5 Tilting at windmills 229 9.6 The power of coal 233 9.7 The power of nuclei 237 9.8 Hard surfaces 239 Chapter 10: The Atmosphere 243 10.1 Into thin air 245 10.2 Ancient air 247 10.3 Suck it up 251 10.4 CO2 from coal 255 10.5 A healthy glow 259 10.6 CO2 from cars 261 10.7 Turning gas into trees 265 10.8 Turning trees into gas 269 Chapter 11: Risk 273 11.1 Gambling on the road 275 11.2 The plane truth 277 11.3 Life's a beach 279 11.4 Up in smoke 281 Chapter 12: Unanswered Questions 285 Appendix: Needed Numbers and Formulas 289 A.1 Useful Numbers 289 A.2 Handy Formulas 289 A.3 Metric Prefixes 290 B Pegs to Hang Things On 291 Bibliography 295 Index 299

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