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Ancient Puzzles - by Dominic Olivastro (Paperback)

Name: Ancient Puzzles - by Dominic Olivastro (Paperback)
Brand: Bantam
SKU: 85123615
Price: 13.71 USD
Availability: InStock

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About this item

Details

Highlights

Match wits with the great minds of the world's greatest civilizations in this fascinating collection of ancient conundrums, brainteasers, and mind-benders.
Author(s): Dominic Olivastro
288 Pages
Mathematics, Recreations & Games

Description

About the Book

Comprising the entire brainteasing spectrum from the silly and quirky to the clever and profound and drawing on classic wisdom from around the world and from as far back as 7,000 B.C., this collection features puzzles via Hebrew mystics, medieval Muslims, Benjamin Franklin, Sun Tsu, and more.

Book Synopsis

Match wits with the great minds of the world's greatest civilizations in this fascinating collection of ancient conundrums, brainteasers, and mind-benders.

- What do prehistoric bone markings and modern computer science have in common?
- What is the mystery of pi that stumped generations of ancient mathematicians?
- What are the ancient puzzle origins of popular games such as tic-tac-toe and chess?
- Can you solve the puzzles posed to emperor Charlemagne by Alcuin of York?
- What's the secret lore behind magic squares that captured the imagination of Chinese emperors, Persian mystics, and Benjamin Franklin?

Dominic Olivastro presents a popular history of mathematics by focusing on the puzzles that civilizations posed for their own education and entertainment. Here are classic "puzzle problems" from ancient Africa, Egypt, Persia, China, and Greece and from cultures and texts spanning the Middle Ages and the Renaissance all the way to the present.

Each puzzle is linked with insightful folk and scientific history that helps shed light on the mysterious purpose and origin of the problem. Fascinating clues for figuring out answers draw on modern problem-solving techniques and lead to ancient secrets that, before now, have rarely been understood. Whether you decipher them for their historical significance, classical wisdom, or just for the sheer, maddening fun of it, these delightful puzzles provide a unique, entertaining, and enlightening guide to the evolution of the human mind.

Specifications

Dimensions (Overall): 9.1 Inches (H) x 6.22 Inches (W) x .72 Inches (D)

Weight: .98 Pounds

Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up

Number of Pages: 288

Genre: Mathematics

Sub-Genre: Recreations & Games

Publisher: Bantam

Format: Paperback

Author: Dominic Olivastro

Language: English

Street Date: November 1, 1993

TCIN: 85123615

UPC: 9780553372977

Item Number (DPCI): 247-54-5149

Origin: Made in the USA or Imported

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Shipping & Returns

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.72 inches length x 6.22 inches width x 9.1 inches height

Estimated ship weight: 0.98 pounds

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This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii

Return details

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Q&A (5)

Q: What is the main theme of the book?

AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago

A: The book explores ancient puzzles and brainteasers from various civilizations, emphasizing their historical significance and educational purposes.
submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
Ai generated

Q: What kind of puzzles can readers expect in this book?

AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago

A: Readers will find a mix of quirky, clever, and profound puzzles from historical figures and civilizations.
submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
Ai generated

Q: What unique historical perspectives does the book offer?

AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago

A: It provides insights into the origins and purposes of puzzles across various cultures and time periods.
submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
Ai generated

Q: What are some cultures represented in the book's puzzles?

AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago

A: The book features puzzles from ancient Africa, Egypt, Persia, China, Greece, and more throughout history.
submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
Ai generated