The Big Brain Puzzle Book

By Terry Stickels

Give your brain a series of workouts that'll make it bigger and better! This colossal collection of more than 200 puzzles simultaneously provides a relaxing atmosphere for mental play and stimulates brain activity. Created by an internationally renowned puzzle-maker, the challenges involve creative thinking, mathematics, logic, language and wordplay, visuals, and general knowledge.
Kick start your neurons at Level 1 with puzzles involving hidden words, math calculations, and logical conundrums. At Level 2, fire up your synapses with cryptograms, scrambled sentences, and visual challenges. And activate your brain at Level 3 with fill-in-the-blanks, search-a-words, magic squares, and much more. If you get stumped, an answer key with complete solutions appears at the end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Feb 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9780486810577

Book preview

I would like to thank the following people who worked tirelessly on this book-Ms. Christy Davis, Ms. Beverly Skicko, and Ms. Kelsey Joyce ... thank you for all your hard work.

Copyright

Copyright © 2009, 2016 by Terry Stickels

All rights reserved.

Bibliographical Note

This Dover edition, first published in 2016, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published in 2009. A new Introduction, written by the author, has been specially prepared for the present edition.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stickels, Terry H., author.

Title: The big brain puzzle book / Terry Stickels.

Description: Dover edition. | Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, Inc., [2016] | Revised edition omitting some previous content.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015027539| eISBN 13: 9780486810577

Subjects: LCSH: Puzzles. | Brain stimulation.

Classification: LCC GV1493 .S815 2016 | DDC 793.73–dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015027539

Manufactured in the United States by RR Donnelley

80290601 2016

www.doverpublications.com

Table of Contents

KICK START YOUR NEURONS!

level 1

FIRE UP YOUR SYNAPSES!

level 2

ACTIVATE YOUR BRAIN!

level 3

answer key

PUZZLE CATEGORY KEY:

CREATIVE THINKING: Thinking outside the box

MATHEMATICS: Computational skills

LOGIC: Analysis and deduction

LANGUAGE: Definitions, usage, and sentence structure

VISUAL: Observation, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition

WORDPLAY: Word and letter manipulation

KNOWLEDGE: Book smarts and memory

Introduction

. .. one thing I’m good at is spending an infinite amount of time solving a puzzle.

— Nobel laureate Richard P. Feynman (physics)

(taken from the book What Do You Care What Other People Think?

W. W. Norton & Company Publishing, 1988)

Richard Feynman’s quote pops into my head frequently because it accentuates the theme I keep in mind when creating puzzles; almost everyone, of all ages, enjoys a fun challenge. And I like the challenge of making those people happy with a wide range of puzzles. From Nobel Prize-winning physicists to 8-year-old kids in Seattle, one need not look far to find puzzle enthusiasts of all kinds. And it seems puzzles’ popularity is continually growing. Word search, sudoku, crosswords, math teasers, digital puzzles, jumbles, anagrams, spatial/visual ... I counted over 40 different types at one time. There is something for everyone.

And that is the theme of the book you now hold in your hands. In this book, there are three levels of puzzle difficulty, ranging from easy to difficult (though the most difficult puzzles are not in the range that would make Dr. Feynman cringe). They just take a little more elbow grease. In each section, I have done my best to mix up the puzzle types so everyone can have some fun. And, I’ll let you in on a secret. I enjoyed writing this more than any of my other books. That’s because I wrote it for me first, but with you in mind. In fact, that’s what most writers and musicians do all the time. They just don’t usually talk about it. I tried to imagine all the puzzles I liked from the time I was 8 years old until now, with a few new categories mixed in for good measure.

It is virtually of no importance what the category names are for these puzzles. All that matters is that you have a good time solving them. And, hopefully, I am able to challenge you on some of the puzzles. There is one other interesting feature of this collection. They also make great puzzles to solve in groups. Try them out with family, friends, coworkers, and even at local establishments you may frequent. You might be surprised at the laughter and groans they elicit.

Enough said. It’s time for you to show your puzzle acumen. Good luck and happy puzzling!! I hope it brings a smile to your face.

—TERRY STICKELS

level 1

KICK START YOUR NEURONS!

Mentally stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connections between them, and may even create new nerve cells.

Puzzle 1

WORDPLAY

Below are the names of six states with their vowels removed. How fast can you figure out their full names?

1.KLHM

2.NDN

3.H

4.LLNS

5.W

6.RGN

Puzzle 2

WORDPLAY

The six words below share an unusual characteristic that’s not found in many English words. What is it?

HINT: Look at these words from a different perspective.

animal

deliver

looter

diaper

drawer

straw

Puzzle 3

WORDPLAY

Below are 16 letters that form a common, everyday word. Using each given letter just once, can you figure out what the word is?

Puzzle 4

CREATIVE THINKING

Find the hidden word or phrase!

Puzzle 5

VISUALIZATION

How many cubes are missing from the following stack that was originally 5 × 5 × 5? All rows and columns run to completion unless you actually see them end.

Puzzle 6

LOGIC

You are a prisoner sentenced to death. The Emperor offers you a chance to live by playing a simple game. He gives you 50 black marbles, 50 white marbles, and 2 empty bowls. He then says, "Divide these 100 marbles into these 2 bowls. You can divide them any way you like as long