The Puzzler by A.J. Jacobs
The Puzzler (Crown) is an engaging read … A.J. Jacobs provides a wealth of trivial yet gratifying information about puzzles and for a puzzle lover, it was so much fun!
Sharpening problem-solving skills while learning the history of puzzles can improve your thinking, and hearing the author’s stories about conquering the most difficult challenges was motivating and insightful. His experiences with the New York Times crossword puzzle guru, Will Shortz, attempting to solve the most difficult corn maze and his entry into the World’s Jigsaw Puzzle Championship representing Team USA with his family were entertaining to learn about.
My brother, also a lover of puzzles recommended The Puzzler to me; he knew I would be into this book like he was — and maybe that is proof that genetics influence our preferences!
I recommend the hardcover version as opposed to audio or digital because A. J. Jacobs generously provides tons of puzzles to work on and some great color photos to peruse as well. If you are interested in anything puzzle-like (I solve Wordle every day, play sudoku often and always have a jigsaw puzzle in progress on the dining room table) you will enjoy this one!
This story appears through BookTrib’s partnership with BookNationByJen. It first appeared here.
About A.J. Jacobs:
A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. Among his books are The Know-It-All, The Year of Living Biblically, and Thanks a Thousand, in which he travels the globe to thank everyone who had even the slightest role in making his morning cup of coffee. He is a contributor to NPR, The New York Times and Esquire, among others. He has given several TED talks, including ones about living biblically, creating a one-world family and living healthily that have amassed over 10 million views.
