The puzzle instinct : the meaning of puzzles in human life / Marcel Danesi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Danesi, Marcel, 1946-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Puzzles--Psychological aspects.

Puzzles.

Puzzles--Social aspects.

Games--Psychological aspects.

Games.

Games--Social aspects.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (283 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Humans are the only animals who create and solve puzzles -- for the sheer pleasure of it -- and there is no obvious genetic reason why we would do this. Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening."--Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times ..". Puzzle fanatics will enjoy the many riddles, illusions, cryptograms and other mind-benders offered for analysis."--Psychology Today ..". a bristlingly clear ... always intriguing survey of the history and rationale of puzzles ... [A] splendid study ..."--Knight Ridder Newspapers

Contents:

Contents; Preface; 1 Why Puzzles?; 2 Puzzling Language; 3 Puzzling Pictures; 4 Puzzling Logic; 5 Puzzling Numbers; 6 Puzzling Games; 7 The Puzzle of Life; Solutions; Bibliography and General Reading List; Index; About the Author

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [254]-263) and index.

ISBN:

1-282-06278-6

0-253-10919-1

OCLC:

70758906