The Puzzler

I love puzzles, but not as much as A.J. Jacobs. Jacobs is primarily a writer and has spent his time in this book delving through all things puzzles: the history of them, how they are beloved, why puzzles, and how Jacobs intertwines his life and challenges himself at tackling the craziest and toughest puzzles ever known. “The Puzzler” ranges all over, from classics like sudoku and crosswords to riddles to mazes all the way to even the most controversial or craziest puzzles. Jacobs not only details them but actually takes part, such as creating the American team in the World Jigsaw Championship, walking through the most challenging corn maze, and even creating his own puzzles and seeing how they work. I love puzzles, so naturally if you do you'll love this book. Even if you don't I think you'll find something to enjoy, whether it's Jacobs' personality and humor, the stories he tells, or even the puzzles themselves. Like “Seven Games” by Oliver Roeder, a fantastic book on games I read last Fall, I want to read even more books about the puzzle and game phenomenon and why humans love them so much and can't seem to stop playing them.