The Geometry Puzzle Book by David Goodman

The Geometry Puzzle Book by David Goodman

Mechanical puzzles are inherently a hands-on experience; it is extremely difficult to solve one simply by looking at it. This is the fifth puzzle book authored by the duo of Goodman and Garibi, and it introduces a first-ever feature: the ability to manufacture all the parts and pieces the puzzles require. Whether you use a paper printer to create our Pepakura nets or a 3D printer for our STL files, you can physically produce the elements needed to engage with these unique 3D puzzles, which have never before been published in book format.

Beyond the tactile experience, this volume serves as a powerful pedagogical tool. The authors provide not only the solutions but also a 'Mind Toolset'—a systematic approach designed to help you develop the skills necessary to solve puzzles and understand the concepts behind them. The book guides you from foundational 2D geometry—exploring tiling, dissection, and shape manipulation using triangles and rectangles—to complex 3D spatial reasoning, including cube assemblies, nets, and pyramid structures.

This book is the result of extensive experience, with most puzzles polished through years of testing with students. The aim is to challenge and delight puzzle lovers, mathematics teachers, students, and anyone looking to step away from screens and engage their hands and minds in a better way.

David Goodman

Mechanical puzzles have been my passion since childhood—a hobby that I successfully turned into my lifelong career. In 1998, I founded WOODPUZZLE, a boutique studio where I designed and manufactured custom mechanical puzzles.

Driven by a desire to build a local community, I co-founded the first Israeli Puzzle Party in 2005 and served as a leading organizer for many years. In 2008, I expanded my global reach by joining the International Puzzle Party (IPP).

Over the past decade, my focus has shifted toward sharing the power of puzzles with others. Today, I facilitate creative thinking workshops and co-author puzzle books alongside my longtime colleague and friend, Ilan Garibi.

Ilan Garibi

Ilan Garibi is an artist and designer specializing in the art of paper folding. With a career dedicated to exploring materials that defy traditional folding—including wood, glass, and metals—he has pushed the boundaries of origami into new territories.

Although Origami is his first love and passion, he is also an avid puzzler. He coauthored 4 puzzle books, and he designed around twenty original puzzles; most use folding as their main mechanism.

Ilan leads the Israeli Puzzlers group, and he is a member of the IPP.