The Puzzle Instinct by Marcel Danesi

The Puzzle Instinct by Marcel Danesi

What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve? Why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts? And why can't we put them down? This book presents an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct.

"Danesi, a professor of semiotics and anthropology (Univof Toronto), explores why puzzles, having arisen in earliest human history at the same time as mystery cults, are an intrinsic part of human life. Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times, has suggested enigmatology as the study of the relationship between puzzles and culture. This book, which explores the puzzle genres that have survived over the years, is a contribution to that rubric. After first asking the question Why puzzles? (and developing several possible answers, among which is that they provide comic relief from unanswerable larger questions), Danesi devotes chapters to each of several types of puzzle. These include language puzzles (e.g., riddles and anagrams); pictures (e.g., optical illusions and mazes); logic (e.g., deductions and paradoxes); numbers (e.g., mathematical recreations); and games (e.g., chess). A final chapter synopsizes the discussion. A detailed list of references is included, as are solutions to the specific puzzles posed. The book is well written, has no mathematical prerequisites, and is quite suitable for a general audience as well as lower- and upper-division undergraduates." —D. Robbins, Trinity College (CT), Choice, December 2002

Marcel Danesi is Professor of Semiotics and Anthropology at the University of Toronto and Director of the Program in Semiotics and Communication Theory. His books include Increase Your Puzzle IQ and Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics. He lives in Toronto.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780253217080
ISBN 10	0253217083
Title	The Puzzle Instinct
Author	Marcel Danesi
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Indiana University Press
Year published	2004-02-20
Number of pages	288
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.