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Description
Ancient PuzzlesMatch wits with the great minds of the world's greatest civilizations in this fascinating collection of ancient conundrums, brainteasers, and mind benders. What do prehistoric bone markings and modern computer science have in common? What is the mystery of pi that stumped generations of ancient mathematicians? What are the ancient puzzle origins of popular games such as tic tac toe and chess? Can you solve the puzzles posed to emperor Charlemagne by
Match wits with the great minds of the world's greatest civilizations in this fascinating collection of ancient conundrums, brainteasers, and mind-benders. - What do prehistoric bone markings and modern computer science have in common?- What is the mystery of pi that stumped generations of ancient mathematicians?
- What are the ancient puzzle origins of popular games such as tic-tac-toe and chess?
- Can you solve the puzzles posed to emperor Charlemagne by Alcuin of York?
- What's the secret lore behind magic squares that captured the imagination of Chinese emperors, Persian mystics, and Benjamin Franklin? Dominic Olivastro presents a popular history of mathematics by focusing on the puzzles that civilizations posed for their own education and entertainment. Here are classic "puzzle problems" from ancient Africa, Egypt, Persia, China, and Greece and from cultures and texts spanning the Middle Ages and the Renaissance all the way to the present. Each puzzle is linked with insightful folk and scientific history that helps shed light on the mysterious purpose and origin of the problem. Fascinating clues for figuring out answers draw on modern problem-solving techniques and lead to ancient secrets that, before now, have rarely been understood. Whether you decipher them for their historical significance, classical wisdom, or just for the sheer, maddening fun of it, these delightful puzzles provide a unique, entertaining, and enlightening guide to the evolution of the human mind.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Random House
Published: 11/01/1993
ISBN: 9780553372977
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.22w x 0.72d
Review Citations: Booklist 11/01/1993 pg. 498
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★★★★★ 1
Not firm at all
Style: Medium/Firm, Size: Queen
The pillows are listed as firm and they are not fi at all. My kids will enjoy sleeping with them, but not my husband or myself. Total disappointment!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Pillow
Color: White, Size: Standard/Queen
Very comfortable
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Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2025
★★★★★ 1
Awful, very soft not firm at all
Color: White, Size: Standard/Queen, Color: White, Size: Standard/Queen
Ordered the Serta Ocean Breeze Breathable Medium/Firm Bed Pillow. The listing is misleading—it shows two pillows in the photo, but only one is included for the $47.00 price. The pillow arrived vacuum-packed and was extremely flat. Despite efforts, I couldn't fluff it back to a usable thickness; the total loft was only about 4 inches. Very disappointed with the quality and presentation. Returned item.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2025
★★★★★ 4
Only 1 pillow
Color: White, Size: Standard/Queen
It is misleading that the picture shows 2 pillows but you get 1 pack, that would mean 2 pillows but what do I know, huh? This is only 1 pillow.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Good pillows
Color: White, Size: Standard/Queen
Came fast and look like great pillows perfect !
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Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2024