Hexaflexagons, Probability Paradoxes, and the Tower of Hanoi: Martin Gardner's First Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Games (The New Martin Gardner Mathematical Library, Series Number 1) 1st Edition

I ran across the first incarnation of this book, "The Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions," in 1971. (Originally published in 1959.) Up until then I'd assumed that mathematics was just the excruciatingly dull pile of dusty numbers and theorems I slogged through every afternoon in algebra class. Suddenly I was exposed to an exciting new world of rubber coffee cups and folded strips of paper exhibiting very bizarre properties indeed.I'm a highly-skilled computer programmer and consultant now. I owe my career to the logic skills I honed on Martin Gardner's books. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you enjoy having a brain, read these books.

A ot of fun. The flexagons are particularly fun.

For all kids curious about math, paradoxes and other non-trivial stuff, Martin Gardner is THE author to read. Awesome!

I really like this book. Recreational mathematics is a lot more fun than most people realize! Every book by Martin Gardner is good!

I ordered this book for my son, he's 16 years old. I highly recommend it. It's mathematics and history of mathematics, an introduction to the apparent paradox. Mathematical paradox is only apparent to common intuition, while here it is explained as a conclusion of matematical language.

Martin Gardner is brilliant! This book has something for everyone - even those not so mathematically inclined :)

I first read this and other Martin Gardner's book way too many years back. It's very good reading them again, like meeting an old friend again -- and finding out he's learned some new tricks. I'm left wanting for the fourth book (should have appeared in October 2010?!) and all the rest of the series!