Outstanding Lateral Thinking Puzzles

by Paul Sloane, Des MacHale

The latest in the hugely popular series of think-out-of-the box brainteasers, including Classic Lateral Thinking Challenges and Colorful Lateral Thinking Puzzles . Here's how you play the game and figure out these perplexing take one of the scenarios, and with the help of a friend who looks at the answer, pose a series of yes and no questions until, by a process of elimination and deduction, you arrive at the solution. If you get stuck--and everyone does from time to time--there are additional clues to push you along. Keep trying and you will reach that glorious "aha!" moment when everything becomes crystal clear. In no time at all you'll have sharpened your wits...and become an accomplished lateral thinker.

Genres: Puzzles

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Paul Sloane read Engineering at Trinity Hall Cambridge. He came top of Sales School at IBM, became MD of Ashton-Tate UK, VP International for MathSoft and CEO of Monactive. He now writes, speaks and gives workshops on lateral thinking in business, creativity, innovation and leadership. He is married and lives in Camberley in Surrey. He has three grown-up daughters. He is a keen chess and tennis player and he plays keyboards in a rock band, the Fat Cats. He has written a series of lateral thinking puzzle books, many co-authored with Des MacHale, published by Sterling Publishing. They have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into many languages. He has also written two management books, published by Kogan Page, and many articles for blogs and websites. He manages the Lateral Puzzles Forum where puzzlers can set and solve lateral puzzles.

Reviews

[Christopher Heckman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Includes some scenarios from history.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weird mix of genuine lateral thinking puzzles and some real-life weird events "you just have to know the answer to". Seems to be an Irish flavour to a few of them too - perhaps the authors hail from the island.
I picked up my copy for $1, second-hand at a Rotary Club charity book sale.
I wouldn't recommend paying more.

[Mustafa Almansur]

A very well structured book of lateral thinking puzzles. The complexity of the puzzles grow as you delve further into the book. The section on clues is very helpful as it pushes you to work out the answer without immediately resorting to the answers at the back.

[Erika Forth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good puzzles in here, but I wasn't a fan of many of them. As a substitute teacher, these would be great as an emergency lesson for pretty much any grade or subject.