Puzzles for Pleasure

by Barry R. Clarke

Millions of people throughout the world are fascinated by puzzles, conundrums, and brain teasers. These amusing twisters from Barry Clarke are based on his extensive experience writing for the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times and New Scientist. The author has gathered together a variety of posers including several examples of a brand new type of puzzle, The Word Bandit. Hints and full solutions are included for all puzzles. Wittily written and illustrated with delightful cartoons by the author, there is something for everyone here: puzzles for children, for the family, for members of Mensa, but above all puzzles for pleasure.

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Barry R. Clarke is a British mathematician, physicist, educator, and writer whose career spans theoretical physics, computational work, puzzle creation, filmmaking, and literary research. Raised in Wales and later West Yorkshire, he developed early creative interests in music, storytelling, and performance, writing puppet plays, composing melodies, and experimenting with school performances and short scripts. After an early departure from school, he worked in engineering before returning to academia, where strong performance in mathematics enabled him to study physics at university. During his studies he engaged deeply with foundational texts in philosophy and quantum physics, balancing creative and analytical pursuits while completing a degree in physics and later an MSc in theoretical physics, producing research on perturbation methods in quantum mechanics. He later worked in the City of London developing software for financial systems, while simultaneously writing comedy sketches for British television and performing music informally, reflecting a persistent dual engagement with science and the arts. From the late 1980s onward, he became widely known for his contributions to puzzle design, particularly through long-running involvement with The Daily Telegraph’s Brain Twister column, where his work reached a large audience and established his reputation in recreational mathematics. He also contributed to television puzzle and game formats, including BBC productions, and provided consultancy for educational and entertainment programming. In parallel, he developed an interest in filmmaking, co-founding a production company that produced short films involving collaboration with actors and creatives, some of which received festival recognition and industry awards. His later academic trajectory included mathematical tutoring in Oxford alongside continued research activity, and he eventually completed a PhD focused on issues in Shakespeare authorship attribution, applying computational and textual analysis methods to historical literary questions. Alongside his academic and creative work, he has written books on physics and mathematical theory, exploring alternative models of fundamental particles and structures, and has published in academic venues. Across his career he has combined analytical research, teaching, creative production, and interdisciplinary inquiry, maintaining a consistent interest in how scientific reasoning, language, and artistic expression intersect. He has also been involved in charitable work, including educational and humanitarian initiatives abroad, reflecting a broader commitment to practical social contribution beyond his academic and professional achievements.