British-Israeli recreational mathematician, communicator and educator, Yossi Elran explores in-depth six of the most ingenious math puzzles, exposing their long "tails": the stories, trivia, quirks and oddities of their history and, of course, the math and mathematicians behind them. In his unique "talmudic", associative way, Elran shows the hidden connections between Lewis Carroll's "Cats and Rats" puzzle and the math of taxi driving, a number pyramid magic trick and Hollywood movie fractals, and even how packing puzzles are related to COVID-19!
Elran has a great talent for explaining difficult topics - including quantum mechanics, a topic he relates to some original "operator" puzzles - making the book very accessible for all audiences.
With over 40 additional, original puzzles, and touching on dozens of hot math topics, this is a perfect book for math lovers, educators, kids and adults, and anyone who loves a great read.
Yossi Elran is co-author of our bestselling The Paper Puzzle Book, and heads the Innovation Center at the Davidson Institute of Science Education, the educational arm of the world-renowned Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
