Editorial Review

Reviews (7)

Very Intriguing Book...
This book is quite interesting.Make use of whatever suits you.I like a lot of the nutritional information, its looking into different research from all sources, and it had something interesting like encouraging you to spin around like a Sufi to boost your IQ which sounds weird, but who knows:)

Most useful self help book I've ever seen
Leviton's writing style is perfect for me.This book is thoroughly practical unlike so many other books with at least half useless or biased filler.Just the few pages on bowel cleansing is worth getting this book.Bravo!

Reviews (2)

Good companion to "The Sharper Mind"
The "game" format makes this book very user-friendly and not threatening.The Sharper Mind had a similar approach was was more practical in its approach to everyday situations: remembering names, dates, etc.

Reviews (4)

Teaches you how to think logically...
Building Left-Brain Power is somewhat of a bittersweet book because of it's inconsistency throughout the entire book. The
book begins with "easy" logic puzzles such as unscrambling words
and such and ends with the hardest logic puzzles which are
code-breakers.

The book provides a preface at the beginning of most chapters
to give you help in trying to find a logical way of thinking to
tackle a particular problem. This quality I found to be unique
and very valuable as opposed to most books with logic puzzles
just poured in there and leave you frustrated because you can't
figure them out.

Here's what's horrible about this book though. There are type-o's
in the answer keys (which I was amazed at how terribly obvious
they were considering they were not caught before publication). I only spotted two obvious ones though.

The other thing that drove me nuts was that there was no logic
whatsoever to explaining how they arrived at some of their
answers. Many times, I gave other people the problem to look at
WITH the answer that I had looked up and asked them to figure
out how they came up with that answer...no one knew. Was it
another type-o? No clue.

This book has some great qualities, and some terrible qualities
which I thought averaged it out to a 2.5 star book, however, I
rounded up because of the very inexpensive price.

UNBELIEVABLY GOOD
I am currently using the book "Building Left-Brain Power"in my homeschooling activities, and was planning to complete one chapter per week with my 10-year-old daughter Jasmine, but she loves this book too much to put it down!We started on Monday and have already finished 2 chapters. I'm really looking forward to the number exercises.I love math, and can see that all three of my kids will do really well if we continue using the same type of challenging exercises together in school.

~kira
homeschooler & mother of 3

UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!
I am currently using the book "Building Left-Brain Power"in my homeschooling activities, and was planning to complete one chapter per week with my 10-year-old daughter Jasmine, but she loves this book too much to put it down!We started on Monday and have already finished 2 chapters. I'm really looking forward to the number exercises.I love math, and can see that all three of my kids will do really well if we continue using the same type of challenging exercises together in school.

Reviews (9)

Building Mental Muscle: Conditioning Exercises by Gamon et.
This is one of the few books on the market which aims to
sharpen intellectual skills. The author gives the reader an
important portal into how people learn and retain information.
For instance, the authors teach us how to learn by excluding
all other information from consideration while in deep concentration. Protein synthesis occurs with long term learning
wherein events may be emotionally charged in order to retain
them permanently. The conscious recognition of facts is different
from the unconscious recognition of facts. Memory may sharpen
with practice and by association with key words/phrases or
attributes. For instance, associate Mr. Green's green shirt
with Mr. Green. Sometimes name recollection can have associative
aspects. The work even has religious sayings.
For instance, Proverbs 17:22 states that " A cheerful head
is good medicine. "

This book won't make you smarter; however, it will assist in
utilizing your intelligence in a more organized/rational manner.
The author's presentation can benefit by organizing study
sessions rationally so that material can be recalled by a simple
collection of associations.

I can only agree ...
With the reviewer from April 6, 2004.

This is exactly what this book is. A sort of guide to how the brain works, with some "exercises" thoughtlessly thrown in when the authors remembered that it's supossed to be a book on "Building Mental Muscle."

I, too, am surprised at all the 5-star reviews. I wouldn't throw the book away, though; I'd say you can glean some pretty interesting information from it.

Reviews (22)

A Great and Reliable Guide
This book is biased towards visual mnemonics.I think this is fine because the author is a published researcher of visual mnemonics.He gives advice for when AND when not to use visual mnemonics.This is extremely helpful.

He does cover a range of other methods though, including SQ3R.But the most impressive thing is the use of good solid science to back it all up.

I like visual mnemonics because they work like magic.In qualifying his statements about the use of visual mnemonics, Higbee does his writing great credit.

As far as helping me, the book has been of great use to me in my A levels, degree, and Masters.But more worthy is that he has helped me enjoy learning in any context.I apply the principles rather than just the techniques.

Regards
Reynal

Superb Reference Point
This is a really great book.I remember reading some of it about 10 years ago from an old library version, and I have just read the updated version.It is a wealth of knowledge compared to other books that read more like fluffy new age pop psych on memory techniques.

The author is a researcher and professor, but the book is actually very accessible and delivered with both enthusiasm and reasonable caution where it is needed.I believe the one measure of the success of this sort of book is the range of strategies given, together with the principles used to guide their use, and the research used to verify the efficacy of certain strategies.

I have heard quite a few memory myths in my time, (the 99% brain disuse statistic, and the "perfect memory" quote, and the single killer memory application, amongst others), and this book puts them all straight.In fact if you are kind enough to informothers about improvement of memory skills using this book, you can give some really accurate knowledge, and be doing them a lot of good.

Learning to learn is lifelong.This is a great learning guide and a reliable reference point!

Reviews (1)

Today's Librarian, January 2001
Why do some seniors stay mentally sharp while others deteriorate? This new book. based on the latest published neuroscience research, gives readers insight on how to prevent Alzheimer's disease and reverse cognitive decline. In nontechnical language, the authors supply a gold mine of information on how brain functions occur. Tests of mental acuity are scattered throughout the text, allowing readers to gauge their skills. Those with concerns they may be exhibiting signs of dementia are given a wealth of tests and explanations to different normal mental lapses from indications of disease. Also provided are numerous exercises and nutrition tips to boister those brain functions at risk with aging. Extensive footnotes (unobtrusively packaged) and an index finish off this expertly researched and highly readable guide.

Reviews (4)

Cutting edge techniques to learn faster and absorb info.
My interests are psychology and the power of the mind, and this book will always have a place in my library.I find that I frequently re-visit this book to review techniques for handling information overload.When we focus on anything, or any subject for a period of time, we suddenly attract so much information that it can become overwhelming; and "Brain Dancing" demonstrates ways to absorb information quickly.The author delves into techniques derived from the fields of computer science, NLP, Mind Mapping, Mnemonics, Silva Mind Control, systems management, etc.He also shows how diet, exercise, meditation, and many other techniques can be used to achieve a clear, receptive learning state of mind.

What Patrick has done with "Brain Dancing" is compile information from a number of sources and show how they are interconnected, and he gives us tools and exercises that I find very useful for improving my ability to learn and grow.

This book is definately worth the investment.I also find his web site www.braindancing.com a good source of information.

Original title; books lacks originality
I thought the authors premise was well meant but book lacks originality. It was like reading a summary of various works of the self imporvement field. The book had no clear flow of ideas and was disguised in endless referrals to others. What I got out from the book was that the referencesinspired me to read from the other authors / distinguished self improvement mentors.

What I did like was his preparation for speeches. Unfortunately the endless references to Anthony Robbins were a turn off. I have read most of Robbins which do inspire and have many good ideas but one just has to look at his personal life and figur out that he is just as human as us. The book,I felt, book was bordering idol worship...

What I would do is go to [a book store], browse through the index of references and go and read the original works.

Learn HOW to learn.
In this age of rapid technological change, one of the mostimportant intellectual tools to have is the knowledge of *HOW* tolearn.

I discovered this book via it's website ( ) which came up as a hit for the search-term "MindMapping"---the technique of information organization and stimulation of creative thinking invented by Tony Buzan.

For me, one of the wonderful things about this book is the way MindMapping is but one component and technique in a harmonized and co-ordinated system for learning ...which WORKS! The proof I offer is the series of successfully passed MCSE exams I have under my belt. I am a professional violinist ( ) with no previous professional computer science training to my MCSE studies. Even though I was a computing enthusiast for two decades before my study began---and therefore was not a complete newbie---I can honestly say that without:

1) the theory and practise of the Alexander Technique ( ) 2) MindMaps 3) and last but not least, the learning framework, techniques and strategy expounded in 'Braindancing'

I would not be having this level of success with my MCSE studies.

The book's main theme is the management of the mental "dance" between four complementary modes of thinking, which if used and co-ordinated well inevitably lead to great study---IOW highly effective study. The four pairs are: -conscious/subconscious -individual thought/dialogue -"left-brain"/"right-brain" -detailed thought/high-level thought

Visit the site ( ), buy the book, digest the ideas contained therein; you will then have learnt HOW to learn...something worth many, many times the price of the book.

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While it seems helpful. . .
I recently finished reading this book as an assignment for a graduate class in which we had to analyze a pop psychology book.I have to say, it fits in with what I believe most of pop psych to be: dumbed-down science that does not in actuality tell you anything.While Mr. Parlette does appear to have a basic knowledge of the brain and its anatomy, the 'exercises' he details in his book in no way give the reader any indication of how they are supposed to enhance brain functioning.If a book is supposed to improve my cognitive abilities, I would appreciate references that back up the predictions as well as some sort of follow-up plan to denote any supposed improvements, neither of which I found in this book.Please, I ask all of you to think about who is giving you the information before you follow it - in this case, it is someone who has neither credentials nor research to back up his statements.

The Brain Workout Book
Snowdon Parlette didn't fill The Brain Workout Book with the brain boggler type of exercises seen in magazines.He opted instead for a collection of simple, practical, and often fun, activities.For example, he suggests that if you're right-handed, try using your left hand to hold a key and unlock a door.

Parlette first dispels common myths about brains, such as whether brain power depends on brain size.He also says that intelligence is "an individual measure of how we employ the brain power and the talents we have been given.In other words, intelligent people make the most of what they have."His exercises are all designed to help stimulate your brain to enable you to make the most of what you have.

He offers a simple quiz for determining how fit your brain is.He says "a fit brain welcomes new interactions, new challenges, new experiences." We have to get out of our daily rut.His first exercise is to simply "take a completely different route home from work" once a week.

One section of the book discusses the functions of the right brain and the left brain, and how to stimulate each side.Putting together a jigsaw puzzle is a right brain stimulus, while working a crossword puzzle delights the left-brain.Reciting written material, such as a poem, aloud gets both halves of the brain working together.

Parlette then explains the different kinds of memory and provides exercises that help increase the ability to remember.He also includes a chapter on exercising your imagination through daydreaming.Another section of his book describes special brain exercises for writers, artists, actors, musicians, scientists, and athletes.He also discusses how to rest the brain when suffering from mental fatigue.

"For exercise our brain wants stimulation, fresh stimulation, new stimulation.Our brain needs to experience the unfamiliar, to go where it has not gone before," says Parlette.The Brain Workout Book helps all readers learn the best ways to give the brain the stimulation it craves and to allow it to travel to new levels of functioning.

Reviews (2)

Interesting Activities
We're always trying to get our students to think more critical about their world. This book is fun and entertaining and provides teachers with some good ways to engage students. It doesn't go into much depth, however, andthis might be seen as a flaw. But the emphasis of the book is to serve as atouchstone to jump into weighter matters.

Reviews (75)

Amazing from a Scientist!
I am a scientist at a prestigious university.Ph D student.This book has already made me smarter.The reason it does not work with so many people is that they are too skeptical.The methods will not work if you do not give them an honest try!The brain has the ability to produce something called Nerve Growth Factor and generate new brain cells.It is possible to become a genius!Try it with an open mind.After an hour of image streaming, my creativity and intelligence soared.I went from an IQ of 120 to 140.How is this possible?Your brain cells grow new connections as a result of this exercise.I have invented a method working with Wenger through email to make these gains even more dramatic. It will be published to his website at "Project Renaissance."I truly believe it is possible!The book is inexpensive (only 15 dollars, the cost of a typical pizza).Give it an honest try.Don't judge it before you practice.

Not bad
The technique of "Image Streaming" has shown promising results in certain cases.Much of the hype and propoganda, however, has been that the process can create a 20 point gain in IQ, relying on the 1989 study by Dr. Charle P. Reinert, the "Reinert Study". The following link will take you to the abstract -

http://www.themindaccelerator.com/research/rp2.htm

The study, however, does not detail a 20 point gain in IQ through image streaming, unless I am reading the abstract wrong. It discusses a much lower gain, less than half the advertised 20 point gain in certain circumstances. As for the validity of the test, not enough detail is noted in the abstract for one to objectively judge for themselves.Unfortunately, this discrepnancy has resulted in a diminished outlook on this technique to several persons.It is unfortunate, because the technique is worth learning and can be very beneficial when combined with other cognitive techniques, such as the Sedona Method.

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Reviews (3)

timing is everything
I ordered this on May 5th for Mother's Day, and was advised that the actual subscription may take 6-8 weeks, but that a card would be mailed to my Mother within 3 days.It was not mailed until June 27th, she still does not believe I was thinking of her on Mother's Day.As of June 30, she still has not received her first magazine either.Allow extra time when ordering if it is for a timely item.

Fun to do as a team with the whole family!
The puzzles in this book are my absolute favorite kind of logic game!It can be a mind-bending experience to follow the logical deduction of some of the better ones.
My preferred way of doing them is to have each member of the team write out the charts on a seperate piece of paper and work by themselves until someone is stuck.Then everyone works together to finish up.
A great way to encourage a love of word problems in children.
These puzzles are great for all ages!

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Reviews (2)

The only puzzle magazine worth buying
I've bought many puzzle magazines in my day.Most of them are thick with pulpy low-quality paper that's hard to write on.They're jam-packed with dozens of boring crosswords and mind-numbing logic puzzles, and they try to cram as many puzzles of the same type onto each page.But there's not an ounce of creativity in the whole thing.

I stopped buying these the first time I picked up GAMES World of Puzzles.They're not very thick, but the creativity and quality of each issue makes up for it.

Each issue has quite a few "normal" crossword puzzles of varying difficulty (rated from 1 to 3 stars).In addition, there's always a large number of crossword variations, where you'll be entering the words in spirals, hexagons, long unbroken or twisting strings, or a dozen others.These require a little bit more logic than the average crossword.

The cryptic crosswords provide the most challenge.If you've never tried one, well... let's just say it took me almost 6 years of doing them monthly before I finished one!They're that hard, but each clue you get right is extremely satisfying.I've seen cryptics elsewhere, but none as good as these.

The crosswords are just the beginning.Each issue also has logic puzzles like the outstanding Paint-By-Numbers and Battleships; other classic puzzles like Double-Crostics, fill-ins and cryptograms; trademark puzzles such as the 500 Rummy word game and Pencil Pointers; and an 8- or 10-page special section of themed puzzles in the middle.Even the one or two word searches in each issue have themes, and usually some sort of twist to make them interesting.

I recommend you subscribe to both GAMES World of Puzzles as well as GAMES magazine.With the latter, you'll get about a quarter of the number of puzzles you'd get in World of Puzzles, along with articles about games of all kinds (board games, video games, etc.) plus the standard magazine stuff like letters to the editor, contests, short briefs and game reviews.

Best Puzzle Magazine I've Seen
World of Puzzles, from the editors of GAMES Magazine, is the best puzzle magazine I've seen. If you enjoy fresh and invigorating brain-twisting puzzles, World of Puzzles is the magazine for you. It outdistances even GAMES Magazine for people like me who are interested in the pencil puzzles. On the other hand, if you're also interested in board game reviews and interesting essays, perhaps GAMES Magazine would be better, as World of Puzzles is composed of nothing but pages and pages of fascinating and imaginative puzzles. Difficulties range from the simple crosswords, word searches, and cryptograms found in the first few pages to the mind-numbing puzzles in the back. The difficult ones are the most interesting: many are one-of-a-kind puzzles, unlike anything you've ever seen before. Word puzzles tend to be in the majority, but math and logic puzzles are also popular. In addition, nearly every month World of Puzzles runs a contest puzzle. Solve this puzzle and mail in your answer, and if you're correct, you have a shot at a thousand dollars!

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Reviews (11)

Enhance your mental agility, with Games Magazine
I've been puzzling with Games since it was first published. Some of the changes have been good, some disappointing (to me, because a favorite may have been deleted), but this magazine has something for every level of puzzler.
Crosswords, Cryptic and Double Crostics are my particular favorites, and then I move on to others. The highest level of difficulty in any type of puzzle will challenge even the most nimble mind.
Other puzzles get my attention as well, and those I choose to skip will likely be tackled by other members of the family.
The easiest levels allow a person to get an easy start, build confidence and then move on up the ladder of challenging mind-benders.
The contests are interesting, but usually quite difficult for average solvers.
Time-consuming is an appropriate adjective for this collection, though the more you solve, the faster you get at finishing. Puzzlers already know that one may drop the current teaser at any moment, and return in five minutes, days or weeks to pick up with nothing lost -- and only the enjoyment delayed a bit.
Always a treat, and something for any level of puzzle solver.

The best puzzle magazine ever
If you like puzzles, subscribe to this magazine.

The Ideal Magazine for Gamers
If you like board games, word games, logic games, video games--any games--this is the magazine for you.A typical issue of Games magazine contains interesting articles on a variety of subjects--from hobbies like card tricks to online gaming communities; unique and colorful puzzles; and "ordinary" puzzles put together with a twist.

From crosswords to crostics to word finds to logic puzzles and teasers, whatever tips your hat, you will likely find it here.In addition, they print a number of Conceptis Paint by Number puzzles in each edition, a type of language-independent picture-forming logic puzzle that is a growing trend:each numbered puzzle turns into a pixel picture when completed.

Even the advertisements in this magazine are interesting.While you are hunting for the fictional ad, you will come across tournaments, board games, and websites that you would never have heard about anywhere else.

This magazine is highly recommended for most any age and type of puzzler.I've been receiving it for years and have never been disappointed.

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Asin: B000060ML3
Sales Rank: 1912

Reviews (4)

Correction
At least two other customer reviews here state that this book contains 50 contemporary AND 50 classic puzzles. These readers must be reviewing different book. There are only 50 puzzles, here, as stated in the Amazon description.

Does it come with an eraser?
Not really a review as such -- just a comment. Laughing hysterically over offer of "used" crossword book...hopefully they were done in pencil and come with a large eraser!!

My favorite crossword puzzle book
A while ago, I bought dozens of crossword books. This is my favorite of the bunch. It has everything going for it. The puzzles are the larger Sunday size (more fun, I think), and they're from the New York Times (one of the best publishers of crosswords). More puzzles than many other books makes this collection even better -- 50 recent puzzles and 50 from the Times' archives. True, the puzzles (especially the older ones) are hard. But when has the level of difficulty interfered with the enjoyment of a good crossword?

Reviews (3)

Sloppy printing makes reading difficult
Exciting crossword puzzles, as ever.However, the numbers in the grid itself are so poorly printed (cheap paper or ink) that misreading an entry is not uncommon.I prefer to speind time thinking of an answer, not staring closely at the puzzle to be certain what number is in a given square.There are plenty of preferable alternative puzzle sources for those who, like me, would rather pay more for an adequately printed product.

A bargain . . . at a price
Two hundred New York Times Sunday crosswords at a nickel apiece is a great deal. The book is loaded with the work of well-known as well as less well-known constructors. Most of the puzzles are quite challenging and interesting to work and there is an ample number of humorous concepts included in the batch.
The drawback to the book - i.e., the "price" we pay for the publisher's generosity - is the lack of perforation and/or distance between the working areas and the binding. Having to write around curves on the top couple of lines across is a bit irksome.
Yet, all in all, this book is a true bargain and well worth the cost and the minor inconvenience.

Reviews (11)

THE ANSWER IS 7
The orginal question that was posted should have indicated that there were no horses left at the end of the day.Without that qualifier, there can be no definitive answer.

If the Merchant has 7 horses when he sees his FIRST customer, then sells half (3.5) and adds half a horse (0.5), then he has sold to the first customer 4 horses, leaving him with 3 horses.

Then, the Merchant goes to his SECOND customer, and sells half his horses (1.5) and adds half a horse (0.5) then he has sold to the SECOND customer 2 horses, leaving him with 1 horse.

Finally, the Merchant goes to his THIRD and FINAL customer, and sells half of his horses (0.5) and adds a half a horse (0.5), so that the Merchant has sold to the THIRD and FINAL customer 1 horse, leaving the Merchant with ZERO horses.

Three transactions, selling half his total plus 0.5, ending the series in zero.

The total number of horses is 7.

The answer is "3"
If you only turn two transactions, the answer is three, not 7.I didn't read the book, so I do not know how the question was asked, but the way the poster wrote it only shows two transactions, and therefore the answer is 3 Horses.

**of 3 horses
One half = 1.5 plus a half = 2 (one horse remaining). Half of that horse plus a half equals 1 horse.So 3 horses in total.