Dr. Gareth Moore is the author of a wide range of puzzle and brain-training books for both children and adults. He lives in the UK and is also the founder of the daily brain-training site www.BrainedUp.com.
A slender but diverse gallery of line and color illusions, with
bright, crisply printed graphics. Following an introductory
overview, Moore presents three or four examples for each of nine
types of optical foolery. There are parallel lines that don't look
it, geometric shapes that only seem to be different sizes, illusory
color changes, 'persistence of vision' spots, and perspective
switches such as the vase-or-faces image. His accompanying
commentary verges on overexplanation, as readers are not only told
with each example how to look or move and what they can expect to
see, but are then provided with additional hints and explanations
at the end. In companion title Think Outside the Box, he challenges
viewers to match a key to one of a set of schematic tumblers, trace
a maze without using a pencil, and other tricky eyes-only
puzzles―though again the answers are at the back. Other volumes in
the Brain Benders series newly available in this country, It's Only
Logical and Not So Ordinary, offer further mental exercises.
Visually appealing starter volumes for readers who take pleasure in
giving their powers of perception and deduction a workout.―Kirkus
Reviews-- "Journal"
Can you solve the pouring problem? How are you at brain chains?
This unusual series challenges perception and thwarts assumptions
with optical illusions and seemingly simple activities. Memory
games, pencil puzzles, and magic tricks allow readers to exercise
numeracy and logic skills in fun and fascinating ways. Answer pages
offer solving tips and/or solutions when the problems grow too
taxing. While all of the activities work well, the author seems
more comfortable with explaining math concepts--devoting a whole
page to a good explanation of probability--than science, explaining
why some optical illusions work but not others. Scrupulously
accurate graphic illustrations (with some photos) are key to the
success of these four sharp little books. VERDICT: Shelve under
'Spock'--there are sure to be takers for this set.--School Library
Journal, Series Made Simple-- "Journal"
Ask a Question About this Product More... |