Ask Marilyn: The Best of "Ask Marilyn" Letters Published in Parade Magazine from 1986 to 1992 and Many More Never Before Published

by Marilyn vos Savant

Parade magazine's resident genius compiles the best of her question-and-answer column that logically tackles the mysteries of the universe, in a volume that includes "did you ever wonder why. . ." questions, brainteasers, and unique insights. 75,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Nonfiction

316 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Marilyn vos Savant is an American magazine columnist, author, lecturer and playwright who rose to fame through her listing in the Guinness Book of World Records under "Highest IQ". Since 1986 she has written Ask Marilyn, a Sunday column in Parade magazine in which she solves puzzles and answers questions from readers on a variety of subjects.

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back when Marilyn's column in Parade actually took on interesting subjects, the answers she gave her readers provided a glimpse into the workings of the minds of people with very high IQ's.

This book is a compilation of the best exchanges from that period. By following the questions and the answers Marilyn gives, readers get a picture of what it takes to think the way top-flight intellects do.

My vanity being too much for me, I just ate this book up. The pattern of answers helps show us the need for objectivity in our thinking about all issues. Reading this book enhanced my own ability to grapple with problems. I strongly recommend it.

Take care not to confuse this book with later crowd pleasers by the same author. Her other ones I've seen and haven't liked nearly as much: They seem to reflect the marked dumbing down her columns have undergone since the early 90's.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Vos Savant's column in the Parade when I was a teenager in the early 1990s. There was something just incredibly comfortable about reading her words every Sunday morning, and I loved how she tackled topics that were thoughtful, philosophical, and brain-challenging. But every Sunday, I was always left wishing that her columns were LONGER (and what a shame that in recent years Parade has shrunk her column down to a single question many weeks). So I was really excited when this book came out and I could sit and read Vos Savant's words for a longer stretch of time and keep her column in book form on my shelf. It goes without saying, but if you love her column, you'll love this book. I only wish Vos Savant had regularly released collections of her columns in the years since this one first came out (I know there have been two others, but there should have been much more).

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brainteasers, puzzles, funny questions, interesting letters, and "Thinking about thinking."

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tour-de-force of many answers Marilyn vos Savant gave in the "Parade" newspaper section. I enjoyed the reading! I disagreed with a few answers, of course...especially in her section of questions requiring no answers!

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

She's not clever enough to warrant an entire column/book to answer ridiculous questions.