Match Wits With Mensa Complete Quiz Book

by Marvin Grosswirth

Quiz Book- shows you how well you score against members of the Mensa high-IQ Society

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

Paperback

First published November 25, 1999

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mensa is an exclusive club for people in the highest echelons of IQ test results. Match Wits With Mensa reproduces the joy and excitement of answering questions and solving puzzles. If this sounds great, you might love this book.

The book is a collection; an omnibus edition of four books in one. As an indication of how old it is, Isaac Asimov wrote the introduction and I am pretty sure he died in 1992. Therefore, some of the trivia is slightly dated. This is quite limited though and should not detract from the enjoyment.

The puzzles and quizzes varied widely in difficulty. Some of them were quite easy and obvious. Others were from ancient times. They cast a wide net. I will be honest with my readers in this sense; I am not a genius or a member of Mensa. I had taken an IQ test several years ago and the result was 117. Higher than average but still not Mensa levels. This doesn’t really mean anything though. Most IQ tests test your ability to take IQ tests. This is a tautology in that sense, but it isn’t important to the book.

Anyway, I really liked the book. I bought it used, so someone wrote in it with a pen, which is something I loathe. I can understand the desire to make the book yours, but it really lowers its resale value.

[Forked Radish · Rating 2 out of 5]

An example of Mensan genius: "What is the easternmost (sic) state in the United States? Alaska—also the westernmost (sic); the 180th parallel runs through it, so it is both." Wrong, it's Maine. East and West are relativistic, unlike North and South, unless you believe in the validity of arbitrary, imaginary meridians. But the question also reveals the deeper Mensan mentality of favouring the artificial over the actual, much like the nonsensical concept of I.Q. in the first place. Intelligence is a volatile process and not a categorisable "thing". Therefore, I.Q. is simply an updated and abstracted phrenology.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of fun to take these tests and see how you match up to the Mensa squad. I wouldn't recommend getting all bummed out if you don't measure up how you think you should, but if you're truly interested for mere entertainment's sake or self-knowledge then this is the book for you. I think it also helps to keep your mind sharp since the most common way to lose memory and mental ability is not using it. So pick up a copy today and have fun testing yourself and expanding your mind. Plus you might learn something.

[Christopher Manske · Rating 3 out of 5]

For puzzles and problems to enjoy noodling over, this book is a distant second to Henry Earnest Dudeney's work - see my review on my favorite puzzle book here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sharon Beers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is challenging, frustrating and fun - a book to keep readily at hand.

[David Schramm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Did it bit by bit and rather enjoyed the challenge.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matching Wits With Mensa by Marvin Grosswirth dives into the world of puzzles, intelligence, and an elite group of academicians known as MENSA. The book explores and dives into several distinct categories of puzzles, connecting them to various aspects of intelligence and providing an insightful frame of mind for the different forms of intelligence. As well as this, the book provides a variety of challenging puzzles to test the reader's problem-solving abilities, making this book a well-founded resource for those looking to strengthen their own skills. Throughout the book I found myself considering new points of view on what intelligence means and how it relates to everyday life; contrarily, I found myself considering how intelligence does not relate to everyday life. Beyond this, rather than telling the reader what to think, as many non-fiction books do, Grosswirth instead opens doors, allowing the reader to explore new concepts and dive into the meta-psychological. As someone who thoroughly enjoys dichotomous thinking, ostensible concepts, and contrasting ideas, I loved this book and would suggest it for any reading list—particularly to those who have a passion for finding new and untried trains of thought. Grosswirth, through combining deep thoughts and challenging puzzles, has created a book that suited my needs (and I’m sure the needs of many others) perfectly: undoubtedly a five out of five-star book.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is at least my second time completing this book though I think it more like the fourth. It has a wide range of puzzles. This includes ones requiring scrap paper or, my favorite, called by Lewis Carroll "Pillow Problems". These are conundrums to drift off to sleep while considering. Included with the answers are the percentage of a Mensa panel members that solver the problem to help compare yourself.

If you're taking a test in which you're given a limited time in which to finish, first tackle the questions you can answer immediately, without taking time to think. After you've done that, go over the ones you skipped and answer those that require a brief moment of thought. Finally, do the ones you really have to ponder over.

Always review your work. People often find a care less error or two that can be immediately corrected. You may also find that you missed an important direction or instruction, for which you may be penalized.

And above all, remember to come to any test fresh, rested, and in as cheerful a mood as circumstances will allow. That alone can add 10 percent to your score.