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What Is the Name of This Book?

Raymond M. Smullyan

4.24 · Rating details · 769 ratings · 49 reviews

If you're intrigued by puzzles and paradoxes, these 200 mind-bending logic puzzles, riddles, and diversions will thrill you with challenges to your powers of reason and common sense. Raymond M. Smullyan — a celebrated mathematician, logician, magician, and author — presents a logical labyrinth of more than 200 increasingly complex problems. The puzzles delve into Gödel’s u ...more

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Paperback, 256 pages

Published October 15th 1986 by Touchstone Books (first published 1978)

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Aug 17, 2014 Nandakishore Varma rated it really liked it

I first read about Smullyan in one of Martin Gardner's books of mathematical puzzles. I'm a fool for torturing my brain with convoluted conundrums, so when I found a copy, I was overjoyed. I devoured it in a week, and was not disappointed.

This book contains Smullyan's famous logic puzzles about knights (who always say the truth) and knaves (who always lie) and all interesting combinations thereof. Apart from providing intellectual fixes for maths junkies, this book actually teaches logic through ...more

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Apr 18, 2007 Seth rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: books-that-built-me, books-that-make-you-smarter, masterpieces, psychology, needs-cover, reference

Let's get the simple stuff out of the way: Yes, this is largely a book of Smullyan's well-known Knights and Knaves puzzles. However, it has a lot more.

Beginning and ending sections include jokes about logic and logicians that teach a huge amount about logic itself. A section in the back teaches about Godel's Theorem in a simple way anyone can understand (perhaps more elegantly than Hoftadter did, perhaps not). He gives a feeling for what logic is and why we understand it the way we do.

But back ...more

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Jan 02, 2011 J. rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, multiple-copies

A really excellent set of puzzles, for which I have only minor complaints: first, they tend to be easy, medium, or impossible. (I don't particularly enjoy the open-ended ones, like "what would you say." But I think it's just a time thing--if I can solve the problem in 2-5 minutes, that's just fun. If I have to put in REAL time, then I feel like I should be doing some actual work.) Also, the set of puzzles involving insane vs. sane, liars vs. truth-tellers I could never wrap my mind around. It's ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Brian Clegg rated it liked it · review of another edition

This classic recreational mathematics title, based on logic problems dates back to 1978, though it feels as if it might have been written forty years earlier from the type of humour it features, a feeling enhanced by the publisher's decision to reprint it by scanning an old edition, rather than resetting it.

There is some excellent material in here, some familiar, others still with a novel edge today. There are some basic challenges - for example we're looking at a picture and told 'Brothers and This classic recreational mathematics title, based on logic problems dates back to 1978, though it feels as if it might have been written forty years earlier from the type of humour it features, a feeling enhanced by the publisher's decision to reprint it by scanning an old edition, rather than resetting it.

There is some excellent material in here, some familiar, others still with a novel edge today. There are some basic challenges - for example we're looking at a picture and told 'Brothers and sisters have I none, but this man's son is my father's son' and asked whose picture it is, plus some catch-you-out puzzles such as asking in which country you'd bury the survivors of a plane that crashes right on the border of the US and Canada. But the meat and drink of the book is a whole slew of puzzles where we are required to deduce something from a set of logical statements.

Many of these puzzles are based on variants of a situation where there are two different kinds of people, one type who who always lies and the other type who always tells the truth (sometimes there is a third kind who might do either). These problems come in all sorts of variants featuring knights and knaves, Dracula, zombies and more, but the basic principles are aways the same, though the combinations become more and more convoluted. There are also a very similar feeling set of puzzles where a number of statements are put against each other, such as caskets with labels on that indicate between them where treasure is located. And we also get some consideration of the extremes where logical statements become meaningless, such as 'This statement is false.'

The truth/lie problems take up significantly more than half of the book, and after the first few I did find these too much like work rather than fun and couldn't be bothered to work them out. The fun in mathematical puzzles and diversions comes from novelty - when you are presented with one problem after another that is just a variant on the previous one, it becomes hard to retain much enthusiasm.

There were also some examples of logic problems that suffer very badly from the 'only one solution' fallacy, which can be a failing in mathematicians. One that's in the book involves a person who every day leaves his flat on (say) the 25th floor and every evening comes home but gets out on (say) the 23rd floor. Why? Raymond Smullyan gives us the traditional 'right' answer - but I've used this as an exercise in creativity sessions and had more than 20 right different, equally valid, right answers proposed. This is the difference between problems set in the real world and those in a mathematical world where you can have someone who 'always lies'.

There's also something of an oddity in that Smullyan repeatedly asks us through the book 'What is the name of this book?' I was expecting some kind of clever-clever response like 'What' (because 'What' is the name of this book), although the question mark at the end of the title rather precludes it being a statement. But Smullyan responds 'Well, the name of the book is "What is the Name of This Book?". Since that is what's printed on both the cover and the spine, it's hard to be surprised. I can only guess that, since the illustration has most of the title ripped off, that the original version didn't also have the full title printed on it. Otherwise it's a very limp ending.

Overall, there's some excellent material here, but if you stripped out the dated humour and the repetition of variants on the same problem, what's left is probably not much more than a long magazine article. ...more

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Sep 20, 2020 Tobias rated it really liked it

Shelves: logic-and-math

A great and humorous puzzle book. It has left me questioning my notion of truth. My only complaint is that a few of the puzzles boiled down to checking a lot of cases. The vast majority of puzzles were very clever though, and it was only in the final chapter that they became too difficult for me to solve. All in all this book was a great pleasure to go through.

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Nov 13, 2012 Dimitris Hall rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: unique-little-discoveries, funny

In this popular puzzle, a man has committed a crime punishable by death. He is to make a statement. If the statement is true, he is to be drowned; if the statement is false, he is to be hanged. What statement should he make to confound his executioner?

I got this book after reading The Tao Is Silent and deciding that Mr. Raymond Smullyan must be one of my favourite people out there. A logician, a magician, a pianist, a Taoist and a mathematician? (it rhymes!)

What Is The Name Of This Book? (li In this popular puzzle, a man has committed a crime punishable by death. He is to make a statement. If the statement is true, he is to be drowned; if the statement is false, he is to be hanged. What statement should he make to confound his executioner?

I got this book after reading The Tao Is Silent and deciding that Mr. Raymond Smullyan must be one of my favourite people out there. A logician, a magician, a pianist, a Taoist and a mathematician? (it rhymes!)

What Is The Name Of This Book? (link leads to full text online, in case you're curious---CTRL+F "Was I Fooled" to get a small taste) is a small journey through all kinds of logic puzzles, paradoxes, stories etc, most of them in the style of knights & knaves, that is puzzles in which the solver has to figure out from a series of statements which can be either always true or always false, depending on if they are made by a knight or a knave, who the knight and/or knave is.

Most puzzles in the book were based on similar themes and got a bit repetitive after a while, but really, how creative can you get with just logic, 0s and 1s that is? At this point it has to be said that lately I've been more interested in "irrational" puzzles, ones that have to be solved by acuteness of observation or thinking outside the box rather than clear-cut logic, i.e. those that try to trick you into blindly and thoughtlessly following logic, when using logic alone for solving the puzzle ends up being a hindrance, not a tool. I'm talking about games such as the ones Alberto from Spain taught me and I now play with groups of people whenever I get the chance.

Still, there's plenty in What Is The Name of This Book? to make one think, and as a collection of quips, stories, anecdotes as well as logic puzzles, it does have a certain value. I would say that it'd make a great companion to Logicomix.

I'm making it my gift to dad this New Year's; let's see if he's going to like it at all, him being more of a rational thinker than me and all. Maybe he can use these stories in his English classes in some way as well.

Solution to puzzle at top of review: (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Esteban marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Fascinating book for all of us that love a good logic challenge.
Great book, nicely written and with that bit of humor that everyone could enjoy.

This is a nice book, one oldie but still a good reading.

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Feb 13, 2019 Ashrut Arya rated it it was amazing

If you're a die hard fan of logical puzzles or if you want to gain the knowledge in that area, only and only then, this is the book for you. The puzzles get harder and harder at each step... Sometimes you might get frustrated for taking up the same things from a bit variation, or the monotomy of the scenes, but still, a great collection of variations of Knights and Knaves and Portia's Caskets' puzzles.

A couple of things I noticed which would really help:

1. Try to take it up with a clear mind. ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Mod? rated it really liked it

Shelves: fun

This was an entertaining collection of puzzles, with some logic being explicitly taught along the way.

The final Part was generally very different in tone from the rest, and the description of Gödel's actual work could have done with more unpacking, I feel. So if you're after intuitive understanding of those theorems, I could not recommend this as a sole source.

Also worth noting: the book certainly shows its age with the exoticism and implied casual sexism. ...more

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May 08, 2017 Rayfes Mondal rated it really liked it

This 1978 book about logic and logic puzzles made my brain work! But this book is funny too and lighthearted. And the solutions are in words not formulas or truth tables.

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Jul 12, 2017 Todd Landrum rated it really liked it

Lots of good puzzles, but a bit repetitive. I don't need 20 knights & knaves problems. ...more

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Apr 27, 2018 Jaineel Dabhi rated it it was amazing

First brush with Gödel's incompleteness theorem. Wasn't expecting that from a recreational puzzle book. ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 C rated it it was amazing

This book ruined my life

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Nov 14, 2014 Michael Emond rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Raymond Smullyan is - IMO - the most fun and creative logician who ever existed. I have always loved his books and this is no exception. It is one of his earlier ones and has a great mix of logic problems (Knights who tell the truth, Knaves who lie - sane and insane humans and vampires) as well as some talk about paradox and it concludes with his trying to make Godel's incompleteness theorem accessible to non-mathematicians.

Okay - for that last part he failed since I still don't understand it. A ...more

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Feb 22, 2015 Liam Porter rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: pelicans, nonfiction, logic

This book start gently but quickly escalates in difficulty, however it is always written with very careful consideration of the beginner´s view of things. Some sentences need to be re-read 10, 20 times, but the resources are there for you to understand the concepts presented, so long as one is careful and patient. Using vivid imaginative scenarios (Alice, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Doo; islands of Knights and Knaves; islands of insane vampires and sane vampires) Smullyan builds up the ...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Whywhat rated it really liked it

I am not a logical thinker by nature, yet I recognize that logic is a useful tool in practical everyday problem solving. This is why I hold this book in high regard. It is also refreshing to read something that deals with exact things. There is a certain kind of pleasure in achieving an end instead of getting lost in vague ideas, glimpses.
I only give it four due to the fact that it's a great tool, but it doesn't excite me or lead me to an exciting world. It's a refreshing and grounding activit ...more

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Apr 26, 2015 Ren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An excellent introduction to logic, written in the form of puzzles. Unfortunately, my copy had too many translation errors and some sections (especially the bit about vampires/humans and "believing" stuff) were just impossible to decipher. So the biggest riddle is: did the author explain it badly or did the translator muddle it up? (Given the amount of corrections I've scribbled in the margins, I'll give professor Smullyan the benefit of doubt...) I'd love to read it in English, so maybe I'll fi ...more

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Jul 04, 2013 Charlie Boucher rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: tripe

If you like riddles that are based on stupid wordplay then you'll like this. I expected it to be a series of logical tests that grew harder and harder, each one giving you a bit more information about the next and leading you to cracking a big mystery at the end. No such luck. Instead there are pages of historical anecdotes from the author and a number of irritating riddles that basically stink of smug. Ick. ...more

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Feb 17, 2016 Jim Razinha rated it really liked it

Delightful book of logic puzzles mentioned by Martin Gardner in his Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers and the Return of Dr. Matrix. I checked OpenLibrary.org (awesome resource!) and downloaded/borrowed a copy. Kept me company on a flight from Dalkas to New York while the guy behind never stopped talking the entire trip. Talking loudly. But this was as I said, delightful. ...more

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May 06, 2011 Donnie Corrêa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was so much fun when I read it, that, by the time I had finished it I found the nerve to admmit: I'm a nerd. :)

But, seriously: If you like logic puzzles, you'll like this book for sure. Smullyan is a very funny author and all his works are permeated by his lighthearted spirit and creativity. ...more

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Feb 07, 2016 James Miller rated it really liked it

I use this to set logical puzzles to my Philosophy Students at school and it is excellent for that with a good range of difficulties. Some need updating in language (do we refer to people as normals?; some gender ideas implicit are not of the 21st Century), but there is no difficulty in tweaking casket for pirate's chest etc. ...more

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May 17, 2007 Michael rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: logic lovaz

Shelves: philosophy

Silly puzzles and riddles I used to do when I was a kid. I think they would still be a fantastic waste of time. If only I could go back and unfigure out the answers first...

I kept the book because sometimes people ask these types of questions during job interviews, btw.

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Mar 21, 2014 Veselina rated it liked it

The book was OK, but I expected a different sort of logical puzzles. They were monotonous and sometimes boring. Some of the problems were complex and solving them was interesting to me, but I may not read another book with no story in it again.

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Mar 24, 2008 Antonio Martín rated it really liked it

Brain trainning? Lets go to the olympic brainiac games.

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Aug 30, 2008 Philsy Denofrio rated it it was amazing

A trying test of logic.

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Oct 20, 2008 Jeff rated it liked it

I was doing alright with the Knights and Knaves, but when they started forming clubs I got pretty lost.

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Jun 15, 2009 DJ marked it as to-read

recommended by Scott Aaronson when I asked if there had been any investigation into why truth is such a mathematically strange concept.

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Sep 17, 2009 Timon Karnezos rated it it was amazing

His best puzzle book. Do one every day. EVERY DAY.

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Jan 07, 2011 Swarner rated it it was amazing

Raymond Smullyan is my Logician Dumbledore. I own and read every book of his I can get my hands on. Which is well over a dozen.

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Feb 16, 2012 Mike rated it really liked it

Fairly well written with many good mind stretching puzzles, and a few relatively familiar ones.

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