Einstein’s Puzzle Universe: “Relatively” Difficult Riddles & Conundrums Inspired by the Great Scientist by Tim Dedopulos

It is a well-known fact that Albert Einstein was a genius, one of the greatest scientists in history. His work in physics led to a monumental shift in the way we think about our universe. But Einstein was not just a scientist – he was also a master puzzler. He enjoyed posing riddles, conundrums, and thought experiments in a sometimes whimsical attempt to remind us of the complexity and mystery of the world around us.

Einstein’s Puzzle Universe is a book that collects Einstein’s greatest riddles and challenges, as well as those inspired by him. Written by mathematician and puzzlemaster Tim Dedopulos, the book delivers a plethora of challenges that will put any level of puzzle solver’s mind to the test.

In Introduction, Dedopulos provides an overview of Einstein’s work, life and the importance of puzzles in understanding complex systems. He begins the book with a discussion of the infamous “Einstein’s Riddle”. This iconic riddle challenges the reader to figure out which person possesses which mysterious talent, given certain clues. The reader is given the setup for the mystery and then must follow through to the conclusion.

The rest of Einstein’s Puzzle Universe is divided into seven parts, each devoted to a different theme. These themes range from classic puzzles to algebra and calculus problems inspired by Einstein’s work. Additionally, the book presents a wide array of puzzles based on “magic squares” – a series of numbers arranged in a square with each row, column, and diagonal sum amounting to the same number.

In these square puzzles, the reader is tasked with manipulating variables in search of a solution. A few particularly difficult puzzles challenge the reader to design a way to tile a certain surface with a certain number of tiles in different shapes, or arrange them such that they form patterns.

Einstein’s Puzzle Universe is an enjoyable collection of riddles and conundrums. Dedopulos ties together this collection of puzzles with historical context and explanations of the mathematics and logic behind them. Puzzle solvers of all levels can benefit from this book, which contains puzzles of varying difficulty.

Readers will likely find Einstein’s Puzzle Universe to be a challenging but rewarding experience. Each of the puzzles presented test the creativity and the analytical thinking of the puzzler. Dedopulos’ insight and guidance in formulating the solutions helps make every puzzle unique and gratifying. The book provides an enjoyable challenge and a great opportunity to test one’s wits.