Martin Gardner

  • 52

    Catalog books

  • 43

    Works

  • 1956 to 2018

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Martin Gardner’s voice in The Last Recreations gathers puzzles, paradoxes, and playful mathematical essays into a single, approachable collection. His writing turns obscure results—hydras, egg paradoxes, and other curiosities—into clear, witty explorations that invite readers to try problems themselves rather than merely observe solutions.

Across these pages Gardner balances rigorous thinking with lighthearted presentation, offering historical vignettes, surprising constructions, and accessible proofs. The book reads as a guided tour through recreational mathematics, where each chapter sparks curiosity and encourages readers to bend familiar rules and rethink seemingly settled puzzles.

Best Place To Start

Gardner's Whys & Wherefores

Prometheus Books • 1999 • standard commitment

It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Mathematical puzzles and recreational math • Clear, playful explanations of tricky problems • Logic, number theory, and paradoxes

Genres and themes: Recreational mathematics • Puzzles and brainteasers • Popular science essays

Who this author is best for: Perfect for curious readers who enjoy clever puzzles, short essays, and accessible explorations of mathematical oddities.

Start with any collection of essays or puzzle compilations to sample his witty explanations and move on to longer collections if you like deeper dives.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Gardner's Whys & Wherefores

    Prometheus Books • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 261 pages.

  2. NO-SIDED PROFESSOR BC

    Prometheus Books • 1987 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1987 • 224 pages.

  3. Order and Surprise

    Prometheus Books • 1983 • longer commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1983 • 396 pages.

  4. The Last Recreations: Hydras, Eggs, and Other Mathematical Mystifications

    Springer Verlag • 2007 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2007 • 404 pages.

  5. Fractal Music, Hypercards and More...: Mathematical Recreations from Scientific American Magazine

    W H Freeman & Co • 1991 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1991 • 328 pages.

  6. The Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Diversions

    Univ of Chicago Pr • 1991 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1991 • 263 pages.

  7. Hexaflexagons and Other Mathematical Diversions: The First Scientific American Book of Puzzles and Games

    Univ of Chicago Pr • 1988 • standard commitment

    It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

  8. Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects

    Dover Pubns • 1981 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1981 • 127 pages.

  9. FADS & FALLACIES In the Name of Science

    Dover Pubns • 1957 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1957 • 363 pages.

  10. Mathematics, Magic and Mystery

    Dover Pubns • 1956 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1956 • 176 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • NO-SIDED PROFESSOR BC is the easier short commitment, while Gardner's Whys & Wherefores asks for more reading time up front.
  • NO-SIDED PROFESSOR BC gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Gardner's Whys & Wherefores leans later in the catalog.

More Books By Martin Gardner

Browse Next