The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener showcases Martin Gardner as the consummate philosopher, thinker, and great mathematician that he is. Exploring issues that range from faith to prayer to evil to immortality, and far beyond, Garnder challenges the discerning reader with fundamental questions of classical philosophy and life's greater meanings.
Recalling such philosophers was Wittgenstein and Arendt, The Whys of Philosophical Scrivener embodies Martin Garner's unceasing interest and joy in the impenetrable mysteries of life.

This book contains scores of intriguing puzzles and paradoxes from Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, whose interests ranged from inventing new games like Arithmetical Croquet to important problems in symbolic logic and propositional calculus. Written by Carroll expert and well-known mathematics author Martin Gardner, this tour through Carroll's inventions is both fun and informative.

This book contains scores of intriguing puzzles and paradoxes from Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, whose interests ranged from inventing new games like Arithmetical Croquet to important problems in symbolic logic and propositional calculus. Written by Carroll expert and well-known mathematics author Martin Gardner, this tour through Carroll's inventions is both fun and informative.

British writers have long enjoyed inventing preposterous clubs with eccentric members, unusual qualifications for membership and zany rules of behavior. The brilliant and gifted G. K. Chesterton was no exception, and the entertaining short stories in this volume revolve around just such an institution. In "The Club of Queer Trades," candidates qualify for admission by creating a thoroughly original profession and proving they can make a living from it.
Six marvelously funny episodes with improbable plots are made especially pleasurable through Chesterton's vivid descriptions of late...

The beloved fictional detective Father Brown solves 12 of his most puzzling cases in this copiously annotated edition. This first collection of Father Brown mysteries, widely considered the author's best, includes "The Blue Cross" "The Hammer of God," "The Eye of Apollo" and more.

This collection of essays by America's foremost polymath delves into some of the many fascinating subjects in which Martin Gardner has had an abiding interest. Focusing primarily on literary and philosophical subjects, Order and Surprise is the sequel to the widely acclaimed Science: Good, Bad and Bogus. Some of Gardner's best essays and reviews are included in this volume, such as:
"Why Librarians Dislike Oz"
"The Strange Case of Robert Maynard Hutchins"
"H.G. Wells, 'Premature' Anti-Communist"
"Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four"
"Is Nature Ambidextrous?"
"Beyond Cultural...

The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix draws us into the intriguing and fascinating world of numbers and number theory. "Numbers, you know, have a mysterious life of their own. It would be naive," claims Dr. Matrix, "to suppose that there is such a thing as a randomly arranged group of symbols." Consider, for example, the decimal expansion of pi. Long considered a random series, it is actually rich with remarkable patterns. "Correctly interpreted," says Dr. Matrix, "pi conveys the entire history of the human race." Dr. Matrix uncovers patterns and signs that will astound you. As Dr. Matrix...

In this lively collection, Gardner examines the rich and hilarious variety of pseudoscientific conjectures that dominate the media today. With a special emphasis on parapsychology and occultism, these witty pieces address the evidence put forth to support claims of ESP, psychokinesis, faith healing, and other pseudoscience.

While walking on a hillside, an unusual line occurred to Lewis Carroll: "For the Snark was a Boojum, you see." Carroll later incorporated the phrase into a complete work that became the best-known nonsense poem of all time: "The Hunting of the Snark."

What could be more of a delight to young readers? Here in one book is Carroll's famed poem with its original illustrations by Henry Holliday, side by side with Martin Gardner's "Snarkteasers" - delightfully puzzling questions like these:

- Can you rearrange the letters of OCEAN to spell something in which one can
spend days in the...

America's dean of intelligent comedy doesn't think the Bible is a laughing matter. His good look at the good book is a closely reasoned examination of Scripture, designed to encourage rational analysis of the most influential document of Western civilization. Although the Bible has been consulted for more than twenty centuries, Allen asserts that there remains an extensive degree of common ignorance about it. Noting that most people today rarely read the Bible, Allen is convinced that the millions who do read it are not able to understand certain passages at all.

Steve Allen on the Bible,...