The Best of Out of the Box

Out of the Box is a collection of exercises often called brainteasers, mind benders, or sometimes just puzzles. Clues are provided but you will have to break away from your traditional thinking to answer many of the more difficult teasers. Topics range from music to politics, sports to entertainment, general knowledge to things only a road warrior, historian, or football buff would know. Many of these brainteasers are alphanumeric, while others are more phonetic, and still others are visual. I first published these online beginning in 2000 and have consolidated the best in this single edition. These are fun to work alone or in groups. When solving these by yourself, I recommend that you take only a single exercise and work it until complete. Make a copy of it and carry it with you for a day. Many of the answers will come to your right away and some that you didn't get immediately will come to you at the strangest times. Your mind will surprise you as it deduces answers hours after you have put the book aside. I have used these most frequently in groups. They are great icebreakers, warm-up exercises, and transitions to new topics. When using these with groups, I recommend two or three minutes for individual effort, followed by five or six minutes of collective effort. This combination usually produces better results and energizes the group for your presentation or discussion. Encourage your groups to work these aloud. You will be surprised at how the words of one member will trigger thoughts in another. Dive headfirst into these teasers and let your mind surprise you. Each Out of the Box exercise is provided on a single page with the answers on the back. While some exercises target specific eras, most include a mix of old and new and are fun for groups of diverse ages and tastes. While these materials are copyrighted, the book owner may reproduce each of the 100 brainteasers for any group in which he or she is present. Use these for training, social gatherings, family reunions, or for a long road trip or plane ride. Most of all, enjoy them!