Lateral: Wonderful Answers to Weird Questions

The first book based on Tom Scott's hit podcast, LATERAL! Unlock a world of mind-bending brainteasers.

This massive collection of lateral thinking puzzles features 100 questions with unexpected, fascinating answers. Figuring them out will require you to challenge your assumptions and find new perspectives—but whether you find the solutions or not (even Tom has been stumped!), the answer notes will let you share the “aha!” while learning more about the puzzle’s subject. Use hints to solve solo or play as a party game; each question is sure to spur hilarious brainstorming and enthusiastic discussion.
 
What You’ll Find Inside:

• 120 Puzzles: Including 40 of the most captivating questions from the LATERAL podcast, 60 brand-new puzzles, and 20 warm-up brainteasers to get you in the zone.
• Real-World Scenarios: Unlike typical lateral thinking puzzles based on farfetched set-ups and absurd situations, LATERAL features questions based on actual events. For instance, can you figure out why, in 1998, some moviegoers left theaters showing Meet Joe Black before the movie even started? The answer: They only came to see the trailer for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace! Reportedly, some cinemas promised to play the trailer a second time at the end of the movie to encourage Star Wars fans to stick around.
• Hints and Surprising Solutions: Each puzzle comes with helpful hints and detailed explanations. Even if you're stumped, you’ll be entertained by the solutions, which are accompanied by bonus commentary and trivia.
• Play Solo or with Friends: Use these puzzles for solo solving sessions or turn them into fun group games for parties, family nights, or road trips. Each puzzle is designed to ignite conversations and inspire laughter.

Whether you’re a fan of logic puzzles, brain buster games, or you’re simply looking for a unique adult puzzle book, LATERAL will challenge your assumptions, stretch your mind, and keep you entertained for hours. Plus, with supplementary details on every puzzle, this book doubles as an intriguing dive into the curious side of the world we live in.

Tom Scott runs two successful Youtube channels with weekly videos. Tom Scott has regular content about science, technology, and interesting curiosities around the world: everything from robotic warehouses and zero-gravity flights to remote outposts in the High Arctic. His videos have taken him across the world, and amassed over 1.6 billion views in the process.

David Bodycombe is a producer, media consultant, and writer with a deep interest in quizzes. He was the “Only Connect” question editor for its first eight seasons. David has written and edited over 50 puzzle books and is a two-time winner of the World Creative Thinking Championships. He has worked on many books of puzzles and brainteasers, including The Riddles of the Sphinx (2007), a history (and compendium) of puzzles.