Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one—before Gardner—had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel.

This volume, originally published in 1961, contains columns published in the magazine from 1958–1960. This is the 1987 edition of the collection and contains an afterword written by Gardner at that time.