... weirdly fascinating ... a romp, both fun and funny. Jacobs explains, in a way I never could, how at various points in our lives puzzles can save us ... Jacobs’s love for puzzles is infectious, and it’s not hard to understand why.

... timely and entertaining ... Jacobs’ wonderful book reminds us that puzzles help us to be present in the moment and connect with others on the same journey.

Although Jacobs has been accused of smugness in previous books, he's a self-deprecating guide to these puzzles (most of the 18 chapters come with several for us to solve, along with offering tips). He steps back to ponder why we love puzzles even though he still stews over one from his youth and a more recent example convinced him that one of his books has the wrong title ... Those stories build to the kind of conclusion that wasn't as clear in books where, for instance, he threw away polyester clothing because the Bible says not to wear mixed fabrics or insulted strangers because he'd taken a vow of truthfulness. In a way, The Puzzler is a self-help book that assures us there's good reason to spend an hour in the bathtub with a pencil and a Sudoku or months fiddling with the world's largest Rubik's Cube (a task he farms out to a college student).

[Jacobs] has mastered an avuncular, jokey, at times corny tone...And his choices in topics often spotlight the more peculiar examples in the puzzle world ... lavishly illustrated with vintage puzzles...also larded with a new batch of puzzles, created by Greg Pliska, that generally reside in the sweet spot of entertaining and frustrating that all good puzzles require ... mainly shows that we make too much of puzzles as vehicles for our betterment. At heart, they just expose our funny, brilliant, quirky humanness.

... a fascinating journey through the puzzling world, a look at the many different varieties of puzzle and the people whose lives are shaped by them. All of it viewed through the eyes of one very dedicated – and very talented – chronicler ... an exceptional work of stunt nonfiction, a book wherein the author has placed themselves at the center of the story. It’s a continuation of the long history of participatory journalism – one in which Jacobs has already distinguished himself with earlier works such as the best-selling The Year of Living Biblically ... But while there’s a gimmickry at play here, the book doesn’t feel reliant on the gimmick. This is not a stunt for stunt’s sake. Jacobs is palpably passionate about his subject matter here, making his presence within the narrative not just acceptable but welcome. It’s impossible not to be swept up in his love of puzzles; we can’t help but experience that joy vicariously through him. And again, it doesn’t hurt that he’s given us plenty of ways to play along ... a charming and informative work of nonfiction that evokes both the joys of its subject and the spirit of its author. If you’ve ever taken a shot at a Sudoku or done an escape room or just spent a few morning minutes with Wordle, you’ll dig this.

... ridiculously entertaining ... [Jacobs] writes in a light, conversational style, as though he were sitting in our living rooms and telling us a story or two. He makes us think without making a big deal about it, telling us what puzzling came to mean to him and inviting us to join him in his voyage of discovery. The book is a lot of fun, but it’s the serious stuff that gives it weight.

... riveting cultural analysis ... Showcasing his knack for immersive detail with fascinating takes on crosswords, jigsaws, and secret codes, he makes a convincing case that, beyond helping 'stav[e] off dementia', puzzles can make people more evolved humans by requiring them to adopt 'a mindset of ceaseless curiosity about everything in the world' ... The inclusion of tools to crack the code to all sorts of puzzles, and a section of original work by famed puzzler Greg Pliska, only add to the infectious charm. A rallying cry for 'word nerds' everywhere, this is a delight.

... lighthearted ... Jacobs is refreshingly captivated by every kind of mental challenge, it seems, and his enthusiasm serves this lively—and puzzle-stuffed—book well ... A barrel of monkeys’ worth of fun for the puzzle addict in the household.