From the bestselling author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland and Can You Solve My Problems? comes a fascinating, hugely entertaining collection of puzzles for crossword addicts and language-lovers of all stripes.

'The only puzzle book I've seen that manages to befuddle both sides of the brain at the same time.'DARA O BRIAIN

'Such fun, full of unexpected ideas and charmingly written.'TIM HARFORD

Can you decipher the code of a long-lost civilization? Or solve riddles in runes? Or will you get lost in translation?Crossing continents and borders, bestselling puzzle author Alex Bellos has gathered more than one hundred of the world's best conundrums that celebrate the rich diversity of human language and culture, all while testing your deduction, intuition and street smarts.

'For all the language and puzzle fans in your life!' GRETCHEN McCULLOCH

'A cornucopia of ingenious and insightful challenges.' DAVID CRYSTAL

'This compendium of puzzles is a great idea.' MICHAEL ROSEN

'You'll love what Alex Bellos has done here.' GYLES BRANDRETH

'Tantalisting.' THE ECONOMIST

#'The perfect way to pass the time.' BBC SCIENCE FOCUS