Brain Boost by Brendan Quigley - Sample

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BRAIN BOOST: 365 BRAIN GAMES FOR ADULTS

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13-Digit ISBN: 978-1-40035-256-2

10-Digit ISBN: 1-40035-256-8

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First Edition

CROSSWORDS, WORD SEARCHES, LOGIC PUZZLES, SUDOKU, AND MORE

BRENDAN QUIGLEY

INTRODUCTION

Keeping your brain active is one of the smartest investments you can make for your overall well-being—and it doesn't have to feel like a chore. Just a few minutes a day with a pencil and a puzzle can go a long way in supporting your memory, focus, and problem-solving skills. Whether you're looking to stay sharp, reduce screen time, or simply enjoy a quiet mental challenge, this book is your perfect companion.

Brain Boost is designed to seamlessly fit into your everyday life. Inside, you'll find a delightful mix of classic favorites—like crosswords, sudoku, word searches, and cryptograms—alongside fresh twists and lesser-known brain teasers to keep things interesting. These puzzles range in difficulty to meet you where you are and grow with you over time. Some will make you think deeply. Others might surprise you with unexpected solutions. A few may even temporarily stump you—and that's precisely part of the fun.

This collection isn't just about passing time pleasantly. Research consistently shows that staying mentally active is one of the most effective ways to maintain cognitive function as we age. Engaging with brain games regularly has been linked to improved memory, sharper attention, and even a lower risk of cognitive decline. Consider this your daily mental workout—no special equipment required, just your mind and a pencil.

You don't need to tackle every puzzle in sequence. Start wherever you like. Skip around. Return to your favorites. Use this book as part of your morning routine, as a refreshing mid-afternoon break from your devices, or as a calming wind-down ritual before bed. However you choose to incorporate these puzzles, what matters most is consistency and maintaining your curiosity.

There's no pressure to solve every game perfectly. In fact, making mistakes or working through challenges is precisely how the brain learns and adapts. Each page represents a small step toward keeping your mind nimble and engaged—and toward building a simple, satisfying habit that supports long-term mental health.

So, grab your favorite pen or pencil, find a comfortable spot, and enjoy the process of discovery. Your brain will thank you for it.

HOW TO PLAY

CODE WORD

Each square in the grid contains a number from 1 to 26. Every number corresponds to a letter of the alphabet, and the same number always represents the same letter within that puzzle. Use logic to crack the code and complete the crossword.

CROSSWORD & MINIATURE CROSSWORD

Solve the clues to fill in the blank squares. Each answer fits into the puzzle grid either across or down, and every letter must match with crossing words. Use your knowledge and reasoning to complete the grid.

CRYPTOGRAM

Each list of related words has been encrypted using a simple substitution cipher—where one letter is swapped for another throughout. The code is different in every puzzle. Use letter patterns and logic to decode the words in each list.

FLOWER PUZZLE

In this petal-shaped crossword, answers move in two circular directions:

• Clockwise clues start at the numbered square and spiral inward.

• Counterclockwise clues start at the same square and spiral inward the opposite way.

Each answer follows the path into the center of the flower.

SHELL PUZZLE

This crossword-style puzzle moves in two directions:

• Inward clues go from the outer edge of the shell toward the center (1–50).

• Outward clues go from the center outward (50–1).

Use both sets of clues to complete the spiral grid.

STAR BATTLE

Place stars in the grid so that there is exactly one star in every row, every column, and every bold-outlined region. Stars cannot touch each other, even diagonally.

SUDOKU

Fill in the grid so that every row, column, and bold-outlined 3×3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. No repeats in any row, column, or 3×3 block.

QUOTE BOX

Drop the letters from the columns above into the empty squares below. Each letter must be used once in its column. When filled in correctly, the grid reveals a quote that reads from left to right, line by line from top to bottom. Words may wrap to the next line.

WORD SEARCH

Find and circle all the listed words hidden in the letter grid. Words may appear in any direction—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and may be spelled forwards or backwards.

ALBATROSS

DUCK EAGLE

EGRET

BIRDS

MOCKINGBIRD

NIGHTINGALE

NUTHATCH

OSPREY

OSTRICH

OWL

PARROT

PEACOCK

PELICAN

PENGUIN

PHEASANT

FALCON
FLAMINGO
GOLDFINCH
PARAKEET
PIGEON PUFFIN QUAIL
RAVEN
ROBIN VULTURE

BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR WINNERS

15

FAST FOOD CHAINS

INWARD

1-10 Real-time Q&A session: 2 wds.

11-19 Obsessed with: 2 wds.

20-28 Cut time, in music: 2 wds.

29-34 “Such is life”: 2 wds.

35-41 “Let’s wager!”: 3 wds.

42-50 Genetic code that may define a dog or cat: 2 wds.

OUTWARD

50-48 “Love ___ Marriage”

47-40 Cover with plastic

39-32 French prison stormed on July 14, 1789

31-25 Unspecified person

24-21 Formal dance

20-16 Battery element

15-12 Hack’s vehicle

11-8 Greek salad cheese

7-1 Stymie

COUNTERCLOCKWISE

FRANK ZAPPA

YELLOW THINGS

GANGSTERS

BLACKMAIL

BON VOYAGE

CHAMPAGNE

DIAL M FOR MURDER

DOWNHILL

EASY VIRTUE

FRENZY

I CONFESS

HITCHCOCK MOVIES

MARNIE NORTH BY NORTHWEST

NOTORIOUS PSYCHO

REAR WINDOW REBECCA RICH AND STRANGE

ROPE SABOTEUR SECRET AGENT SPELLBOUND THE BIRDS THE LODGER THE PLEASURE GARDEN

THE RING THE WRONG MAN TOPAZ TORN CURTAIN UNDER CAPRICORN VERTIGO

INWARD

1-8 Event for unloading damaged goods: 2 wds.

9-15 Actor West of “The Wire”

16-22 Recruits success fully: 2 wds.

23-32 French painter of ballerinas: 2 wds.

33-38 Wildly ornate

39-47 “Steel ___” (1989 Sally Field movie)

48-50 ___ Hill (San Francisco site)

OUTWARD

50-45 Dwarf plant

44-41 Seemingly endless

40-36 Big name in gasoline

35-29 Flowers for a prom

28-25 “Ru Paul’s ___ Race”

24-19 “Starship Troopers” actress Richards

18-12 Pricey mushroom

11-6 Ford’s first car: 2 wds.

5-1 Line of text

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