Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik's Cube SolvingIan Scheffler, journalist and aspiring “speedcuber,” attempts to break into the international phenomenon of speedsolving the Rubik’s Cube—think chess played at the speed of Ping-Pong—while exploring the greater lessons that can be learned through solving it. When Hungarian professor Ernő Rubik invented the Rubik’s Cube (or, rather, his Cube) in 1974 out of wooden blocks, rubber bands, and paper clips, he didn’t even know if it could be solved, let alone that it would become the world’s most popular puzzle. Since its creation, the Cube has become many things to many people: one of the bestselling children’s toys of all time, a symbol of intellectual prowess, a frustrating puzzle with 43.2 quintillion possible permutations, and now a worldwide sporting phenomenon that is introducing the classic brainteaser to a new generation. In Cracking the Cube, Ian Scheffler reveals that cubing isn’t just fun and games. Along with participating in speedcubing competitions—from the World Championship to local tournaments—and interviewing key figures from the Cube’s history, he journeys to Budapest to seek a meeting with the legendary and notoriously reclusive Rubik, who is still tinkering away with puzzles in his seventies. Getting sucked into the competitive circuit himself, Scheffler becomes engrossed in solving Rubik’s Cube in under twenty seconds, the quasi-mystical barrier known as “sub-20,” which is to cubing what four minutes is to the mile: the difference between the best and everyone else. As Scheffler learns from the many gurus who cross his path, from pint-sized kids to engineering professors, it’s not just about memorizing algorithms or even solving all six sides—it’s about discovering how to solve yourself. |
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This is one of the best books I've ever read actually! The best thing about it is that I was able to follow everything in my minds eye as Ian Scheffler walked me through his life with the Rubik's Cube. I want to read it again.
Contents
| 1 | |
| 7 | |
Thats Good Competition | 19 |
Now This Is a Precious Thing | 43 |
You Deserve to Win | 59 |
Cubers Thumb | 79 |
Schooled | 103 |
St Ernő | 125 |
You Can Never Leave a Cube Unsolved | 135 |
Proof | 157 |
First Place | 175 |
Maximal Orange | 233 |
Its Not a Crime | 241 |
Epilogue | 253 |
Appendix | 263 |
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Common terms and phrases
algorithms asked average of five Bernát blindfolded Böhm Budapest C C AC clock color compete corner cross Cube competition cubers didn’t edges EP P EP Ernő Rubik face fast faster fastest final fingers five solves Fridrich Gosbee hair hand heard Hungarian Hungary Jessica Fridrich knew Kovács Kremer Laczi last layer later learned looked Makisumi Minh Thai minutes Mizumoto moves never once onstage pair Perge permutation personal best pieces Placskó playing practice puzzle Riggenbach Rijks Ron van Bruchem scramble Seven Towns side single solve solve Rubik’s Cube someone speedcubing Srikrishna started stickers teenager there’s thing thumb Tierney timer Toby Toby Mao told took Treep trying turn twenty seconds twist Tyson Mao U.S. National Championship Valk’s wanted wasn’t watch Waterman World Championship World Cube Association world record yellow YouTube Zemdegs
Bibliographic information
| Title | Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik's Cube Solving |
| Author | Ian Scheffler |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster, 2016 |
| ISBN | 1501121944, 9781501121944 |
| Length | 288 pages |
| Subjects | › Crafts & Hobbies / General History / Social History Reference / Curiosities & Wonders Sports & Recreation / Cultural & Social Aspects |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |