
So, it makes sense to stick with the middle option, “The New York Times Wednesday Crossword Puzzle Omnibus” ( view on Amazon). Given that crossword puzzle preferences are highly individual-taking into account a person’s current skill level, their desired skill level, and their interest in a particular topic-it’s difficult to recommend one book over another. To help you find the right one, here are the best crossword puzzle books. That’s where crossword puzzle books come in-and there is no shortage of options. “Most people perform the same routines from day to day, and the addition of crossword puzzles as well other word and number puzzles can help the mind with recall, cognition, and focus.”Īnd while crossword puzzles are readily available online, there’s nothing like putting pen (or pencil) to paper and sitting down with an endless (or at least substantial) supply of crossword puzzles at your fingertips.

Spencer Kroll, a board-certified internal medicine physician practicing in Marlboro, New Jersey, and crossword puzzle enthusiast. “Crossword puzzles stimulate and exercise neural pathways that may not be normally used as part of daily functioning,” says Dr. The classic brain teasers require players to tap into a body of knowledge they’ve amassed over the years-both academic facts, as well as trivia-in addition to their vocabulary and verbal language skills. Crossword puzzles were a form of " brain training" before that was even a term.

For some people, crossword puzzles are more than a pastime: they’re an important part of maintaining mental sharpness-especially as we age.
