Mensa 365 Brain Puzzlers Page-A-Day Calendar 2021

At the evening meal, we pose the daily question. Right or wrong, we discuss the answer. It adds camaraderie to our family gathering. Also, you might want to add the “Jeopardy,” and “Wheel of Fortune” calendars to your daily routine also! Try it!!

Good for distraction or a mental break from other stuff.

The puzzles are as good as in the past, very similar. However, they changed the backing. What used to be extruded plastic is now cardboard with fold-out easel feet. If you customarily place the calendar on your desk, this change is fine, BUT, if like me you want to hang the calendar, you can't with this new backing.I held onto the plastic back from the 2020 calendar with the intention of rubber cementing the 2021 calendar to it in order to preserve the ability to hang it, BUT they made that impossible, too. The new version is larger and won't fit on the old plastic backs.I was able to fashion a makeshift hanging arrangement in my workshop. I wrote to the the publisher suggesting a simple modification to the cardboard back for the future that would add the ability to hang the calendar as before. I received a very non-Mensa response explaining how to use the cardboard easel-back to sit the calendar on my desk.

I got the 2020 UK Mensa calendar (gift from my Mum in Britain) and I enjoyed it, so I ordered the 2021 version. As I live in the US, I got the US version this time. They are extremely different in style (not graphic design, I mean the style of the puzzles). The UK one is all "if one car goes clockwise for 30 miles and another goes anti clockwise for 40 miles, how many bananas does Doris have", and is really heavy on anagrams. The puzzles were ranked from one star to four stars difficulty. The US puzzles are not ranked, and there are very few anagrams. I'm really bad at anagrams, so the fewer the better IMO. The US puzzles require more effort, they take longer, but they are all doable. I'm enjoying them a lot more than the UK version.

I am working my way through the daily challenges. I am happy to say I have figured a few out but most test my mind beyond my patience level. This calendar does have a cardboard back for a stand. This early in the year it does not lean back properly and often falls forward. I trust as I tear off more pages it will not be front heavy and will be more stable.

I bought several of these as Christmas gifts in 2020 and bought one for myself as well. Was disappointed that the puzzles were not particularly challenging and there were only 7-10 different puzzle types that kept repeating. Won't be buying again.

I enjoy working these puzzles every morning. They help keep me sharp. Note, however, that the solution to today's puzzle (January 22, 2021) is simply wrong! (Knights 8 and 1 can't be sitting next to each other, as their numbers are more than three numbers away from each other; I believe the correct solution, clockwise from the top, is 7, 4, 6, 3, 1, 2, 5, 8.)

I have been doing these for some years now - and just want to mention kudos for getting rid of the plastic.

This puzzle a day calendar is full of intriguing brain teasers to get your mind whirring. The calendar is a good size, and has the option to stand up on lie flat. The packaging and design without plastic is great, the calendar remains robust.An excellent gift or treat for yourself.

Early days yet, but it looks. Good so far

I've been doing this calendar's challenges for years. A great variety of logic, math and word-related puzzles.

A Daily Desk Calendar of Mensa Puzzles