Urgent! Subtitle Needed!

The big Monty Hall book is working its way through production. Just received the proposed catalog copy on my destined for a Pulitzer masterpiece. Seems my book is, among other things, “light-hearted yet ultimately serious.” Why yes, come to think of it, I suppose it is!

But we're having a little trouble coming up with a mutually agreeable subtitle. My editor suggested, "Mathematics's Most Perplexing Brain Teaser.” I'm not so sure. “Perplexing” is not my favorite word in the world. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. And I don't like making nouns that end in s possessive. How do you pronounce it? Mathematicsez? Sounds weird.

My suggestion was “The World's Most Frustrating Brain Teaser.” Alas, it has been pointed out to me that “Frustrating” is not exactly a happy word, especially in the context of a math book. Perhaps I don't want that right in my subtitle. Point taken.

Well, I'm out of ideas. Of course, that's partly because I have go teach my calculus class in a few minutes, which doesn't exactly put me in a creative mood. So I figured I would turn the problem over to all of you. I will expect answers upon my return.

More like this

What's the main title?

Perhaps "confounding" instead of frustrating or perplexing?

Monty Hall book? I must have missed something, but I think I can fake it.

"What exactly is behind door number 2?"

"Bayes Law was never this much fun."

"Why you should choose door number 3."

"The mathematics of Let's Make a Deal."

By EastwoodDC (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

"The Puzzle Which Drove the World Mad"

"The Devil of the Doors"

"Behind Door Number Two Lies Madness"

"Chance and Strategy in the Spotlight"

How about, "or why evolution deserves better critics than religious-creationists". Oops, I guess that's a different book. By the way, has Monty Hall agreed to write a forward yet?

The Monty Hall Problem: Don't let it get your goat!

Something like "Opening the door to mathematics as fun".

- Charles

"The final answer..."

By Paul Grace (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

The worlds most intricate brain teaser?
confusing?
bewildering?
Puzzling? (Most puzzling puzzle?)
difficult?
enigmatic?
mysterious?
baffling?

Yay, for the thesaurus. When I don't want to use a word I don't like in a paper I usually look up synonyms to find one that fits.

I'd stay away from "the world's most XYZ". Specifically, the problem is not frustrating (everybody is convinced that their answer is right). The problem is just good at showing how wrong you can be (and how you can't convince others or be convinced yourself of the right answer) if you have a common sense approach to a technical subject. I'd say Monty Hall (presumed main title) : Check your common sense at the door. (bonus pun)

The main title is simply The Monty Hall Problem. Sorry for not mentioning that.

"The Monty Hall Problem: Epic Fail For Common Sense"

The Monty Hall Problem; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Goat.

"Counterintuitive" seems like a better word than either "perplexing" or "frustrating", but it's not really a book subtitle word.

By Ginger Yellow (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

"Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Winning The Cadillac, But Were Afraid To Ask"

or

"Why First Impressions May Not Be Correct"

Blake Stacey said:

"Chance and Strategy in the Spotlight"

This is good, Blake!

By BobbyEarle (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

"Contentious" is a great substitute for "perplexing". And, it doesn't have to be "Mathematics". Why not Math's Most Contentious Brain Teaser?

"When Intuition Fails"

"An exploration of probability"

The Monty Hall Problem: How Marilyn Vos Savant Pwned Your Ass

By R. Totale (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

The Monty Hall Problem, When Common Sense is Neither.

"The Monty Hall Problem: You Don't Need to Wear a Stupid Costume to Read This Book (But It Helps)"

The Monty Hall Problem: Even God is Scratching His Head.

I don't have a good new suggestion, but keep the "brain teaser" part. That's accurate, and it'll also help sales. It's the opposite of your criticism of "frustrating."

How about The most Perplexing etc....

The Monty Hall Problem: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Open the Door

The Monty Hall Problem: How Math can Really Lay Some Smack Down

"How mathematics can help you win a game show"

By Julian Gall (not verified) on 27 Aug 2008 #permalink

"Why it is better to switch than stick"

Ummmm...

"I'll take door number n+1"

By Jim Ramsey (not verified) on 28 Aug 2008 #permalink

"The Mathematically Proven Method to Increase Your Odds of Winning Valuable Prizes!"

You want something that will pump up sales, right?Behind the Green Door

By Bayesian Bouff… (not verified) on 28 Aug 2008 #permalink

and I don't like "teasers!"

I think..."The Zombie Math Problem from the world's most popular game show!"

is best...

The enigma behind door number 3.

A mathematical enigma behind the doors.

It is quite legitimate to use "Mathematics'" rather than use "'s". It also solves the pronunciation problem, as you just say "Mathematics"

By Matt Penfold (not verified) on 28 Aug 2008 #permalink

How about something like,

The Monty Hall Problem: The "Simple" Math Problem That Befuddles Even Professional Mathematicians

And if you don't like that, how about using the term "befuddled" in your original construction:

Mathematics' Most Befuddling Brain Teaser

It's a goofy word that doesn't have a very negative connotation. Plus, you get some alliteration there.

Math's most Improbable Brain Teaser
A Puzzle in Probability

Or, assuming you'll also discuss the Three Prisoners Problem
Prizes, Prisoners, and Probability

"Increasing Probability and Perplexity"

The Monty Hall Problem - Teasing The Odds Of Mathematics

I also like Billy C's use of 'Improbable'

The Monty Hall Problem - Teasing The Improbable Odds

The Monty Hall Problem: Best Choice, Stay or Switch?

Anyone with two ears to hear with knows to switch ...

All the truly excellent suggestions above disrupted my juju. What I wrote was like saying "I just flew in from the coast, and boy am I tired."

I meant "Anyone with two ears to hear with can see that switching is better."

Trust me- choose one of the other subtitles offered, above.

How about a quote from that classic masterpiece, The Thing?

"You gotta be fucking kidding!"

I know that was my reaction when I first ran into it. Or:

"The scientific paradox you can try at home!"

"How a simple situation tripped up the thinking of some good mathematicians."

The point is to hook people's attention, just as your attention got hooked on this problem. By calling it a simple situation (i.e., easily described), you let average-to-above-average people know they won't be dealing with something from quantum physics that they aren't going to follow. By stating that it baffled some mathematicians, you may arouse their competitive spirits to see if they can succeed where others failed. There may be better words, but that is the effect I would aim for.

Do NOT use your editor's subtitle! It sounds like your book is about solving the puzzle (a 200+ page proof). It doesn't sound like a history, like your own choice.

By Chris Bell (not verified) on 29 Aug 2008 #permalink

"The Monty Hall Problem: What's Wrong With Common Sense?"

"The Monty Hall Problem: Where Math and Common Sense Collide"

"The Monty Hall Problem: The History Behind the World's Most Famous Brain Teaser"

By SiMPel MYnd (not verified) on 30 Aug 2008 #permalink

Thanks for all the suggestions. After much discussion with my editor, we have settled on The Monty Hall Problem: The Remarkable Story of Math's Most Contentious Brain Teaser.

Have you considered:

"Math's most tantalizing brain teaser"?