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.
Physical Science
Comments
What's the main title?
Posted by: Divalent | August 27, 2008 3:40 PM
Perhaps "confounding" instead of frustrating or perplexing?
Posted by: mph | August 27, 2008 3:43 PM
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."
Posted by: EastwoodDC | August 27, 2008 3:45 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: What's Behind Door Number 1? An Exploded Brain
jk
Posted by: AxisofJared | August 27, 2008 3:47 PM
"The Puzzle Which Drove the World Mad"
"The Devil of the Doors"
"Behind Door Number Two Lies Madness"
"Chance and Strategy in the Spotlight"
Posted by: Blake Stacey | August 27, 2008 3:53 PM
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?
Posted by: JimCH | August 27, 2008 3:58 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: Don't let it get your goat!
Posted by: Wes | August 27, 2008 4:15 PM
Something like "Opening the door to mathematics as fun".
- Charles
Posted by: ctw | August 27, 2008 4:22 PM
"The final answer..."
Posted by: Paul Grace | August 27, 2008 4:26 PM
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.
Posted by: deep | August 27, 2008 4:35 PM
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)
Posted by: Koray | August 27, 2008 4:40 PM
Pity you can't use it but The Full Monty seems appropriate. Oh well, there's always To Hall and Back
Posted by: Romeo Vitelli | August 27, 2008 4:40 PM
The main title is simply The Monty Hall Problem. Sorry for not mentioning that.
Posted by: Jason Rosenhouse | August 27, 2008 4:44 PM
How about T.W.M. Controversial B.T. (alluding to the Vos Savant dustup)?
Posted by: Dave M | August 27, 2008 4:52 PM
"The Monty Hall Problem: Epic Fail For Common Sense"
Posted by: df | August 27, 2008 5:00 PM
"How to Win a Car or Lose Your Marbles"
Posted by: Blake Stacey | August 27, 2008 5:02 PM
How about "A Mathematician's Take on the World's Most Contentious Brain Teaser"?
Posted by: Optimus Primate | August 27, 2008 5:03 PM
How about 'Where intuition fails'?
Posted by: Frederick Ross | August 27, 2008 5:11 PM
The Monty Hall Problem; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Goat.
Posted by: HP | August 27, 2008 5:15 PM
"Counterintuitive" seems like a better word than either "perplexing" or "frustrating", but it's not really a book subtitle word.
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | August 27, 2008 5:18 PM
The Shocking Truth Behind Door Number One!
Posted by: Fox | August 27, 2008 5:42 PM
"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:
This is good, Blake!
Posted by: BobbyEarle | August 27, 2008 5:46 PM
The Final Solution
Posted by: Luke | August 27, 2008 6:11 PM
"Contentious" is a great substitute for "perplexing". And, it doesn't have to be "Mathematics". Why not Math's Most Contentious Brain Teaser?
Posted by: DG | August 27, 2008 6:17 PM
"The puzzle that stumped 12,000 professionals"
(or whatever the number is, estimating from the original responses to vos Savvant)
Posted by: Michael Fridman | August 27, 2008 6:28 PM
"When Intuition Fails"
"An exploration of probability"
Posted by: KeithB | August 27, 2008 7:18 PM
Opening the Door to the Most Mystifying Problem in Mathematics
Posted by: Hemant Mehta | August 27, 2008 7:32 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: How Marilyn Vos Savant Pwned Your Ass
Posted by: R. Totale | August 27, 2008 7:46 PM
The Monty Hall Problem, When Common Sense is Neither.
Posted by: NJ | August 27, 2008 7:51 PM
"The Monty Hall Problem: You Don't Need to Wear a Stupid Costume to Read This Book (But It Helps)"
Posted by: Turcano | August 27, 2008 8:56 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: Even God is Scratching His Head.
Posted by: AL | August 27, 2008 9:11 PM
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."
Posted by: itchy | August 27, 2008 9:37 PM
How about The most Perplexing etc....
Posted by: Dick | August 27, 2008 9:47 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Open the Door
Posted by: JCG | August 28, 2008 1:12 AM
The Monty Hall Problem: How Math can Really Lay Some Smack Down
Posted by: SpotWeld | August 28, 2008 1:38 AM
"How mathematics can help you win a game show"
Posted by: Julian Gall | August 28, 2008 2:20 AM
"Why it is better to switch than stick"
Posted by: 3sigma | August 28, 2008 5:13 AM
The Monty Hall Problem: The most controversial three doors ever
Posted by: wazza | August 28, 2008 6:05 AM
Ummmm...
"I'll take door number n+1"
Posted by: Jim Ramsey | August 28, 2008 7:17 AM
"The Mathematically Proven Method to Increase Your Odds of Winning Valuable Prizes!"
Posted by: Jud | August 28, 2008 7:48 AM
You want something that will pump up sales, right?
Behind the Green Door
Posted by: Bayesian Bouffant, FCD | August 28, 2008 8:10 AM
and I don't like "teasers!"
I think..."The Zombie Math Problem from the world's most popular game show!"
is best...
Posted by: Kevin | August 28, 2008 9:37 AM
The enigma behind door number 3.
A mathematical enigma behind the doors.
Posted by: Divalent | August 28, 2008 10:00 AM
It is quite legitimate to use "Mathematics'" rather than use "'s". It also solves the pronunciation problem, as you just say "Mathematics"
Posted by: Matt Penfold | August 28, 2008 10:20 AM
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.
Posted by: Derek James | August 28, 2008 10:57 AM
Math's most Improbable Brain Teaser
A Puzzle in Probability
Or, assuming you'll also discuss the Three Prisoners Problem
Prizes, Prisoners, and Probability
Posted by: Billy C | August 28, 2008 11:51 AM
"Increasing Probability and Perplexity"
Posted by: tyaddow | August 28, 2008 12:46 PM
That's Number Wang!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGkQB0f1hks
Posted by: Evan | August 28, 2008 3:21 PM
The Monty Hall Problem - Teasing The Odds Of Mathematics
Posted by: gb | August 28, 2008 6:27 PM
I also like Billy C's use of 'Improbable'
The Monty Hall Problem - Teasing The Improbable Odds
Posted by: gb | August 28, 2008 6:31 PM
The Monty Hall Problem: Best Choice, Stay or Switch?
Posted by: fjgiie | August 28, 2008 10:18 PM
Anyone with two ears to hear with knows to switch ...
Posted by: Joe | August 29, 2008 1:58 PM
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.
Posted by: Joe | August 29, 2008 2:09 PM
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!"
Posted by: Alex Whiteside | August 29, 2008 5:20 PM
"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.
Posted by: JimV | August 29, 2008 5:28 PM
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.
Posted by: Chris Bell | August 30, 2008 2:34 AM
"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"
Posted by: SiMPel MYnd | August 30, 2008 4:44 PM
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.
Posted by: Jason Rosenhouse | August 30, 2008 5:01 PM
Have you considered:
"Math's most tantalizing brain teaser"?
Posted by: Ron | September 13, 2008 10:05 PM