| Author | Message | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17611 Registered: 4-2010 |
How was I able to approximate the date that one of my textbooks was written by reading only the back cover? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17612 Registered: 4-2010 |
Before I forget: There is some special knowledge needed that will become evident as the puzzle progresses. When it gets to that point, I'll link to a page containing that knowledge, but won't actually tell you what it is. Also before I forget: I = my = me (Balin) | ||
| Solo1 (Solo1)
New member Username: Solo1 Post Number: 201 Registered: 5-2012 |
Was it information (words? map?) that gave the date away? A picture, say of a car? or a building? or the non-existance of a building that now exists? Or was it something like the style of the cover? | ||
| Alhucema (Alhucema)
New member Username: Alhucema Post Number: 2456 Registered: 11-2008 |
Was it related to some important (worldwide) event? Is it important what kind of textbook it was? | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1690 Registered: 4-2007 |
did the back cover describe the contents of the book? did it mention the author? did it mention some belief or attitude that is now known to be false? or an out of date fact? or alternatively did you know the book was recent because it mentioned a newly discovered fact? | ||
| Doriana (Doriana)
New member Username: Doriana Post Number: 2663 Registered: 12-2010 |
By "approximate", do you mean ~10 years? ~5 years? ~1 year? even more accurate than this? Is the subject relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17617 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was it information (words? map?) that gave the date away? Yes, words, so No to rest A picture, say of a car? or a building? or the non-existance of a building that now exists? Or was it something like the style of the cover? did the back cover describe the contents of the book? did it mention the author? This is relevant did it mention some belief or attitude that is now known to be false? or an out of date fact? As is this or alternatively did you know the book was recent because it mentioned a newly discovered fact? By "approximate", do you mean ~10 years? ~5 years? ~1 year? even more accurate than this? I correctly stated "late '90s, probably closer to the end of the decade" -- the book was written in 1999 Is the subject relevant? No | ||
| Doriana (Doriana)
New member Username: Doriana Post Number: 2666 Registered: 12-2010 |
Is the author male? female? relevant? American? relevant? Still alive? Did the book mention the Year 2000 Problem? Anything else related to the new millenium? Was the relevant fact related to science? religion? culture? | ||
| Doriana (Doriana)
New member Username: Doriana Post Number: 2667 Registered: 12-2010 |
oops, the list wasn't complete yet... politics? sports? demographics? environment? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17621 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the author male? Yes female? relevant? No American? Yes relevant? Somewhat Still alive? Yes Did the book mention the Year 2000 Problem? Anything else related to the new millenium? No to both Was the relevant fact related to science? religion? culture? politics? sports? demographics? environment? No to all | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1692 Registered: 4-2007 |
is the author well known? were they well known in the 90s but not now? did something change about the author after 1999? did the book fail to mention an achievement they made later? did it mention their family? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17623 Registered: 4-2010 |
is the author well known? were they well known in the 90s but not now? did something change about the author after 1999? did the book fail to mention an achievement they made later? did it mention their family? No to all | ||
| Rbruma (Rbruma)
New member Username: Rbruma Post Number: 2094 Registered: 9-2009 |
Did you notice something about the ISBN number? Is it relevant that it was an American book? Was a president or other famous person depicted on the back cover? If only text suggested you the approx. publishing date, was it an error famous in the appropriate timeframe? Some theory that was soon put to rest because of a better proof? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17628 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did you notice something about the ISBN number? Is it relevant that it was an American book? Yes, No to rest Was a president or other famous person depicted on the back cover? If only text suggested you the approx. publishing date, was it an error famous in the appropriate timeframe? "Famous" would not be the right word, but I noticed instantly for relevant reasons. And at the time of publishing, it was not an error (HINT) Some theory that was soon put to rest because of a better proof? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 4342 Registered: 1-2007 |
Does it list the author's achievements? background? qualifications? Was something referred to that no longer exists? has changed it's name? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17635 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does it list the author's achievements? background? All of these but I guess this is the most relevant qualifications? Was something referred to that no longer exists? has changed it's name? This | ||
| Enjay (Enjay)
New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 1693 Registered: 4-2007 |
is his nationality relevant?did it say he was from a country that has changed its name? did it mention where he studied? worked? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17637 Registered: 4-2010 |
is his nationality relevant? No did it say he was from a country that has changed its name? No did it mention where he studied? I forget, but... worked? Yes! | ||
| Alhucema (Alhucema)
New member Username: Alhucema Post Number: 2474 Registered: 11-2008 |
Any of the former Yugoslavia countries? Did the back cover mention the new name of the country (thus allowing you to infer that the book was written after the split of the country)? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17638 Registered: 4-2010 |
Any of the former Yugoslavia countries? Did the back cover mention the new name of the country (thus allowing you to infer that the book was written after the split of the country)? I said No to the countries | ||
| Alhucema (Alhucema)
New member Username: Alhucema Post Number: 2475 Registered: 11-2008 |
Oops, you're right. I was misled when you mentioned where he worked.. hang on... .. did that "where" refer to something else than a country (eg an institution)? | ||
| Doriana (Doriana)
New member Username: Doriana Post Number: 2674 Registered: 12-2010 |
If it's an institution, has it changed its name? Has it merged with another institution? split up into several smaller institutions? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17641 Registered: 4-2010 |
hang on... .. did that "where" refer to something else than a country Yes (eg an institution)? Yes, a specific type of institution If it's an institution, has it changed its name? Yes Has it merged with another institution? split up into several smaller institutions? | ||
| Doriana (Doriana)
New member Username: Doriana Post Number: 2681 Registered: 12-2010 |
Is the institution a university? anything government-related? Is it named after a person? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17644 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the institution a university? Yes, No to rest anything government-related? Is it named after a person? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3184 Registered: 7-2009 |
Did it change its name from _ College to _ University? Did it create a hybrid name after merging with another school? Did it get renamed to honor a sponsor/supporter? Did it get renamed after a negative incident? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17646 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did it change its name from _ College to _ University? Yes; No to rest Did it create a hybrid name after merging with another school? Did it get renamed to honor a sponsor/supporter? Did it get renamed after a negative incident? Last piece of information: how did I know this? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3193 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is it the college you go/went to? A college in your hometown? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 17651 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it the college you go/went to? Yes. A college in your hometown? **********SPOILER********** For one of my classes, I needed a textbook written by that class's professor. When reading the back of the book, it said that he teaches at "Elon College." However, I go there, and I know that it changed its name to "Elon University" in 2001. So I estimated that the book was written in the late '90s, closer to the end of the decade. And I was right; it was written in 1999. Nice solve everyone, especially Noel who did a lot of the work. New puzzle as soon as I remember the one I want to post... |
