My wonderful sudoku adventure
..is probably the worst headline I have ever written
Are you a person who likes to do puzzles? I'm not. Yet I find I am drawn to sudoku with almost a passion, and one that I find hard to explain. Unravelling a sudoku puzzle, to me, is like unravelling a problem in life.
Really? One of the reasons I started doing sudoku was that I used to like crossword puzzles but found the best ones difficult and time consuming. Should I, a writer, be ashamed? Never! Creative writing is about artistic expression and not just about words.
Do you recognize the artistic reference in the featured image above?
Writing is also about patterns, which is one reason I like sudoku. I have an approach to solving sudoku that focuses on the patterns made by the lines and squares of the puzzle grid, rather than the individual numbers. If you think about it, the numbers used in this game are irrelevant. Why? Because there is no manipulation of those numbers as numbers. There is no arithmetic involved. The individual digits, one to nine, are just symbols simply placed on the grid in order to set and solve the problem. If you were to replace the numbers with any other symbols, it would make no difference to the game. You could substitute colors, emoticons, shapes or anything else you like, and still solve the problem in the same way.
If you want to know how to solve a sudoku puzzle more easily, using simple patterns, you can do no better than to read my book:
There is nothing new or original about the concept of using patterns to solve problems. It is how our brains work and is also a useful way of making a distinction between our problem-solving minds and the digital computing approach that has been dubbed artificial intelligence.
If you look at a photograph, for instance, you will not see the blobs of pigment that are attached to the surface of the paper. You will not see these tiny dots at all. You will only see the patterns made by them. You will get an impression of the subject of the photo by the arrangement of the patterns of pigment that form the image.
The same is true of paintings, perhaps even more so. If you take a look at Rene Magritte's painting The Treachery of Images, you will see a
realistic painting of a pipe, with the words (translating from French) "this is not a pipe" written below.
What did Magritte mean by this apparent contradiction? He meant that what you are looking at is not a pipe. It is an image deceiving your highly intelligent mind into thinking you are looking at a pipe. This deception, this treachery, is what Magritte is referring to. All you can really see if you look at the painting (as opposed to this digital representation) is a flat surface with highly organised patterns of pigment put there by the painter.
Why is this important? Because our minds can easily be deceived and by the same cognitive process that allows our minds to understand. When a primitive human was suddenly confronted by a sabre-toothed tiger leaping from a bush to devour them they knew, the instant before they were pierced by those cruel fangs, what it was that was about to attack them. That ill-fated proto-person, in an instant, processed the patterns of the light rays falling on their retina and, in that same instant, recognized their doom. The fact that sabre-tooth tigers no longer pounce at us out of bushes is true testament to the greater intelligence and adaptability of humanity. Those apex predators are extinct and humanity, one of its prey animals and victims, is not extinct... well not yet, anyways.
This ability to understand patterns (which of course is common to all mammals and other intelligent species of animal like the garden slug) is perhaps the best distinction between the natural intelligence of the animal and so-called 'artificial-intelligence.'
So, why do I find sudoku so engaging? Because it engages my natural intelligence, the pattern-processing function of my mind, helps to slow neurological degeneration and makes me smarter. It helps me do things that tax my aging and degenerating brain power... like writing articles, short stories and poems. Don't believe me?
Thanks for reading.
About the Creator
Raymond G. Taylor
Author living in Kent, England. Writer of short stories and poems in a wide range of genres, forms and styles. A non-fiction writer for 40+ years. Subjects include art, history, science, business, law, and the human condition.
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Comments (24)
I like how you compare sudoku to life problems. I used to struggle with sudoku, but focusing on patterns helped. You're right, the numbers are just symbols. Do you think this pattern approach could be applied to other puzzles too? Also, I get what you mean about writing and patterns. It makes me wonder how else our daily tasks might have hidden pattern connections like sudoku. And that book sounds interesting. Can you share some of the simple pattern-solving techniques from it?
your article is great. It has provided a lot of information to the readers. Thanks for this great article
I love this story, Raymond. I'm recommending it through the VSS. I see some comments that also look like spam that I've reported. ⚡Bill⚡
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very impresive
Great article! If you're interested in learning more about the fascinating differences between cultures and historical periods, you might find this article interesting. For an in-depth comparison of the Romans and Greeks, click here (https://askanydifference.com/difference-between-romans-and-greeks/). It provides a detailed breakdown of their unique contributions and distinctions.
While it's fascinating to consider extinction patterns, it's equally important to examine our parenting styles. Speaking of which, have you checked out the 'Bad Parenting' game? https://badparentingame.com/
"Your reflection on Sudoku as a pattern-driven puzzle rather than a numbers game is both insightful and refreshing! The comparison to Magritte's *'The Treachery of Images'* adds a fascinating layer to understanding how our brains interpret patterns and symbols. It’s true—Sudoku isn’t about math but about recognizing order in chaos. If you're into apps that sharpen your mind further, you might enjoy exploring some engaging puzzle and brain-training apps on [ApkBlings](https://www.apkblings.com). Keep those patterns flowing!"
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What an interesting take on this little puzzle! Congrats on the top story.
I love how you connect sudoku with pattern recognition and brain engagement—such an insightful perspective!
I'm actually not a fan of this game before but later fall in love with sudoku
Congratulations on top story!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
My dad introduced me to Sudoku and logic puzzles. I love how you have to use what's in front of you to get to the right answers. Congrats on the Top Story!
My oldest granddaughter introduced me to Sudoku puzzles. She is left handed (right brained) and I am not...lol But I do like identifying patterns in human behaviors. Confession: I have an online game I play that involves organization and planning. I like meeting goals it seems. I still see the pipe, but not being critical because I have oodles of mistakes in my writings, I did see a grammatical error, "highly organised patterns of pigment put their by the painter." their should be there and the spelling of organized is the difference between British and American spellings.
When I see numbers, my brain jumps out of my skull and off into oblivion. But the way you introduced your book was so clever. I love the way you related sudoku to writing. I find the way you described the image of the pipe so fascinating. Your writing style was very engaging and your perspective was enlightening, such a great read.
congrats, sir on a deserved Top Story!
I tried sudoku many times and I still cannot get it. I am not a numbers person anyhow. What a great piece of writing.
I, like Kendall, hate numbers! but love soduko for similar reasons to you! great piece, Raymond!
I preferred crosswords and other puzzles for years before attempting to try a sudoku one. I still have an unconscious hatred of numbers, but I understand what you see in these brain teasers. Thank you for this!
Some excellent and interesting insights here. I haven't done sudoku for ages but I do like doing them. 👍
I do at least three sudoku every night before I go to sleep it helps me unwind
I love sudoku but it's been ages since I did one. I also love how you explained what you were trying to say using the painting of that pipe!