Have Some Sums to Solve - Challenging Alphametic Puzzle Book

In this review of Have Some Sums to Solve the bottom line is simple: this book is for readers who enjoy letter-to-number puzzles and want a structured way to work through them. Steven Kahan presents a focused collection of alphametics with historical context, worked examples, and full solutions, making it a useful reference for hobbyists and experienced puzzlers alike. The single biggest reason to buy is the book's directed approach that teaches methods so readers can reliably solve every puzzle included, not just attempt random guesses.

Key Features

• Three-part structure: The book separates historical notes, puzzle presentation, and complete solutions so readers can study methods before checking answers.
• Step-by-step sample solution: A fully worked alphametic walkthrough demonstrates the technique used throughout and clarifies common traps.
• Puzzle variety: Problems range in difficulty to challenge novices and tease even experts, offering progressive practice.
• Directed approach section: Clear instructions and hints guide the solver toward systematic deductions rather than random guessing.
• Complete solution section: Every alphametic and narrative question in the book has a provided solution, useful for learning and verification.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at mathematics enthusiasts, puzzle hobbyists, and anyone interested in alphametics who wants both examples and methods. The combination of a narrative puzzle style and the classic doubly-true alphametic format makes it especially suitable for readers who appreciate variety and historical notes.

Those looking for introductory arithmetic or broad recreational math collections might look elsewhere, since the focus is specialized on alphametics rather than general puzzle types or step-by-step beginner arithmetic lessons.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Well organized into three clear sections that separate background, puzzles, and solutions for focused study.
• The directed approach provides concrete strategies, helping readers learn to solve puzzles methodically.
• Puzzles span a range of difficulty so both beginners and seasoned solvers find challenge and progression.

Cons

• The book's narrow focus on alphametics means it may not satisfy readers seeking a broader set of recreational math problems.

Specifications

Title	Have Some Sums to Solve
Author	Steven Kahan
Content structure	Historical notes, Directed Approach, Puzzle Section, Solution Section
Puzzle type	Alphametics (doubly-true and narrative types)
Includes	Step-by-step sample solution and full solutions to every puzzle
Difficulty	Varies from accessible to expert-level challenges

Our Verdict

Have Some Sums to Solve is a focused and practical collection for readers who want to learn methods as well as attempt challenging alphametics. Its organized layout and full solutions make it good value for puzzle enthusiasts who appreciate methodical problem solving, though casual readers wanting broader recreational math content may prefer a more general compilation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include answers to all puzzles?
Yes. The Solution Section provides answers to each alphametic and to questions raised in the narrative examples.

Are the methods explained or just the solutions given?
The book includes a Directed Approach section and a step-by-step sample solution that teach techniques, not just final answers.

What level of difficulty should I expect?
Problems vary in degree of difficulty, offering puzzles suitable for beginners up to teasers for experts.