Martin Gardner's name (p.) 1914) is well known in Russia. During his long life, he wrote more than 70 books that became popular around the world, many of them were published in Russian. Gardner is the author of a huge number of articles on mathematics (for 25 years he led a column of mathematical games and tricks in the journal Scientific America), as well as fantastic stories and essays on a variety of topics. The collection "When you were a fish, a tadpole - I ..." includes articles on issues, phenomena or events, especially excited writer in recent years. And whatever Martin Gardner has to say to his readersabout science or religion, about Chesterton or Santa Claus, about the sinking of the Titanic, or about politicshe shows the deepest intelligence, wisdom, and kind, subtle humor. Copyright Martin Gardner, 2009. Published by arrangement with Hill and Wang,a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC, New York .