Riddles engage our brains in creative problem-solving by encouraging us to think outside the box, thus enhancing critical thinking skills. The truth is, however, that while some people find them fun, others hate them. The reason why is that riddles, particularly the more challenging ones, are rather frustrating as the answer is hard to pinpoint or find right away. At the same time, they quite often require unconventional reasoning, which some of us consider confounding.

One particular riddle that left many scratching their head is the one with a woman in a boat.
It’s short, confusing, and doesn’t reveal a lot of information. Basically, it’s a seemingly straightforward brain teaser that goes like this: “There is a woman in a boat, on a lake, wearing a coat. If you want to know her name, it’s in the riddle I just wrote. What’s her name?“