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A Meditation, with Digressions, on Crosswords
Scribner
June 2009
On Sale: June 23, 2009
192 pages ISBN: 0743287622 EAN: 9780743287623 Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
From Square One is Dean Olsher's captivating and in-depth
exploration of the cultural history, psychology, and even
metaphysics of crosswords -- their promise of a world
without chaos and uncertainty.
It is often repeated that more than 50 million Americans do
crossword puzzles on a regular basis. Skeptical of that
claim, Dean Olsher does his own research and finds that the
number is nearly dead-on. Filled with lively, original
reporting, From Square One disputes the widely held belief
that solving crosswords helps prevent Alzheimer's; in fact,
the drive to fill in empty spaces is more likely a mental
illness than a cure. While "puzzle addiction" is usually
meant as a lighthearted metaphor, the term contains more
than a nugget of truth. Olsher looks into the origins and traditions of this
popular pastime, which made its debut in a New York
newspaper in 1913. Or did it? Along the way, he takes
readers inside the making of a crossword. He also revives
the quest of musical-theater legend and puzzle constructor
Stephen Sondheim to find an American audience for a British
crossword style that demands a love of verbal playfulness
over knowledge of arcane trivia. Informative, engaging, and often surprising, From Square
One is a unique and enjoyable read for puzzlers and
nonpuzzlers alike.
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