From Square One: A Meditation, with Digressions, on Crosswords

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.

Public radio personality Olsher explores the fascinating history, lore, and addictive appeal of crosswords, in this clever and entertaining narrative that features the construction of an actual puzzle by professional puzzle writer Francis Heaney.

Dean Olsher has been a radio broadcaster for more than thirty years, most of which he has spent in public radio. He was an arts and culture correspondent for NPR News as well as the creator and host of "The Next Big Thing," a popular national show from 2000 to 2005. Olsher regularly submits commentaries to "All Things Considered," and he has substitute-hosted "The Leonard Lopate Show," "Fresh Air," "Marketplace," and "Weekend Edition." Currently, he is a visiting professor in the department of journalism at NYU.