Synopses & Reviews
For the millions of people who do crosswords, the person behind the puzzle is always something of a mystery. What puzzler wouldn't want to know how a constructor thinks when putting together a puzzle? Or the secret rules that guide the selections of clues and answers? Or how to outsmart the constructor by understanding his mindset? A few tips about how to improve solving skills wouldn't hurt, either. Putting it all together in an accessible and witty "guide to life in the grid" is just what everybody wants and needs. CRUCIVERBALISM will help people become better solvers and have more fun doing crosswords. It will also pull back the curtain on puzzle-making itself, outlining the history of crosswords, showing how they have evolved over the past century, and how rules and the mindsets of puzzle editors have changed over time. It will pass along the guidelines the author provides to his stable of puzzle constructors, and tidbits such as the "100 essential words" for the pursuit of crossword happiness. Finally, it will recount the decade-long battle between Old Guard and New Wave constructors, bringing in a cast of colorful characters living in a world of words. The book will be a combination of crossword self-help, wisdom, trivia and stories that will fascinate today's millions of avid puzzlers. Review
“Cruciverbalism is smart, informative, and valuable. Any crossword puzzler will enjoy this book.” Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times
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“Reading Stanley Newman on life inside the grid is a revelation.” Daniel Okrent, author, Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center
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“This book made me think, it made me laugh..., but mostly it made me want to solve some crosswords.” Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! champion
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“Crossword puzzle fans--solvers and constructors alike--will find a wealth of useful tips in this book.” Booklist
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“Cruciverbalism could be neatly encapsulated in three lines: ‘Obsessive wordsmith/Enraged by stuffy old clues/Thinks outside the grid.” New York Times
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“Cruciverbalism is an amazing journey into the mind and the thinking process of a puzzle genius.” Jeffrey Lyons, NBC
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“A breezy insiders look at the puzzlers small world, along with some tips to improve your own performance.” Boston Globe
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“Crossword puzzle fans will eat up this entertaining stew of history, arcana and personalities in this memoircuminstruction manual.” Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
An inside look into the lives of crossword puzzle creators offers insight into the art of puzzle making, in an account that traces the history of crosswords, discusses the mindsets of puzzle editors, and offers complementary tips about how to improve puzzle-solving skills. 30,000 first printing.
Synopsis
If you love crosswords,
Cruciverbalism is bound to enhance your puzzling pleasure. Acclaimed crossword expert Stanley Newman takes you behind the grid to show what really makes crossword puzzles (and their creators) tick — and offers proven strategies that will make you a better solver.
Stan reveals...
- The untold story of the victory of the young crossword Turks over puzzledom's Old Guard, paving the way for the lively, contemporary crosswords you enjoy today
- Why it's become a tradition for daily newspaper puzzles to increase in difficulty during the week
- Common solving mistakes, and why it's better to focus on one area of a puzzle at a time
- Why you shouldn't feel guilty about consulting performance-enhancing reference works
- 100 Essential Words crossworders need to know
- The woman who made crosswords what they are today
- The hidden rules of the grid that will make you a better clue sleuth, including Evocatives, Partials, Hedgers, and the rare but devious Basic Confusables
- The five championship-clinching traits of the gridmasters
- and more.
You'll even discover a philosophy for approaching crosswords that, come to think of it, works pretty well for life, too — and makes it a lot of fun!
About the Author
Stanley Newman is the crossword editor for Newsday, and has puzzles syndicated worldwide. Winner of the first U.S. Open Crossword Championship in 1982, he was formerly publisher and editor in chief of Random House's Puzzles & Games imprint. Author or editor of more than 100 books, including (with Daniel Stark) The Million Word Crossword Dictionary, Stan also holds the world's record for the fastest completion of a New York Times crossword: 2 minutes, 14 seconds. He lives in Massapequa Park, New York.