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.