Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle

I solve a crossword puzzle daily and pride myself on doing so. As a longtime puzzler, I’m keenly aware that there are stark differences between those offered by the New York Times (more classical references, French and Yiddish words) and by the New Yorker (more pop culture, current musical references). But there’s so much I didn’t know about the game’s history (blamed as a form of moral madness in the 1920s) and the interesting characters who create and edit the grids, much less about recent efforts to diversify the world of cruciverbalists. This witty and knowledgeable book, which is replete with punning and wordplay, takes readers behind the scenes into puzzle controversies and competitions, computer programming, and cultish conversations. Is it acceptable to use AI to create—or solve—a crossword? How much do each puzzle’s clues reveal about contemporary culture or biases? The author is a longtime puzzle creator himself, displaying his deep knowledge of the field on every page. After reading, I now view each grid and clue differently, sensing the hands and minds behind their construction. Highly recommended for all crossword fans.