The Culture of Crosswords

It's a nine letter word for obsession, entertainment and mind-bending fun. Crosswords are a fixture in almost every newspaper, a Sunday ritual for many Americans and for some, a lifestyle, with conventions, tournaments and its own feature-length documentary out this past summer. Laura's guest is Stanley Newman, Crossword Editor for Newsday since 1988, with puzzles syndicated to more than 100 newspapers worldwide. He was formerly Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Random House's Puzzles & Games imprint and is co-author of The Million Word Crossword Dictionary. His latest book is called Cruciverbalism: A Crossword Fanatic's Guide to Life in the Grid. We'll also hear from Will Shortz, Crossword Editor of The New York Times, former editor of Games magazine and the Founder and Director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. He has also been the puzzle master for NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987.