Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. I have fond memories of my father and grandfather doing crossword puzzles, and I have discovered the joy of doing them myself. I found this book to be really interesting, as I didn't know anything about the history of crossword puzzles.

Enjoyable history of the crossword puzzle. I can't believe that it's only been around less than 100 years. I will definitely add articles about it to my ongoing list of popular objects of public outrage that use the same abit-argument: coffee, comic books, D&D, hard rock, rap, video games, ... I had no idea that crosswords corrupted the youth.

I didn't like how the author inserted herself into the story. YMMV. She did list sources for her quotes in the back,, which redeems it a bit.

If you love crosswords, you must read Thinking Inside the Box.

It started in 1913 with a quick fill-in for a newspaper’s Sunday FUN color section. In 1924, the first crossword book was published, which included a sharpened pencil for $1.35. That same year saw the humble crossword puzzle have its first national tournament.

Crosswords are still a popular mind expander 107 years later. Now, there are mobile apps and online puzzles. But books continue to sell well too. If you enjoy an occasional crossword puzzle and would like to learn more about their history, read Thinking Inside the Box. It’s an entertaining and fully researched history of the puzzle. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

Thanks to Penguin Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a lapsed cruciverbalist. One who no longer seems to incorporate crosswords into daily life, but misses them, thinks of them fondly and hopes to reestablish the connection. This book appealed to me on many levels, not the least of which was hoping it’ll spur me into action and back on crosswords. Plus when I’m passionate (albeit inactively) about something, it’s always great to learn more about it. This might be the second book I read about crosswords, but not remembering the first one, there’s no field of comparison. Instead and purely on its own merit, this was a great read. It tells you all you need to know about crosswords from their inception, to the early champ solvers, to creators, rule outliners and, of course, practitioners of the art, for there is an art to it. The book has an excellent layout, it encompasses every aspect of learning, from historical (how it all came to be) to practical (how to construct one) to entertaining (competitions and so on). Crosswords came into being randomly, were refined over time and now became a significant force of intellectual refinement, albeit it seems for almost exclusively a certain socioeconomic class of people. Reading this book I was almost unable to believe I ever walked away from that much fun, I mean I still have the crossword books and all. And it is a pleasurable pursuit, for people who love words and wordplay, there’s such a satisfaction in a puzzle well done. And so for all my love of crosswords and love of good books, this was a great read. About as entertaining as one might hope for nonfiction to be, interesting, fun, written in a compelling manner by an erudite and engaging author. Very enjoyable read. May it renew connections for old fans and inspire new ones to the awaiting numbered squares and cleverly constructed clues. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

I love crossword puzzles. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve found real joy in solving those black-and-white grids. From the daily newspaper to collections in books to online sources, I’ve been a cruciverbalist for most of my life.

But I’m far from the only person out there with a devotion to the joyous wordplay that comes with crosswords, spending a portion of just about every day working my way across and down, filling in the blanks and feeling the satisfaction of a finished puzzle. Millions of people engage with crosswords every day, though we all have our routines – some solve at breakfast, others as a break during the day; some solve on their commutes, others in the evening to bring their day to an end. Maybe it’s intellectual engagement they seek. Perhaps a competitive thrill. Regardless, it ultimately boils down to love of the game.

Adrienne Raphel loves crosswords as well. She loves them so much, in fact, that she went ahead and wrote a book about them. “Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can’t Live Without Them” is a thoughtful and in-depth look at a hobby that has been occupying minds for over a century. Through a combination of historical research and first-person experience, Raphael takes the reader on an engaging and entertaining stroll across and down the cross-world.

The crossword puzzle’s beginnings were humble, to be sure; essentially, they came to be because the New York World needed to fill some empty column inches back in 1913. No one could have predicted the explosive and almost overnight popularity the puzzle would achieve. In the 1920s, a time packed with various and sundry fads that would rapidly sweep the nation and just as quickly burn out, the crossword managed to maintain its popularity far longer than other trends.

And on through the evolution of the puzzle, from its inclusion in the newspaper with which it would become most closely associated – the New York Times – in the 1940s to the stylistic growth through the latter part of the 20th century to its welcome adjustment to the internet age. It’s a rich and thorough history, one that features a number of fascinating and eccentric characters – the people who solve these puzzles, yes, but also the wonderful and weird cohort of people who construct them.

Intersecting with this meticulously researched look at the hobby’s history, we get first-person accounting and reportage from Raphel, who allows us to accompany her on her own exploration of the crossword realm. She takes us on a crossword-themed cruise, one rife with people whose puzzling obsession is nigh-boundless. She calls on the legendary Will Shortz, longtime editor of the Times’ crossword and the most prominent name in the world of modern cruciverbalism. We even check in with the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held annually in Stamford, Connecticut.

There’s so much here, even for those with a lengthy cruciverbalistic history. The early days are fascinating, of course. Did you know that there’s considerable difference of opinion regarding the superiority of U.S. versus U.K. puzzles? Or that Stephen Sondheim – yes, THAT Stephen Sondheim – is largely responsible for the British-style cryptic crossword crossing the Atlantic? Raphel even presents a chapter called “This is Not a Crossword” that ingeniously connects crossword puzzles to the work of Rene Magritte and other surrealist artists.

The common thread throughout is the clear passion Raphel has for crosswords, resulting in a fun and celebratory read. She is present on every single page, her joyful love for these puzzles and the people who embrace them is palpable. The combination of historical snapshots and personal experience results in a layered and captivating piece of nonfiction.

One might think it would be tough to make a book about crossword puzzles narratively entertaining, but that’s precisely what “Thinking Inside the Box” manages to be, thanks to Raphel’s considerable prose gifts. The book is smartly constructed and surprisingly funny, with the author unfailingly finding moments to sing her subject’s praises even as she digs deep; it is a work as elegantly constructed and intellectually engaging as the very best examples of the craft it explores.

Crossword devotees – among whose numbers I very much count myself – will absolutely adore this book. Even the most hardcore among us will almost certainly discover something new here. Yet even those with just a passing puzzling familiarity will be engaged, thanks to Raphel’s captivating storytelling style and clear love for her subject matter. Just smart and quirky and a hell of a lot of fun.

In closing, a crossword clue: Eleven-letter word for “Quality of Adrienne Raphel’s ‘Thinking Inside the Box.’”

Answer: EXCEPTIONAL.

An ode to the crossword puzzle all crossword devotee will devour this book from cover to cover.From the beginning crosswords to the people who must do the puzzle everyday.We learn about the actual construction of the puzzle,how the daily puzzle is chosen.Of course the famous leader of the New York Times puzzle Will Shortz is featured we even get a tour of his home and his daily rituals.As someone who loves the crossword this was just a delightful entertaining informative book.I wilL be recommending to all my puzzle addicted friends.#netgalley#penguinpress

Truthfully, I didn't quite love this book the way I wanted to. I'm a pretty avid crossword solver, so obviously I was excited to dive in. I appreciated all the histories and stories behind the puzzle. I enjoyed the author's personal foray into the puzzle world. But the book's focus and tone never fully clicked for me. Still, overall I'd still recommend it to crossword people and readers who like quirky history stuff.