Why We Love Crosswords: It's a Puzzle - Deb Amlen

Smithsonian Associates, The Not Old Better Show

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and this is episode #431.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living Interview Series, we have a very fun show, and Deb Amlen is the head writer and senior editor of the New York Times Wordplay column. Deb Amlen will speak at a Smithsonian Associates event on March 5, 2020. For ticket details and more information, please check out today's show notes on our web site, and HERE> at the Smithsonian Associates web site.

Solving a challenging puzzle-like the New York Times Crossword is less about what you know and more about understanding how to penetrate those tricky clues.

The New York Times Crossword, which started as a way to give newspaper readers a diversion from the woes of World War II, has become the gold standard in the puzzle industry. Hundreds of thousands of people count themselves as Times Crossword solvers—and many turn to the paper's crossword puzzle column "Wordplay" to get daily tips for navigating the word grid.

Deb Amlen, the Times' crossword columnist and senior editor of "Wordplay," likes to say, what kept people solving after they had their first taste of "cruciverbalism"? (Look it up!) Deb Amlen likes to think it's the the humor and wordplay in crossword clues. Deb Amlen's favorite clue? "It brings out the child in you." Think about it…Answer: "Labor." Hilarious. Deb Amlen has a great sense of humor, and she'll offer an insider's look at how the crossword puzzle evolved through history, how you can get started as a puzzle solver or improve your skills, and ways to eventually crack the code behind even the trickiest of clues. And getting better at solving one kind of puzzle might just make you a little better prepared to deal with others you encounter along the way.

Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show via internet phone, Deb Amlen.

My thanks to Deb Amlen, head writer and senior editor of the New York Times Wordplay column. Deb Amlen will speak at a Smithsonian Associates event on March 5, 2020. For ticket details and more information, please check out today's show notes on our web site, and HERE> at the Smithsonian Associates site. Of course, my thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show. Thank you, my dear Not Old Better Show audience for your company today, and I hope you'll join me next time. Let's talk about better. The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody.

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