Across the Universe
the past, present, and future of the crossword puzzle
$67.69
- Hardcover
336 pages
- Release Date
12 January 2026
Summary
Across the Universe: Unlocking the Cultural Power of Crosswords
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of the crossword, who constructs it, and why it matters as both a reflection of and influence on our culture
From WORDLE to SPELLING BEE, we live in a time of word game mania. Crosswords, in particular, gained renewed popularity during the Covid-19 lockdown, when games became another kind of refuge. Today, 36 million Americans solve crosswords …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780553387704 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0553387707 |
| Author: | Natan Last |
| Publisher: | Random House USA Inc |
| Imprint: | Pantheon |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 336 |
| Release Date: | 12 January 2026 |
| Weight: | 540g |
| Dimensions: | 235mm x 156mm x 21mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“Part reportage, part memoir, part meditation, part whimsy, Across the Universe is a gridful of insight and pleasure. This deft and deep exploration of the crossword puzzle’s obsessive grip on American life and the cultural forces that have shaped and changed it for over a century is more timely and relevant than ever.”—Stefan Fatsis, bestselling author of Word Freak and Unabridged
About The Author
Natan Last
NATAN LAST is a writer and immigration policy advocate. He writes bimonthly crosswords for The New Yorker. His essays, poetry, and academic research appear in The New Yorker, The Drift, Los Angeles Review of Books, Hyperallergic, Narrative, and elsewhere. He has worked for the U.N., the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, the International Rescue Committee, and currently advises the federal government on refugee policy and technology. He lives in his native Brooklyn.
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