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Adult Books - Nonfiction - Sports & Recreation
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Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble.
Fatsis, Stefan (author).
July 2001. 288p. Houghton, hardcover, $25 (0-618-01584-1). 793.734.
REVIEW.
First published June 1, 2001 (Booklist).
Since the game of Scrabble was created in the 1940s, more than 100 million sets have been sold in 121 countries. Because Scrabble requires a unique combination of luck, strategy, and word skills, even “friendly” games can end up in heated battles for “bragging rights.” Competitive Scrabble, though, as Fatsis makes clear, is fought at a much higher level of intensity. For example, its rulebook runs 23 pages and includes stipulations for bathroom breaks. Fatsis is a regular commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered, and his knowledgeable coverage of sports for the Wall Street Journal is refreshingly entertaining. Several years ago, in search of a story idea, Fatsis challenged the director of the National Scrabble Association to a match. Fatsis won and was hooked. He now describes his own intoxicating rise through the ranks of tournament Scrabble players as he achieves “expert” status. At the same time, Fatsis colorfully portrays the eccentrics and obsessive characters that inhabit the quirky “Scrabbler” subculture. — David Rouse
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