#401 The World Before Wordle: Talking Puzzles With AJ Jacobs - a podcast by Bowery Boys Media
from 2022-12-21T05:05
Crosswords, jigsaws, mazes, rebuses, Rubik's cubes, Myst, Words With Friends -- and now Wordle? Not only have people loved puzzles for centuries, they've actually gone wild for them. Every few years, a new tantalizing puzzle comes along to captivate the nation.
But each of these little games has an extraordinary history and for this special show, we have the "the puzzler" himself to help us unravel these unique mysteries.
Joining the show today is AJ Jacobs, author of The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life, who leads Greg and Tom down a maze of fascinating origins for the world's most popular puzzles -- many with a connection to New York City.
FEATURING:
-- Sam Loyd, the ultimate puzzle huckster
-- The utterly madcap Rebus Craze of 1937
-- The Secret and the possible treasure buried underneath New York's very streets
-- Stephen Sondheim's glorious contributions to the puzzling world
Visit the website for more information and images
Podcasts mentioned on this show:'
Nellie Bly: Undercover in the Madhouse
Pulitzer vs Hearst: The Rise of Yellow Journalism
PLUS: A special New York City-themed anagram game!
Further episodes of The Bowery Boys: New York City History
Further podcasts by Bowery Boys Media
Website of Bowery Boys Media