Conversations online
Published September 15, 2006
IU alumnus Will Shortz (right) might have become an economist instead of an enigmatologist if it weren’t for his mother. In today’s audiostream, the New York Times crossword puzzle editor talks with Don Gray, IU professor emeritus of English, as they discuss Shortz’ educational journey as well as the history and popularity of puzzles, including sudoku. Shortz was at IUB this summer to attend the opening of the Lilly Library’s Slocum Puzzle Room, which features 400 mechanical puzzles from the 30,000 puzzles and related books given to the university by author Jerry Slocum. “Conversations online” is produced by Byron K. Smith.
Listen to the entire conversation or listen by topic.
• Individualized major program • Courses • Puzzles
• History of crossword puzzles • Sudoku • Puzzle crazes
• Crossword puzzle clues
• Solvers’ letters • Error • All-time favorite puzzle
• Authorship of puzzles
•Collecting puzzles
• “Wordplay,” the film
• Next puzzle crazes • “Golden age of puzzles”
To listen to other conversations, go to the “Conversations online” archive:http://www.homepages.indiana.edu/conversationsarchive.php
