Word Freak 1st Edition by Stefan Fatsis ISBN 0618015841 9780547524313

Word Freak 1st Edition by Stefan Fatsis – Ebook PDF Instant Download/Delivery: 0618015841, 9780547524313
Full download Word Freak 1st Edition after payment

Product details:

ISBN 10: 0618015841 
ISBN 13: 9780547524313
Author: Stefan Fatsis

Stefan Fatsis, a former Wall Street Journal reporter and National Public Radio regular, recounts his remarkable rise through the ranks of elite Scrabble players while exploring the game’s strange, potent hold over them—and him.

Scrabble might truly be called America’s game. More than two million sets are sold every year and at least thirty million American homes have one. But the game’s most talented competitors inhabit a sphere far removed from the masses of “living room players.” Theirs is a surprisingly diverse subculture whose stars include a vitamin-popping standup comic; a former bank teller whose intestinal troubles earn him the nickname “G.I. Joel”; a burly, unemployed African American from Baltimore’s inner city; the three-time national champion who plays according to Zen principles; and Fatsis himself, who we see transformed from a curious reporter to a confirmed Scrabble nut.

He begins by haunting the gritty corner of a Greenwich Village park where pickup Scrabble games can be found whenever weather permits. His curiosity soon morphs into compulsion, as he sets about memorizing thousands of obscure words and fills his evenings with solo Scrabble played on his living room floor. Before long he finds himself at tournaments socializing—and competing—with Scrabble’s elite.

But this book is about more than hardcore Scrabblers, for the game yields insights into realms as disparate as linguistics, psychology, and mathematics. Word Freak extends its reach even further, pondering the light Scrabble throws on such notions as brilliance, memory, competition, failure, and hope. It is a geography of obsession that celebrates the uncanny powers locked in all of us.

Word Freak 1st Table of contents:

Part 1: Entering the World of Competitive Scrabble

• Chapter 1: The Park: Introduction to the casual yet intense Scrabble scene in Washington Square Park, meeting early characters and getting a taste of the competitive spirit.
• Chapter 2: The Best: Early encounters with top-tier players and realizing the vast difference between casual and competitive play.
• Chapter 3: Unrated: Fatsis begins his journey as an unrated tournament player, grappling with the rules and culture.
• Chapter 4: 1005 (or similar): Tracking his initial rating and early struggles/successes in tournaments.

Part 2: The History and Mechanics of the Game

• Chapters focused on Scrabble’s origins:
  • The invention of Scrabble by Alfred Butts during the Great Depression.
  • The evolution of the game, its early popularity, and commercialization.
  • The role of various companies (Selchow & Righter, Hasbro, Mattel) in its history.
• Chapters on Scrabble’s lexicon:
  • The official Scrabble dictionary and its importance.
  • How words are deemed “valid” and the role of the National Scrabble Association (NSA).
  • The concept of “Scrabble words” vs. everyday vocabulary.

Part 3: The Characters of Competitive Scrabble

• Chapters dedicated to specific players: Fatsis profiles the eccentric, brilliant, and often obsessive individuals who populate the highest ranks of the game. These often include:
  • Edley: Joe Edley, a multiple-time national champion known for his unique approach and intense focus.
  • Alfred: Alfred Butts, the inventor of Scrabble.
  • G.I. Joel: Joel Sherman, a highly ranked player with a distinctive personality and backstory.
  • Matt: Matt Graham, another prominent and colorful player.
  • Lester: Lester Schonbrun, a legendary figure in the Scrabble world.
• Exploration of their lives: Beyond just their Scrabble prowess, Fatsis delves into the personal lives, motivations, and quirks of these “word freaks.”

Part 4: The Competitive Journey and Obsession

• Chapters detailing specific tournaments: Fatsis chronicles his experiences in various Scrabble tournaments across the country, describing the atmosphere, the strategies, and the emotional highs and lows. These chapters are often titled with ratings (e.g., 1191, 1291, 1461, 1416, 1501, 1574, 1601, 1697) representing his fluctuating skill level and progress towards expert status.
• The psychological aspects of the game:
  • Memory and word recall.
  • Strategy, rack management, and probability.
  • The mental resilience required for high-stakes competition.
  • The fine line between passion and obsession.
• Fatsis’s personal transformation: His increasing immersion and eventual adoption of the “freak” mindset.

Part 5: Reflections and Broader Themes

• The Club / The World / The Worlds: Chapters that might broaden the scope to the global Scrabble scene and the community it fosters.
• Epilogue: Reflections on his journey, what he learned about the game, language, and human nature.
• Appendix: Often includes Scrabble tile distribution, point values, or other technical details.
• Sources / Acknowledgments.

People also search for Word Freak 1st:

word freak
    
what does the word freak mean
    
last word freak
    
songs with the word freak
    
last word freak meaning

 

Tags: Stefan Fatsis, Word, Freak