The New York Times Will Shortz's Wittiest, Wackiest Crosswords
by The New York Times, Will Shortz
A large, humor-first sampler of 225 New York Times crosswords, gathered from earlier Will Shortz volumes, for solvers who want laughs as much as a challenge.
What It's About
This is a large compilation of crossword puzzles drawn from several earlier volumes in the Will Shortz puzzle book series published with The New York Times. Its 225 grids were chosen for being funny, playful, or inventive rather than simply difficult, so the collection leans toward wordplay, puns, and clues that make you groan and grin at once. Shortz adds commentary on the selections, which gives the book a light editorial voice beyond the grids themselves.
Reading it is less a continuous narrative than a stack of separate puzzles to dip into. Each grid stands on its own, so you can solve one over coffee and leave the rest for another day. Expect the usual crossword rhythm: a fill-in grid, clues that often hide a second meaning, and the satisfaction of a theme that clicks into place partway through. Solvers who enjoy clever misdirection will find plenty here, though the tone stays friendly rather than punishing.
Because the puzzles were assembled from earlier books and span years of publication, the references to names and popular culture vary in freshness. The experience is best described as a pleasant, humorous puzzle sampler: a good companion for commutes, long flights, or a daily habit, rather than a single project to finish.
Read this if you…
- enjoy punny, lighthearted crosswords more than hard grids
- want a large stack of puzzles to rotate through over months
- already solve NYT crosswords and want a funnier sampler
Skip it if you…
- want a serious challenge or cryptic-style puzzles
- need a step-by-step guide to improving your solving technique
Key Ideas
- 1
Humor as the selection standard
The puzzles were picked for comedic payoff, so the wit of the clues and themes carries the book more than raw difficulty. Solving often ends with a laugh at the reveal, which is the main reward this collection offers over a standard puzzle book.
- 2
Puns and wordplay drive the themes
Many themes rely on puns, double meanings, and familiar phrases reinterpreted in odd ways. The pleasure lies in spotting the joke that unifies the long answers, and that discovery moment is where the book does its best work.
- 3
Shortz's editorial voice
His commentary frames the puzzles and gives context on why certain grids were chosen. This adds a layer beyond solving, making the book feel curated rather than simply reprinted from older volumes.
- 4
Built for dipping in
With 225 self-contained grids, the book works as a sampler rather than a sequence that builds toward a finale. You can skip around freely, which suits short sessions but means there is no sense of steadily rising challenge.
- 5
Uneven freshness across the grids
Gathering puzzles from several earlier books means some clues and trivia feel dated while others still land well. The wordplay tends to hold up better than the topical references, so enjoyment varies from grid to grid.
Limitations
Because the puzzles were gathered from several earlier volumes, the omnibus offers little new material and minimal explanation of solving technique. Humor is subjective, so a clue that delights one solver may fall flat for another. Some references to names and popular culture will feel dated, and difficulty varies unevenly across the book. Readers hoping to get noticeably better at crosswords will find more value in an instruction-focused title.
Questions Readers Ask
- Is this book good for beginners?
- Beginners can enjoy the humor, but the grids assume some familiarity with standard crossword conventions and everyday trivia. If you have solved a few puzzles before, you will get far more out of it. Complete newcomers may want to start with a beginner-focused collection and move here once the basic conventions feel comfortable.
- How does this compare to a standard NYT crossword collection?
- Standard collections usually aim for a steady range of difficulty across the book. This one is curated mainly for humor, so it reads lighter and more playful, with less of a progression from easy to hard. It suits a fun break better than a structured training plan.
- Are the puzzles still fresh today?
- The puzzles come from earlier volumes, so some clues refer to older names and pop culture. The wordplay generally holds up well, even when the trivia feels dated, so most solvers will still find the grids enjoyable.
- Published
- 2009
- ISBN
- 9780312590345
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Category
- Games & Activities
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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