Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Stefan Fatsis.
Stefan Fatsis is a Scrabble player. He also happens to be a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. In this book, he is studying and participating in the world of competitive Scrabble. The reader follows his journey from being a good living room player competing in a New York park, to his rise into intermediate status for the 2000 National Championship.
Fatsis take the time to explain the origins of Scrabble and the rise in competitions. The differences between how the Americans play it, vs. the rest of the world. And he lets us get to know the characters and eccentrics who play the game. Are these people obsessed? Or have they truly found their passion in a whole that may not appreciate their unique skills?
He gets involved in the minutiae of the game. Is it better to play for points or word knowledge? How much does strategy play a part? Can the tiles just be against you that day? How many wins will raise his point rating for the next competition?
If you are a Scrabble player you will love this glimpse into this world. I am not a scrabble player, but besides getting a little bored with some of Fatsis' fine details on the game, I still enjoyed this look into a subculture of America. A good read.
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