Will Shortz
NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987. He's also the crossword editor of The New York Times, the former editor of Games magazine, and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).
Will sold his first puzzle professionally when he was 14 — to Venture, a denominational youth magazine. At 16 he became a regular contributor to Dell puzzle publications. He is the only person in the world to hold a college degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, which he earned from Indiana University in 1974.
Born in 1952 and raised on an Arabian horse farm in Indiana, Will now lives near New York City in a Tudor-style house filled with books and Arts and Crafts furniture. When he's not at work, he enjoys bicycling, movies, reading, travel, and collecting antique puzzle books and magazines.
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest Puzzlemaster Greg Pliska and KGOU listener Nate Tschaenn of Yukon, Oklahoma. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener David McKinnis of Fairfield, Connecticut. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Thom Gillis of Livonia, Michigan. Also, some listener well wishes for NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Steve Cosgrove from Minneapolis. Also, an update on NPR Puzzlemaster, Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Tom Gould from Cambridge, Massachusetts. -
NPR's Don Gonyea plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener Dave Govertsen from Park Ridge, Illinois. -
NPR's Debbie Elliot plays the puzzle with puzzle guest Greg Pliska and listener Kyle Shenk from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. -
NPR's Elissa Nadworny plays the puzzle with NPR Puzzle Master Will Shortz and listener Eric Feinstein from Ossining, New York. -
Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with NPR Puzzle Master Will Shortz and listener Chris Olig from Verona, Wisconsin. -
What proper names begin and end with the same two letters? NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with NPR Puzzle Master Will Shortz and listener Rick Tett from Plano, Texas.
