Word nerd

"Explores anagrams, palindromes, the highest-scoring Scrabble plays of all time, [and] the birth of the World Scrabble Championship, as well as many of the more colorful figures that inhabit this subculture. Die-hard word fans will find ... tips on how top players see their boards and racks to come up with the best play, how they prepare, and the psychology of tournament competition. Those uninitiated in the mysteries of Scrabble mania will find a ... memoir about all the fun people have with language and how words shape our lives and culture in unexpected ways"--Dust jacket flap.