Skip to content

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It Paperback - 2008

by Paul McCarthy


From the publisher

Letterati spans the history of competitive Scrabble in North America from the colourful hustlers of the 1960s New York game rooms, to the hard driving quantitative tile pushers who dominate the game today with strategic skills and memorized vocabularies. Yet, there is more to the history of Scrabble than just playing the game. There is a parallel plot line that revolves around many of the top players, who over the years have wanted to see the game develop through the outside sponsorship of tournaments, the unfettered publication of strategy books and the encouragement of a professional class of players. Along the way the reader will learn about how and why the Official Scrabble Dictionary was compiled, then expurgated in 1993, and now is sold to the public without such words as "jew" as a verb, blowjob, or fatso, while club and tournament players have their own word list, where some 200 such words are legal. The book also covers the obsession that Scrabble becomes for those who play seriously, traits that make a top player successful, how gender affects game play, and how teen players are able to rise above their limited educations and life experience to best their elders. There's also a look at the Scrabble trademark and how its so-called required protection by its owners has been used as a justification for prohibiting outside sponsorship of tournaments, the publication of strategy books and the growth of a professional class of players. At the same time, the book provides a glimpse of how the players' enthusiasm for the game has been harnessed so that they have de facto ended up working for free on the owner's PR plantation, publicizing tournaments, putting on promotional events, talking up the game, and sporting Scrabble geegaws, all unwittingly helping to sell ever more Scrabble sets.

Details

  • Title Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
  • Author Paul McCarthy
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 303
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher ECW Press, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Date May 1, 2008
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781550228281 / 1550228285
  • Weight 1.13 lbs (0.51 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.52 x 4.92 x 0.76 in (21.64 x 12.50 x 1.93 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Scrabble (Game) - History
  • Dewey Decimal Code 793.734

About the author

Paul McCarthy is a freelance magazine writer who has appeared in "American Health," "Equinox," "Omni," "Oncology Today," "Psychology Today," "The Scientist," and others. He has been a club and tournament "Scrabble" player for 11 years and is ranked in the top 10 percent of players in North America. He lives in Littleton, Colorado.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by Paul McCarthy

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used; Good
Edition
Illustrated
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$8.76
NZ$23.41 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press. Illustrated. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. 06/02/2008
Item Price
NZ$8.76
NZ$23.41 shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by Paul McCarthy

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$9.07
NZ$18.26 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
NZ$9.07
NZ$18.26 shipping to USA
Letterati : An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati : An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$15.12
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$15.12
FREE shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$15.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, 2008. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$15.14
FREE shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$15.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, 2008. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$15.14
FREE shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Like New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
777
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$16.88
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, 2008-06-01. Paperback. Like New.
Item Price
NZ$16.88
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA
Letterati : An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati : An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$18.46
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
NZ$18.46
FREE shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by Paul McCarthy

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$19.68
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, 2008-06-01. Paperback. Good.
Item Price
NZ$19.68
FREE shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
777
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$21.88
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, 2008-06-01. Paperback. New.
Item Price
NZ$21.88
NZ$6.74 shipping to USA
Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

Letterati: An Unauthorized Look at Scrabble and the People Who Play It

by McCarthy, Paul

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781550228281
ISBN 10
1550228285
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Berry, New South Wales, Australia
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$22.01
NZ$21.46 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
ECW Press, Canada, 2008. Softcover. Very Good. Size: 9"-10" Tall. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Games & Gaming; ISBN/EAN: 9781550228281. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 19648. . 9781550228281
Item Price
NZ$22.01
NZ$21.46 shipping to USA