Crossword puzzles uphold tradition while keeping up with the times

During the coronavirus pandemic, people seem to be doing more puzzles, including jigsaws, crosswords, and the New York Times’ Spelling Bee. With crossword puzzles, they’ve been an obsession for many people long before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writer Adrienne Raphel has just written a love letter to the squares, themes, and clues that have captivated puzzlers for more than a century. Her book is “Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can’t Live Without Them.”