Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy!

Description

For 36 years, Jeopardy! has been a television mainstay. In that time, it has become a deeply entrenched American tradition and the sort of cross-generational touchstone the likes of which are few and far between in pop culture. With backstage missives and deep dives into backroom training sessions and alumni pub trivia teams, this is the book about Jeopardy!: its history and how it comes together; how the most successful players use strategy to dominate; how aspiring contestants revamp their lives to improve their chances of getting to play; the man-myth-legend that is host Alex Trebek; what life looks like after winning big on Jeopardy!; the Saturday Night Live spoofs; that time the Clue Crew almost slid off a glacier -- and everything in between. Jeopardy! has changed very little in all its years on the air, but America's Favorite Quiz Show -- it holds the trademark -- now finds itself in a moment of profound transition. ANSWERS IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS is a moment to celebrate everything that has made the show what it is today, as well as a look forward to what lies ahead.

Claire McNear covers sports and culture for The Ringer.

Claire McNear does a fantastic job capturing the spirit behind the Jeopardy! production team, fandom, and contestant community. I already knew about a lot of this stuff, and I still couldn't put it down.--Brad Rutter, highest-earning Jeopardy! contestant I'd anticipated that reading a book about Jeopardy! -- a game show that has been in my life for basically all of it -- would make me feel a certain amount of nostalgia, and a certain amount of warm joy. I had not, however, anticipated how sentimental parts of it would make me feel, and how loudly other parts of it would make me laugh. Claire has built something really great here. I wish I could read this book again for the first time.--Shea Serrano, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Movies (And Other Things) Journalist McNear debuts with a fast-paced and well-researched behind-the scenes look into one of America's most popular game shows. Game show lovers and aspiring contestants will definitely want to pick this up.--Publishers Weekly McNear lifts up the hood on Jeopardy! and shows us the inner workings, from quirky contestants and fans to details about the buzzer. I saw so many parallels to the Scripps National Spelling Bee too, from intensive and creative studying strategies through the decades to the balance between the live audience and the home audience. If you like Jeopardy! I highly R-E-C-O-M-M-E-N-D this book.--Dr. Jacques Bailly, official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee Packed with useful advice for aspiring contestants. Read this book and you can lose on Jeopardy!, just like me.--James Holzhauer, multiple-time losing contestant Put this in your potpourri: Claire McNear has delivered a treasure. ANSWERS IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS is a smart and sassy journey into the wide, wide world of Jeopardy! -- a must for anyone who's ever shouted out to Alex from the edge of their couch.--James Andrew Miller, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Live from New York and Those Guys Have All the Fun