When I received a copy of Claire McNear’s Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider’s Guide to Jeopardy!, available today from Twelve Books, I wasn’t sure how I was going to write a review of it—after all, how do I best review something where I am cited significantly throughout the work?
And then Sunday happened.
With Alex Trebek’s passing and the subsequent interviews that followed it, I got asked many times as to what I thought Alex Trebek’s legacy was. Because of Alex Trebek and Jeopardy!, trivia lovers all over North America have been able to connect with each other through their shared love of trivia and Jeopardy!. A thriving subculture formed. That subculture is absolutely one of Alex’s legacies.
You’ll learn the stories of Claire’s entry into this trivia subculture, including her trip to Trivia Nationals in 2019—where the show even ran auditions and provided panelists for a panel about the show—and the people she has met within it. Buzzy Cohen is extensively profiled (you’ll be seeing a review of his latest book on the site soon as well!), as are Pam Mueller, David Madden, and other stars from the All-Star Games. You’ll also get to read the stories of contestant hopefuls, many of whom have tried for decades to get on the show, and even get a primer on game strategies!
In closing, if you wanted to read about Alex Trebek’s legacy and his effect on the trivia community at large, Claire’s book is the perfect way to learn more about what Alex Trebek and Jeopardy! meant to so many people and is perfect for any Jeopardy! fan in your life.
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