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November 3, 2020 45 mins

Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! For $1000, Alex, what is a fantastic new book from author Claire McNear? Culture and sports journalist McNear has written a delightful history not only of the game show itself, but she also chronicles the fascinating history of the impressive efforts of would-be contestants to get a spot on the ultimate trivia show.

Aspiring competitors have built elaborate systems and spent years in some cases for the chance to show off their deep knowledge of everything from sports and history to literature and pop culture, and McNear shares their intense, endearing efforts.

The author joins us today to talk about that and more, including those Jeopardy! sketches we all love on Saturday Night Live, the evolution of beloved host Alex Trebek’s 30+ years on the show, and what, and who, might be the future of Jeopardy!

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