Natan Last
@natanlast.bsky.social
i write: crosswords, poetry, policy research, nonfiction.
i study: migration, economics, law & literature.
i work on making humanitarian migration easier from a policy & tech perspective.
i study: migration, economics, law & literature.
i work on making humanitarian migration easier from a policy & tech perspective.
Pinned
be like Ann Patchett and buy my book for the husband figure in your life
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Reposted by Natan Last
after doing today’s puzzle in the new yorker, I downloaded mr. last’s audiobook.
this will be the, uh, third book about the history crosswords I’ve read this year.
this will be the, uh, third book about the history crosswords I’ve read this year.
read more about the (surprisingly) radical history of the crossword in my book!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Across the Universe by Natan Last: 9780553387704 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of crossword puzzles, who constructs them, and why crosswords matter as both a reflection of and influence on our culture "Should be at the top of ...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
after doing today’s puzzle in the new yorker, I downloaded mr. last’s audiobook.
this will be the, uh, third book about the history crosswords I’ve read this year.
this will be the, uh, third book about the history crosswords I’ve read this year.
an honor to get to put this full name in the NewYorker crossword today
www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-...
www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-...
December 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
an honor to get to put this full name in the NewYorker crossword today
www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-...
www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-...
Reposted by Natan Last
I've been wanting to read a book about crossword puzzles ever since getting the bug during the pandemic (appropriately). Across The Universe by @natanlast.bsky.social is the one I'd been waiting for. Excellent balance of history, sociology, and craft. With lots of cameos by #gridsky regulars.
Across the Universe by Natan Last: 9780553387704 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of crossword puzzles, who constructs them, and why crosswords matter as both a reflection of and influence on our culture "Should be at the top of ...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I've been wanting to read a book about crossword puzzles ever since getting the bug during the pandemic (appropriately). Across The Universe by @natanlast.bsky.social is the one I'd been waiting for. Excellent balance of history, sociology, and craft. With lots of cameos by #gridsky regulars.
nice mention of Across the Universe on Reactor Mag!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
reactormag.com/what-to-watc...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
reactormag.com/what-to-watc...
December 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
nice mention of Across the Universe on Reactor Mag!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
reactormag.com/what-to-watc...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
reactormag.com/what-to-watc...
Reposted by Natan Last
New book just arrived at Unch Towers!
I've been looking forward to this one, @natanlast.bsky.social :)
I've been looking forward to this one, @natanlast.bsky.social :)
December 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
New book just arrived at Unch Towers!
I've been looking forward to this one, @natanlast.bsky.social :)
I've been looking forward to this one, @natanlast.bsky.social :)
Across the Universe is the #1 bestseller at McNally Jackson this week!
Makes a really good gift for the language lover in your life!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Makes a really good gift for the language lover in your life!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
December 3, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Across the Universe is the #1 bestseller at McNally Jackson this week!
Makes a really good gift for the language lover in your life!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Makes a really good gift for the language lover in your life!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Reposted by Natan Last
I bought this to give a granddaughter who already has too much stuff and too much to do.
@natanlast.bsky.social
At Bank Square Books
@natanlast.bsky.social
At Bank Square Books
December 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I bought this to give a granddaughter who already has too much stuff and too much to do.
@natanlast.bsky.social
At Bank Square Books
@natanlast.bsky.social
At Bank Square Books
Reposted by Natan Last
Reposted by Natan Last
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
Reposted by Natan Last
A lovely brief excerpt from @natanlast.bsky.social's new book about how crossword puzzles are responsible for "three of the most prominent houses in American letters" lithub.com/how-crosswor...
How Crossword Puzzles Underwrote Three of America’s Major Publishers
One winter evening in 1924 Mr. Richard L. Simon came home from dinner at his aunt Wixie’s house with an idea. He was a man of letters, now, and that’s why Wixie had invited him over. After Columbia…
lithub.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A lovely brief excerpt from @natanlast.bsky.social's new book about how crossword puzzles are responsible for "three of the most prominent houses in American letters" lithub.com/how-crosswor...
Reposted by Natan Last
Just added this to my family’s list of possible* gifts they might want to get** for me
*necessary
**they must get on pain of exile
*necessary
**they must get on pain of exile
be like Ann Patchett and buy my book for the husband figure in your life
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
November 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Just added this to my family’s list of possible* gifts they might want to get** for me
*necessary
**they must get on pain of exile
*necessary
**they must get on pain of exile
be like Ann Patchett and buy my book for the husband figure in your life
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
November 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
be like Ann Patchett and buy my book for the husband figure in your life
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Reposted by Natan Last
I just set down my copy of Across the Universe by @natanlast.bsky.social to do the Sunday Times crossword, only to find it was constructed by Natan Last.
November 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I just set down my copy of Across the Universe by @natanlast.bsky.social to do the Sunday Times crossword, only to find it was constructed by Natan Last.
Reposted by Natan Last
My copy just arrived. Very excited to dig into this after seeing @natanlast.bsky.social read from and talk about the book on Tuesday in NYC.
Across the Universe by Natan Last: 9780553387704 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of crossword puzzles, who constructs them, and why crosswords matter as both a reflection of and influence on our culture "Should be at the top of ...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
My copy just arrived. Very excited to dig into this after seeing @natanlast.bsky.social read from and talk about the book on Tuesday in NYC.
Reposted by Natan Last
Indie crossword service AVCX has an exciting offer this holiday season! Subscribe, then claim your free meta mini pack by sending an email to [email protected]. Submit the meta solution to win a free copy of @natanlast.bsky.social's book "Across the Universe."
avxwords.com
avxwords.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Indie crossword service AVCX has an exciting offer this holiday season! Subscribe, then claim your free meta mini pack by sending an email to [email protected]. Submit the meta solution to win a free copy of @natanlast.bsky.social's book "Across the Universe."
avxwords.com
avxwords.com
Reposted by Natan Last
This essay by @johannawinant.bsky.social is beautiful on what can happen in the classroom, and on the importance of *argument* to literary studies. I especially like how she writes about helping students to "believe in their own significance"
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This essay by @johannawinant.bsky.social is beautiful on what can happen in the classroom, and on the importance of *argument* to literary studies. I especially like how she writes about helping students to "believe in their own significance"
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
Reposted by Natan Last
Congrats @natanlast.bsky.social!
Our weekly peek at what's publishing. n.pr/44vFPkq
New books this week: A tome on capitalism, a deep dive on crosswords and more
Capitalism: A Global History comes in at 1,000 pages before the footnotes. Across the Universe explores the past, present and future of crossword puzzles. Plus, a Mitford sister biography and more.
n.pr
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Congrats @natanlast.bsky.social!
Reposted by Natan Last
Happy book release to @natanlast.bsky.social and all crossword fans!!
ATTENTION HOLIDAY SHOPPERS:
If you want to give someone an apparently innocuous but actually quietly radical book as a holiday gift, then you should gift them @natanlast.bsky.social’s marvelous book, great even for crossword incompetents like me🔥 #BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
If you want to give someone an apparently innocuous but actually quietly radical book as a holiday gift, then you should gift them @natanlast.bsky.social’s marvelous book, great even for crossword incompetents like me🔥 #BookSky
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
November 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Happy book release to @natanlast.bsky.social and all crossword fans!!
Reposted by Natan Last
Usually I work on NYT crosswords to reset my emotional state between answering 988 calls, so they inhabit a pretty clear (but admittedly unexamined) emotional niche in my life. I’m only a few chapters in, but I absolutely love this book and Natan’s approach to thinking about crosswords.
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Usually I work on NYT crosswords to reset my emotional state between answering 988 calls, so they inhabit a pretty clear (but admittedly unexamined) emotional niche in my life. I’m only a few chapters in, but I absolutely love this book and Natan’s approach to thinking about crosswords.
Reposted by Natan Last
This season's hottest gift just hit the shelves! Check out "Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle" by my brilliant and kind friend @natanlast.bsky.social 🤩
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 AM
This season's hottest gift just hit the shelves! Check out "Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle" by my brilliant and kind friend @natanlast.bsky.social 🤩
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723796...
Reposted by Natan Last
Congratulations to contributor @natanlast.bsky.social on the publication of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @PantheonBooks.bsky.social
Across the Universe by Natan Last: 9780553387704 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An entertaining and eye-opening look at the history of crossword puzzles, who constructs them, and why crosswords matter as both a reflection of and influence on our culture “Warning: This book...
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Congratulations to contributor @natanlast.bsky.social on the publication of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @PantheonBooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Natan Last
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Natan Last
The mini meta contest will be announced in today’s Classic email.
Submit the solution to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of @natanlast.bsky.social ‘s new crossword history book, Across the Universe. Instructions for getting the pack below!
Submit the solution to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of @natanlast.bsky.social ‘s new crossword history book, Across the Universe. Instructions for getting the pack below!
Here’s the deal! Subscribe, renew, or buy a gift subscription from avxwords.com from now thru the end of the year, and get a new meta mini pack, free.
After subscribing, send a blank email to [email protected] with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!
After subscribing, send a blank email to [email protected] with “mini meta” in the subject line, and we’ll send you the pack. Honor system!
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The mini meta contest will be announced in today’s Classic email.
Submit the solution to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of @natanlast.bsky.social ‘s new crossword history book, Across the Universe. Instructions for getting the pack below!
Submit the solution to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of @natanlast.bsky.social ‘s new crossword history book, Across the Universe. Instructions for getting the pack below!
Reposted by Natan Last
Happy publication day, @natanlast.bsky.social, whose fascinating deep dive into the crossword puzzle’s history, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, drops today! I think @mathitak.bsky.social sums the brilliance of this book up quite nicely: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
The crossword has a radical history. A puzzle veteran explores why
Natan Last’s book delves into the crossword's century-long story, exploring what the grids we solve reveal about news and culture.
www.latimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Happy publication day, @natanlast.bsky.social, whose fascinating deep dive into the crossword puzzle’s history, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, drops today! I think @mathitak.bsky.social sums the brilliance of this book up quite nicely: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Natan Last
look what arrived today! excited to read @natanlast.bsky.social 's latest
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
look what arrived today! excited to read @natanlast.bsky.social 's latest