The Backwash Squeeze and Other Improbable Feats - by Edward McPherson (Paperback)

About the Book

In this absorbing history, a journalist travels cross-country to discover why bridge has become and remains such a popular pastime. Revealing how he learned to play, McPherson introduces a new generation to a game that is intelligent, intricate, and enthralling.

From the Back Cover

At one time the game was even bigger than baseball. Today bridge is played by more than twenty-five million people in the United States alone, with Bill Gates, a sitting Supreme Court justice, and the guys from Radiohead among its devotees. In this spirited homage, Edward McPherson recounts the colorful history of the game and his attempts to master its mysteries in time to compete at the North American Bridge Championships--despite being barely able to shuffle cards, let alone play competitively. Insightful, funny, and steeped in respect, The Backwash Squeeze is an affectionate view of a grand game by an outsider trying to make his way into the inner circle.

Review Quotes

Amusing. . . . McPherson attended tournaments and visited clubs, interviewing famous players and collecting fascinating anecdotes. . . . Breezy, absorbing account. - Publishers Weekly
Lively and approachable field guide to the daunting challenges of contract bridge. . . . Alternating extensive gaming history with oddball personality profiles, McPherson's text underscores the major and minor intricacies of a game known for its "mentally-taxing" complications. His presentation, by contrast, is accessible, chatty and unintimidating. A unique primer. - Kirkus Reviews