March Madness and the Tournament of Books!

TL;DR

The Tournament of Books is an annual event that celebrates literary awards and pits books against each other in a March Madness-style bracket.

Transcript

last week in Louisville we got a chance to see a little bit of the NCAA college basketball fever as it slides into March Madness but March heralds the start of another bracket I look forward to every year and that's the morning News's the tournament of books conceived like all the best things in life in a bar back in 2004 when three friends started... Read More

Key Insights

• 💁 The Tournament of Books was created to generate discussion and champion overlooked books in a literary award format.
• 🥳 The bracket-style tournament format adds an exciting competitive element to the celebration of literature.
• 💬 Reader comments play a significant role in the tournament, fostering a healthy discourse among book lovers.
• 🧑‍⚖️ The selection of books is subjective and relies on the individual preferences of the organizers and judges.
• 🧑‍⚖️ Judges have to disclose any connections they have with the books in the tournament, ensuring transparency and fairness.
• 😫 The tournament allows for unexpected outcomes and upsets, making it an exciting event for book enthusiasts.
• 😚 Critics appreciate the close consideration and thoughtful critiques given by judges during the tournament.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Tournament of Books come about?

The Tournament of Books was conceived in 2004 when three friends in a bar discussed the idea of creating a literary award that prioritized book discussions over secret decisions made by established literary figures.

Q: How are books chosen for the tournament?

A list of 72 books is chosen in November, which eventually gets narrowed down to a shortlist of 18 books in January. The selection is completely subjective, based on the preferences of the organizers and judges.

Q: Are readers allowed to comment on the tournament?

Yes, reader comments have been allowed since 2009. While discussions can get heated, they contribute to a healthy discourse among readers, regardless of the judges' decisions.

Q: Who are some notable past winners of the tournament?

David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas," Ali Smith's "The Accidental," Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," and Junot Diaz's "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" have all been crowned champions in past tournaments.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Tournament of Books was created in 2004 as a way to discuss and champion books that didn't make traditional literary award lists.

• The tournament follows a March Madness-style bracket format, where books are pitted against each other until a reigning champion is crowned.

• Judges in the tournament have to acknowledge any connection they have with the books on the list of contenders.