Paperback, 224 pp., ISBN 1-894154-90-8
 $13.95
 $9.95

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A comprehensive, 3-week, day-by-day bridge course for the beginner by the bridge editor of The New York Times.

Alan Truscott is British by birth, but has been bridge editor of the New York Times since 1964. His most recent book is The New York Times Book of Bridge (2002).

"The student just learning the game will learn a lot from this book. Additionally, the writing in both is straightforward and compelling, making the task of learning the elements of this complex game a pleasure."
- Belleville Intelligencer

"An excellent beginner's guide. Full marks to the publisher for ensuring that the bidding methods were updated (in this new edition) rather than taking the easy route."
- The Bridge World

"Rarely do I get very excited about a book for newcomers to the game, but then I rarely have the pleasure of reading one as good as this. Indeed, if it is still eligible even though it is a reprint, I confidently predict that 'Bridge in 3 Weeks' will win the American Bridge Teachers Association's book of the year prize.

As you might expect from the title the book comes in 21 chapters. There is no rest on the Sabbath I am afraid! Each title deals with new aspects of bidding and play and, of course, the early chapters also cover matters of procedure. Each chapter ends with a quiz and a list of essential points to remember. The book concludes with a glossary and an index. If you really are a newcomer to the game, you will probably need to read each chapter two or three times in order for everything to sink in. It may also help if you have a pack of cards to hand. In a book of this nature, it is important that the writing is clear without being dictatorial and Truscott strikes this balance brilliantly. In his biography on the back cover, it makes no mention of his experience or qualifications as a bridge teacher. Perhaps he missed his calling.

I rarely mention a book's cover even once, and now I am going to mention it again. I cannot make up my mind which I like more: the pretty smiling face on the front or the very competitive price tag on the back. If I had to make an adverse comment about the book, I would be hard pressed to do so."
- Julian Pottage

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