| 100% | SEUSS | 5 | Author of the books quoted at 17-, 29-, 38-, 46- and 59-Across |
| 44% | MAKEENDSMEAT | 12 | Summary of the phonetic puns at 17-, 31-, 38- and 45-Across? |
| 42% | RICHARDRUSSO | 12 | Author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Empire Falls" and 17-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | THIRTYDAYS | 10 | Feature of the time periods hinted at by the starting letters of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across |
| 41% | THEWHOLESHEBANG | 15 | What the ends of 17-, 29- and 46-Across figuratively comprise |
| 41% | SIRJAMESMBARRIE | 15 | Author of the quote beginning at 26-Across |
| 40% | ROYALFLUSH | 10 | What's hidden at the ends of 17-, 23-, 29-, 43- and 47-Across--if all are in, say, 38-Across |
| 40% | FIRSTBASE | 9 | Where the second parts of 17-, 29- and 46-Across might get you |
| 39% | USATODAYSECTION | 15 | One can be found at the starts of 17-, 29- and 45-Across |
| 39% | OBEDIENCESCHOOL | 15 | Where a puppy may learn the starts of 17-, 29- and 46-Across |
| 39% | TVDETECTIVE | 11 | What each of the characters named at the ends of 17-, 24-, 38- and 48-Across is |
| 39% | TONGUETIED | 10 | At a loss for words, and what the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across can literally be? |
| 39% | RICHARDPOWERS | 13 | Author of 18-Across, 40-Across, and the National Book Award-winning "The 9-Down Maker" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | ANON | 4 | Author of the quip at 20-, 37-, 51-, 66-, 20-, 37-, and 51-Across |
| 38% | FIRESAFETY | 10 | Subject in which the first words of 17-, 29- and 46-Across are sage advice |
| 38% | STOPLIGHT | 9 | Signal hinted at by the first parts of 17-, 31- and 46-Acros |
| 37% | THEWIZARDOFOZ | 13 | Provider of the first words of 29-, 38- and 45-Across |
| 37% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Author born 9/21/1947 who penned the starts of 17-, 24-, 38- and 52-Across |
| 37% | SHAKESHAKESHAKE | 15 | Start of a KC and the Sunshine Band title, and 17-, 29-, and 46-Across |
| 37% | SARAPARETSKY | 12 | Author of "Brush Back," the latest of 17 novels featuring 38-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | ELECTRICCAR | 11 | One is parked at the starts of 17- and 38-Across and 11- and 28-Down |
| 36% | ERNESTHEMINGWAY | 15 | Author of 17 and 63 Across |
| 36% | OSCAR | 5 | With 63-Across, author of the quip starting at 17-Across |
| 35% | ASSANGE | 7 | Author of the 2012 book "Cypherpunks: Freedom and the Future of the Internet" |
| 35% | FANTASTICFOUR | 13 | Superhero team with the physical features of 19-, 28-, 38-, and 46-Across |
| 35% | ROALDDAHL | 9 | Author of the children's book "James and the Giant Peach": 2 wds. |
| 35% | COUNTERFEITCOIN | 15 | Slug, or a hint to the starts of 17-, 28- and 46-Across |
| 35% | EGAN | 4 | Jennifer —, author of the novels The Keep and Look at Me |
| 35% | NEILGAIMAN | 10 | Author of "The Sandman" graphic novels and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | HARPERLEE | 9 | Author of the book that Times readers voted the best of the last hundred and twenty-five years |