Customer Reviews

A Barrel Full of Words: A Treasury of Wordplay

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For all those fascinated by the oddities and funny contradictions
inherent in the English language, this is a must read. The words
dispensed, discussed, and dissected are not made up words or puns
based on spelling mishaps--every word is real and in the
dictionary. The author's new definitions for old words make a lot
more sense than the dictionary--and are usually much funnier. This
is a perfect bedside book whose parts can be read in any order.
I recommend it highly.

If you like words-and if you like to laugh-you'll enjoy "A Barrel Full of Words." We are all familiar with such collective nouns as "a pride of lions." Wegryn invents "a complex of psychiatrists" and "a mass of priests." He redefines words: "superintend" could mean "really, really mean to." And he makes us wonder about words: "Why is it father, mother, and brother, but not sisther?" After reading the book, you will find that you begin thinking like the author. You'll play with words and they'll play with you. What fun!