Customer Reviews

Painless Vocabulary (Barron's Painless)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I needed a vocabulary book for my high-school level children that would teach as well as keep them entertained, and this book definitely delivered. It gives words that are not common in the teenager's everyday conversations, yet explains and defines in ways they can easily understand. The words are broken down into sets of five, so the reader is not overwhelmed by learning new words. It's great for the parent who homeschools their children or anyone wanting to broaden their vocabulary. Trust me -- it's absolutely PAINLESS!

- I'm not in school now but this book is very helpful to me. It shows me how to use 300 plus English words more accurately. What makes it unique is it makes learning these words fun and easy to remember.

- There are 20 chapters. Each begins with an essay that includes in context all 15 new words. After that, the terms will be introduced to the reader 5 at a time. The introduction will provide the user with italicized synonyms for many of the words. There's also an exercise called Brain Tickler. Here the learner has to select the right synonyms for the 5 terms he has just learned. The answers to them appear at the end of each chapter. A sidebar entitled Major Mistake Territory will alert him to certain pitfalls of the new words. At the end of each chapter, there's a section called On Your Own. Here there reader has to write an essay using all the terms he has learned.


- The explanation of the new words is easy to understand and remember because of good example. For example, the next sentence explains "ardent". I feel ardent about thin-crust pizza. But you probably feel "passionate" about something else, right? (By the way, ardent comes from the Latin "ardere," which means "to burn." If you feel ardent or passionate about something, you practically burn for it."

- The book's organization is clear, easy to the eyes due to illustrations and red print. There are illustrations on every 2 or 3 pages. Red print are used for new words and some headings.

- I have been spending 15 minutes a day to learn and practice using 5 new words. This books keeps me coming back for more. It's not like the ones I used while in school. Those made me scared of learning vocabularies because of their dry presentation.

- In short, every high school student and school library should have one copy. It's one of the BEST that MY MONEY CAN GET

I teach ESL (English as a Second Language) to adults and use this book with my students. It provides the (pre-college or ESL)reader with an advanced level of words that high school students need for SAT or college, and adults need for business and college writing. The vocabulary is presented in essay form first to see its usage in real life, then the words are presented in detail in groups of five so it's not overwhelming. My students liked this book so much they actually recommended it to their friends.

I purchased this book because a friend of mine lent me her book for a while. I found it a great tool in and out of the classroom and recommend it to any middle school or high school student.

This book has provided me with much needed vocabulary to use in my classes.
I like the predesigned quizzes and tests.

My high school and college students use this every day, trying to increase their use and knowledge of over 300 words that you might find in modern essays and writings. The book is fun in that there are brain ticklers, sidebars, helpful hints; plus the essays are interesting and apropos. There is one page dedicated to words from Greek and Roman myths, plus besides the 300 words covered, the author produces another 270 words that are words that everyone basically assumes that you know...but not necessarily because some are difficult and not often used in everyday conversations. This little book is a resource for any student, and also a good study guide just before the SAT and ASVAB examinations.

I purchasd the above book, the Painless Vocabulary book, The Grammar Devotional Book, and Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. These books are not only funny, but I have been able to write better papers for my college classes. Love them!

This is one of those books that helps you to avoid reinventing the wheel.

You could delve into a good classic novel and find all kinds of vocabulary words for student to learn... or you could save yourself the time and buy this.

Michael Greenberg has taken choice words from choice reading material and compiles it into twenty chapters with fifteen words per chapter.

First, the student reads an essay that includes the fifteen words. Greenberg discusses how to find the meaning of a word by its context, he covers the ways in which a word can often be misused or misapplied.

There are then exercises for the student to work through (answers are in the back) on meaning and using the words in context.

Stick with this book and you will gain three hundred new words, use them and they will be yours for life.

My 15-year old daughter is a voracious writer. She felt she was being held back by her limited vocabulary skills and she asked me to get her this book. She loves it. My daughter has ADD and it is often difficult for her to maintain focus for long perios of time. She has been completing one chapter a day and loves the way the book presents itself. She told me it is written in a fun and contemporary manner, not like a traditional textbook. She loves to tell me what she has learned and is actually eager to work with the book (extremely unusual for her). The vocabulary is definitely at a highschool level and contain words that are practical and could be used on a frequent basis. An excellent book.

good book if you want to review your vocabulary and build up a skill in writing english. It was easy to read and comprehend.