Customer Reviews

The Superior Person's Book of Words

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I could feast all day on a book of fine words. To me, words have colors, flavors and textures. They roll around the tongue like savory morsels, each distinct. There is an art to combining them, much as there is an art to marrying flavors in haute cuisine. Sometimes a chef is adamant about a certain spice or food element for his special dish, as only that one will do to complete a complex palate. In the same way, I will search carefully for just the right word to complete my thoughts. It is a labor of love.

The Superior Person's Book of Words is just the thing if your dictionary proves uninspiring. Not only will you find just what you are looking for, but the entertaining and wry wit employed in the definitions will sally the keen reader upon new directions in sassy verbal repartee. Many of the listings are invaluable as veiled insults, and the author frequently highlights these with sample usage sentences. My only comment on that is, living with Peter Bowler must be like living with Oscar Wilde.

There are *some* pedestrian listings thrown in, presumably as padding. Or maybe they are intended as mollifiers for the "inferior" readers? In any case, words such as "heterosexual", "pastime" and "impalement" hardly count as tidbits for the esoteric lexicographer in my opinion. Thankfully, they are relatively few.

The best part of this book though is the way the author words the definitions. Some examples:
Papuliferous. Pimply. Typical condition of a groak.
Groak. One who stands around while others eat, in the hope that he will be invited to join in. A good name for a female relative's boyfriend.
Nugatory. Of no value, trifling, insubstantial, pointless. Unfavorable criticism of the present book could properly be so characterized.

Now how could you not adore a "dictionary" like this?
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

I was lucky enough to find this book at a local used book store. I have always loved words, but I didn't know that books like this had been compiled for people like me. In introduction of this book, Peter Bowler states that words are weapons, which is exactly what you need to have in mind when attempting to use them. Although this world is full of a plethora of ignorant people, readers of this book must beware of using certain words that they think people won't recognize. For instance, beware of telling a teacher, boss, or client that he or she is acerebral. That person may have an easy time figuring out that this means that you are saying that the person to whom you are speaking doesn't have a brain. In other words, use your words wisely, and never assume that person who is taking your verbal abuse isn't reading the same book that you may have spent hours memorizing.

I am having a great time with this book. I'm just not able to give this book the highest rating. It would have been nice if Bowler had put a pronunciation guide to the words that are in this book. For some of the entries, it is easier to spell the words than it is to say them. Although it is no fault of the author, it is too bad that this book is no longer being published. This is the perfect kind of book to find at a used book store, but it would be nice to give this book as a gift (I won't give away my only copy). If you are lucky enough to find this book, don't miss your chance to purchase this jewel of a book.

I was thrilled when I found this book. I have enjoyed it immensely.

However, when learning new words to try out on friends, it strikes me that I'd like to be sure I'm pronouncing them correctly. Nothing like using a fabulous new word, only to mispronounce it. Peter, if you are out there - I'm faithfully awaiting a revision that includes the phonetic pronunciation of each word. Cheers!

Hoooooo weee, this here book sure is full of words--most of 'em nobody's never heard tell of. If you want to be highfalutin' and/or want to put on some airs, run right out and buy this darn thing.

You'll notice most of the other reviewers are showing how dang funny they are by usin' as many words from this book as they can fit in. See how gall-darned smart they look? You can have people you don't know thinkin' yer smart too. If'n you buy this here book, that is.

Just imagine that you are ringing up customers at Wal Mart and you could say something like "wow, four gallons of milk...you must have quite the galactophage on your hands" the customer will just stare at you, but you can bet it'll crack 'em up in the break room! Or when someone comes through your line buying both cookies and diet Coke you might say "I may need to get a price check on antipodes" What a knee-slapper!

If you can read, this book is fairly easy to get through--and if you can remember what you read you will have the ability to make anyone at any tractor pull, demolition derby or NASCAR race scratch their giant hat-holder and look like a real dolt in comparison. . After all, fun at other people's expense is the best kind of fun you can have.

No not really a Codger, but someone who has volumes 1 to 3 in the 'Superior Person's book of words' series.
All of them contain words that are lost to us as the standard dictionary use's only the most popular 200,000 words or so.
'Kakistocracy' e.g. Government by the worst citizens! A word NEVER used to describe the British Government, full of ministers claiming the most personnel expense's, changing planning laws to suit their own areas or taking back-hander's for favour's!
A good read, with a good drink, tucked up in bed!
Try as an additional book 'The endangered English Dictionary' by David Grambs ISBN 0-393-03623-5 and add to your arsenal of words to astound and amaze your friends and colleges.

This book will enable you to amaze your friends, baffles your enemies, and write interoffice memos to end all discussion. Words are not only tools: they are also weapons. The major objective of this book is to provide the ordinary man in the street with new and better verbal weapons, words which until now have been available only to philologists, lexicographers, and art critics. Hitherto, the man who has known the precise meanings of exigent, usufruct, pejorative, egregious and pusillanimous has been able to enjoy a position of "unfair advantage" over the rest of us. We yield to him in debate not because his arguments are more cogent, but because they are less intelligible. We accept him as a superior person because his vocabulary is a badge of rank as compelling as a top hat or a painted forehead. Digest this book and not only will you be able to speak more elegantly but you will never lose a word to destroy your enemy's arguments.

If you like collections of unusual yet useful words, you will probably like this book by Power Bowler. I have it and love it. Bowler's wit shines as he examines some wonderful words. Treat yourself to a lexical feast!

Yes, this book will interest all lexical omnivores, those collectors and aficionados of uncommon words, words which can be used to signify social superiority. It is in this book that I encountered and peremptorily metabolised some of my most choice lexical items -canard", "egregious", "screed", "sciolist" "asinine" etc which I now employ with casual ubiquity. This book will augment your vocabulary and distend your self-image.

Love this book so much i bought two copies! Definitely for anyone who loves obscure words with unexpected meanings. And the author adds a little bit o' fun with examples of how to put an ornery twist on the use of many of these words! You'll definitely giggle!

This book is a joy. Also a great gift for any friends that strike you as a little too erudite or that grand daughter just getting enough command of the language to annoy her parents.