Customer Reviews

A Word A Day: A Romp Through Some of the Most Unusual and Intriguing Words in English

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The reviewers I read echo my thoughts about this book -- I liked it a lot -- but they fail to warn how short it really is. There are 55 chapters, but most are 3 pages long, generously spaced, and the third page often has half or more of it as trailing blank space so the next chapter can start a new page. You can read it cover to cover in one sitting, so it's not much bang for the buck.

Buy the book, though. The quotations alone are worth the price, and Anu deserves some return for the AWAD website that he has provided free of charge for nearly 10 years. But the book would have been a much better value if it had been twice the length, which it could easily have been, given Anu's virtuosity.

Anu Garg dreams of a "society (that) will replace guns with dictionaries." This utopian hope is unfortunately not likely to ever occur. Nonetheless, the author of this "romp through some of the most unusual and intriguing words in English" is doing his utmost to make the world a better place. Many loyal subscribers have long been receiving his free daily "Wordsmith" e-mail that serves to expand our knowledge and understanding of the English language. Garg takes us along on a journey to explore a myriad collection of words that aid us in communicating with each other. Ever wondered what one should call a group of Pheasants? What about annus mirabilis? Anu Garg will gladly tell you. He will also explain the meaning of a clochard or a massif.

The English language is constantly evolving. Those who lived in the Middle Ages would be bewildered by the common tongue of today. Our democratic culture guarantees that English will never ossify and be under the control of an elite oligarchy. We will keep on adding more words and reinterpreting some in new ways previously thought not acceptable. Thus, Anu Garg will never be able to rest knowing that his task is finished. He has a job for life. The author thankfully possesses more than sufficient talent to handle these responsibilities. Almost certainly Garg's delightful wife Stuti and their wonderful five year old daughter Ananya will continue to offer their assistance. This is a fantastic book that should definitely grace your personal bookshelf. Moreover, it also makes a splendid gift for just about any occasion.

I'm a loyal fan of AWAD, so I knew what to expect from this book and wasn't disappointed. Each chapter has several odd words, with their histories and examples of how they can be used. But for me, the best part of Anu's writing is the selection of quotes that appear at the bottom of each page in small print. Anu Garg has more fun with words than just about anyone around. You can't read him for very long without picking up his enthusiasm. I hope all AWAD readers will get a copy of this as a gift for others--spread the word!

Fans of the always-intriguing 'A Word a Day' email newsletter will be delighted to see this compilation by creator Anu Garg. Garg is a great and sensitive painter of the play of words in English -- their history, their quirks, their shades of meanings, even their sounds. Rarely if ever does he fall into the all-too-common trap of polemics about language deterioration that some commentators indulge in. Garg is clearly a lover of his subject and knows a great deal. Topics are presented in clever sections such as "I Didn't Know there was a Word for That!" The jacket blurb by Richard Lederer, no slouch of a writer about words himself, refers to A Word a Day as a "banquet of words." I wouldn't go that far, because my only complaint is that due to the large print and margins, I left this book hungry for more. So I hope there's a sequel.

This book is a compilation put out by Mr. Anu Garg. If you are not familiar with Mr. Garg, he keeps the "Word a Day" email list. Mr. Garg's love of words shows through his "Word a Day" list and now, this book as well. A great gift for any linguaphiles on your list.

I will keep it brief because the title of this book explains its subject matter well. This is a well-written, intriguing little book that begs to be pored over at one's leisure. It is a pleasure to read about obscure words and their origins.

Suscribers to the AWAD mailing lists should be more than familiar with the entertaining and refreshing style of Anu. I have combed through this entire book and I have personally found it entertaining and useful. Some of the words are those we may use in our everyday lives, but the author also included lots of rare and exotic words. I don't believe that the purpose of this book be test preparation, but if you're the type who just enjoys exploring the wonderful world of words or adding to your vocabulary, this is the book to get. If you;re a word buff (like me), then don't miss this. Overall a great book!

I agree with the accurate praise from other reviewers. This book is perfect gift for word lovers, history buffs and anyone who delights in the quirkiness of the English language. My copy is always close at hand - just the thing to satisfy the urge for a quick tidbit of brain candy. Fans of Anu's A-Word-A-Day (AWAD) will love this book. If you're not already a janissary, check out Anu's site. You'll see why AWAD has brought daily smiles to more than 400,000 linguaphiles in over 195 countries. Soon you'll be hooked and want your own copy of this wonderful compilation.

Don't miss it!

Anu Garg writes a fun romp through the riches of the English language. Did'ja know that English has about 100,000 words? And than the NEXT wordiest language is German--and it has only about 20,000 (and they swipe English words shamelessly.)

If you want to gain more vocabulary and have fun doing it, I can't recommend this fine book enough. If you like the works of writers like Richard Lederer (Anguished English), you will really want a copy of this. Since I like words and I enjoy learning new ones, I was pleased to find that there were plenty of words here I had never seen before. Great fun for students, especially those training for SAT's. Recommended.

Have always loved the AWAD web site and Garg's fresh approach to language. How nice to have a book in one's hand to peruse at leisure. Garg's introductions to each chapter personalize and make the somewhat arcane words come to life.