A Grammar Book for You and I (Oops, Me): All the Grammar You Need to Succeed in Life (Capital Ideas) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

" . . .good read[s]for word mavens . . ." -- William Safire, New York Times

"...a valuable grammar manual written in a highly accessible, conversational tone (grammar books need not be school-marmish)." -- Writer

"Good’s guide is as witty and as common-sensical a grammar text as you’ll ever add to your reference shelf..." -- New Jersey Law Journal

"Oops Me" is as witty and as common-sensical a guide to writing as you'll ever add to your reference shelf. -- Legal Times,

"This is Strunk & White times two. And as authoritative and joyful to read." -- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Product Description

In America today college professors cringe at the lack of writing skills displayed by their students, business leaders bemoan poor communicative skills among their employees, and people themselves recognize that they (and their children) have a problem and want to do something about it.
This inviting book introduces readers anew to the eight parts of speech and common grammatical problems -- such as the case of pronouns depicted in the book's title, the tension between nouns and verbs, the controversy of the active vs. passive voice, and the power of a verb-based style. Then equipped with a knowledge of the parts of speech and the power of the verb form, Good presents his theory of style and the craft of sentences -- including those important marks of punctuation.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books; 1st edition (March 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892123231
• ISBN-13: 978-1892123237
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give this book 10 stars, June 1, 2003

By	John P. (Kennett Square, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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I own and have used numerous grammar books, and this one is without a doubt THE best grammar book on the market for the general reader. Mr. Good starts on the ground floor, so that no previous knowledge of grammar is needed. At the same time, however, he does not talk down to the reader, nor does he shy away from many aspects of grammar that other books deem too complex for beginners. Everything is explained here with perfect clarity, and nothing important is left out. Moreover, beyond Mr. Good's superlative explanations of grammar, this book earns 10 stars because Mr. Good shows us how our knowledge of grammar can improve our writing. He does this not with airy praise of grammatical education, but with concrete examples and advice that you can start using to improve your writing immediately. This book is not short, and it's not full of jokes and cartoons. But, if you really want to learn grammar and to write and speak better, buy this book now and read it from cover to cover. I can't think of any better way to spend your money and time.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 25, 2002

By	Srebrenica Forever (Sweden) - See all my reviews

For many years I have been searching for a well written and well structured book of English grammar but only in vain. I have analyzed a great number of grammar books but none of them had met my expectations. Until now! Good's book is not only well written, it is also simple, lucid and comprehensive. Throughout the entire book, the author gives valuable and helpful advice to the reader as to how to avoid common grammatical errors. Each section is carefully and pedagogically structured to facilitate understanding of the key concepts of english grammar. As is well known, pronouns can cause difficulties to unexperienced users of english grammar. However, Good provides a clear and simple explanation which will eliminate all doubts and answer all questions pertaining to cases of pronouns. Furthermore, some people are not sure when to employ adjectives versus adverbs but Good reveals simple rules and guidelines that will help clarify this aspect of grammar. In addition, this book will also help you identify as well as differentiate between highly important elements of the english grammar such as transitive versus intransitive verbs, direct vs indirect objects and independent vs subordinate clauses. The final section of the book highlights common pitfalls and serious grammatical blunders. Subsequently, you will not only learn how to avoid serious grammatical errors, you will also learn how to rectify them. Needless to say, effective communication relies heavily on adequate and sufficient grammatical skills. This book will provide you with necessary skills that will optimize your communicative competence. In addition to this book, I highly recommend a book called Word Smart by Princeton Review. This book will enhance and enlarge your vocabulary in a way you never thought possible. To my mind, the above mentioned books are the only books you need to communicate effectively in english language. I would like to stress though that mastering english grammar will require an additional book, which is titled Analyzing English Grammar. This is truly an excellent book. In conclusion, Edward Good's book is invaluable. No other book on the market is nearly as good as this one. I strongly recommend this book to all people who want to improve their grammatical skills.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply A Treasure!, June 17, 2002

By	Afaq Sarwar (Hawaii, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is amusing, it is witty, and it is just plain good. I consider myself lucky to have come across this treasure of a book and would like to thank Mr. Good for writing it.

As a professional engineer who speaks English as a second language, I have been searching for a grammar book I can use to improve my grammar proficiency. Over the years, I bought many grammar books that quickly started collecting dust. First of all, grammar is a dry subject, and one is quickly tempted to give up. Second, most books do not seem to address the needs of those who speak and write English as a second language.

Well, this one is different on both accounts. In less than a month since I started reading "Oops Me," I have covered more material than I had in years with other books. And the best part is that I am enjoying the learning. Mr. Good is a natural storyteller, and once he engages you, learning becomes an adventure, a joy ride really.

In a word, this book is a "must."