Morris Rosenblum

Despite typographical flaws and dated references and language, this turned out to be a pretty fun read. I decided to read it after getting through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian and realizing I knew nothing about the English language. All in all, having gone through it without the pressure of preparing for a standardized test, I definitely feel my vocabulary has grown (along with my etymological understanding of our language's component parts). I can't say this was a brilliant book (if show more there is one, please let me know) but I had fun with it. show less

Despite typographical flaws and dated references and language, this turned out to be a pretty fun read. I decided to read it after getting through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian and realizing I knew nothing about the English language. All in all, having gone through it without the pressure of preparing for a standardized test, I definitely feel my vocabulary has grown (along with my etymological understanding of our language's component parts). I can't say this was a brilliant book (if show more there is one, please let me know) but I had fun with it. show less

If there's anything I dislike about this book, it's its dry and boring title, which gives the book an utterly incorrect image. "How to Build a Better Vocabulary" is not about memorizing lists of words. Instead, it's about what's behind words. It's filled with etymological facts, stories, funny examples, headlines, and common errors. Rather than tedious as the title emanates, this book is an engaging read for anyone who loves words.

The history, folklore, and anecdotal treatment of vocabulary building is featured is this reference work. I find it great to refer to and a reminder of the gaps in my vocabulary.