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102 reviews for:
The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon Winchester
3.78 AVERAGE
102 reviews for:
The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon Winchester
3.78 AVERAGE
I did really enjoy the subject matter of this book, but the writing was too dry, it felt like I was reading Wikipedia. If you are interested in the subject I still recommend [b:The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way|29|The Mother Tongue English and How It Got That Way|Bill Bryson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888s/29.jpg|2170063] and maybe [b:The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary|25019|The Professor and the Madman A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary|Simon Winchester|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167571834s/25019.jpg|1628566]
Simon Winchester knows how to make a dry subject interesting. In the case of this history of the Oxford English Dictionary, he makes it fascinating.
He occasionally makes use of words you haven't heard since you last studied for the SATs, but at the same time makes you feel more like he's relating this story while sipping single malt scotch and reclining before a fire.
Winchester's trademark is his frequent use of footnotes, these are almost always more than one sentence long and either elaborate on an aforementioned quirk or illuminate the backstory. I found myself checking for footnotes every time I turned the page because the information in them was always so unexpected and so enjoyable to read.
This book sheds light on the incredible process that goes into the compilation of such a massive reference book, but spends enough time on the colorful characters and ridiculous delays to keep the story entertaining.
He occasionally makes use of words you haven't heard since you last studied for the SATs, but at the same time makes you feel more like he's relating this story while sipping single malt scotch and reclining before a fire.
Winchester's trademark is his frequent use of footnotes, these are almost always more than one sentence long and either elaborate on an aforementioned quirk or illuminate the backstory. I found myself checking for footnotes every time I turned the page because the information in them was always so unexpected and so enjoyable to read.
This book sheds light on the incredible process that goes into the compilation of such a massive reference book, but spends enough time on the colorful characters and ridiculous delays to keep the story entertaining.