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portybelle's review
5.0
“Every word in this collection is about being kind to ourselves and others, curing and calming our worries and problems, restoring hope and maintaining positivity.”
If ever we needed some soothing words, it is surely in these troubled times we find ourselves living in. So it is entirely appropriate, although coincidental, that this book was scheduled to be published this month. I expect the author had no inkling of just how apt some of the words he has included in this book would be by the time it made its way out into the world.
This book lists a collection of lesser known, very infrequently used words and provides a definition for each, as well as a history of the word. So many of the words included seem to speak to our everyday experiences just now as we go through this worrying time, with many of us confined to home and unable to see loved ones as we would want to.
There’s interfulgent – for when you are feeling bleak or you lack hope, a word which describes anything that shines through and offers hope. Self–soothe – for when you are having trouble sleeping, a common problem for many just now I’m sure. If you self-soothe, you calm your mind and send yourself peacefully off to sleep. Then there’s angel-visits – a word to think about when you are missing your friends. Angel-visits are meetings with friends which happen too infrequently and I think we can all identify with that just now.
My personal favourite word from the book is agathism – for when you’re feeling disillusionment or struggling to remain positive. It’s a word that describes the state roughly between optimism and pessimism and reminds us that although things may be difficult right now, they will be brighter in the future. We should focus on the good times which will eventually return.
The Cabinet of Calm is a fascinating book which would be ideal to dip in and out of. As well as lots of detail about the etymology of each word and its usage in the past, there are also information about similar or related words as well as really interesting little anecdotes. Whatever thought or feeling perturbs you in difficult times, there’s likely to be an entry for an appropriate word in this book. It’s a wee gem of a book and sure to be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in words and where they come from.
If ever we needed some soothing words, it is surely in these troubled times we find ourselves living in. So it is entirely appropriate, although coincidental, that this book was scheduled to be published this month. I expect the author had no inkling of just how apt some of the words he has included in this book would be by the time it made its way out into the world.
This book lists a collection of lesser known, very infrequently used words and provides a definition for each, as well as a history of the word. So many of the words included seem to speak to our everyday experiences just now as we go through this worrying time, with many of us confined to home and unable to see loved ones as we would want to.
There’s interfulgent – for when you are feeling bleak or you lack hope, a word which describes anything that shines through and offers hope. Self–soothe – for when you are having trouble sleeping, a common problem for many just now I’m sure. If you self-soothe, you calm your mind and send yourself peacefully off to sleep. Then there’s angel-visits – a word to think about when you are missing your friends. Angel-visits are meetings with friends which happen too infrequently and I think we can all identify with that just now.
My personal favourite word from the book is agathism – for when you’re feeling disillusionment or struggling to remain positive. It’s a word that describes the state roughly between optimism and pessimism and reminds us that although things may be difficult right now, they will be brighter in the future. We should focus on the good times which will eventually return.
The Cabinet of Calm is a fascinating book which would be ideal to dip in and out of. As well as lots of detail about the etymology of each word and its usage in the past, there are also information about similar or related words as well as really interesting little anecdotes. Whatever thought or feeling perturbs you in difficult times, there’s likely to be an entry for an appropriate word in this book. It’s a wee gem of a book and sure to be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in words and where they come from.
dogtrax's review
5.0
I slow-read this one, savoring the exploration of language and words of hope and resilience ... perfectly attuned to the pandemic year ...
bookish_spoonie's review
4.0
4 stars
When going into The Cabinet ot Calm, I had no idea what to expect. I had never read a modern book looking into the english language and discussing words that are nearly lost to us all. What I found was a very well written and interesting 200 pages about 51 words that can be used to help or soothe a vast range of tough emotions or bad experiences that many of us endure.
I really enjoyed the layout of the book. It meant I could dip into it to read about a few words when I had a spare moment. It was concise but very interesting and I learnt a lot!
I actually read this book in recovery of a major surgery and so found it particularly helpful. I learnt new words such as "Agathism" which is "a timely reminder that although things might not be quite so bright right now, they will be brighter in the future".
I also loved learning that a "bread and cheese friend" is a true friend and "someone who can be relied on in all circumstances".
My favourite phrase I learnt is a "huckmuck" which is "a jumbled mess, in which it is impossible to find anything you're looking for".
I knocked one star off as it would have been nice to have an example sentence to show us how to use these new words as some were quite obscure and it would have really helped.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you have an interest in words or the English language then it is a must read. Also if you are going through a tough time this book can help open the kind and make you think about things in different ways.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review
When going into The Cabinet ot Calm, I had no idea what to expect. I had never read a modern book looking into the english language and discussing words that are nearly lost to us all. What I found was a very well written and interesting 200 pages about 51 words that can be used to help or soothe a vast range of tough emotions or bad experiences that many of us endure.
I really enjoyed the layout of the book. It meant I could dip into it to read about a few words when I had a spare moment. It was concise but very interesting and I learnt a lot!
I actually read this book in recovery of a major surgery and so found it particularly helpful. I learnt new words such as "Agathism" which is "a timely reminder that although things might not be quite so bright right now, they will be brighter in the future".
I also loved learning that a "bread and cheese friend" is a true friend and "someone who can be relied on in all circumstances".
My favourite phrase I learnt is a "huckmuck" which is "a jumbled mess, in which it is impossible to find anything you're looking for".
I knocked one star off as it would have been nice to have an example sentence to show us how to use these new words as some were quite obscure and it would have really helped.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you have an interest in words or the English language then it is a must read. Also if you are going through a tough time this book can help open the kind and make you think about things in different ways.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review
kingjason's review
4.0
If you are wondering what sort of book this is and how relevant it is today then check out these words found in the chapter called Xenodochy.
"Xenodochy is a word of tolerance and empathy, curiosity and cooperation. And if ever a new watchword for our modern world were needed, this is surely it."
Powerful stuff and if ever a book was needed to deal with the stress of 2020 (viruses, Trump, social media trolls and climate crisis) then this is surely the book to help you heal.
This is the first book I've read by Paul Anthony Jones, I've seen others about but never gotten around to buying one of his books, I loved how this is laid out, a brief introduction and then come the words with a brief line to state when it would be helpful followed by a chapter on that word. You get so much information on the origins, examples of when it was first used and the odd tale about the words first use. I found it interesting how many of these words had a Scottish origin, I never knew how much influence they had.
My favourite word has to be Hurkle-Durkle, absolutely love how that one rolls off the tongue and it is very me...in fact I reckon most of us love a bit of Hurkle-Durkle now and then. Don't google it, buy this book to find out it's meaning.
This book isn't going to heal you but it will help you to calm down and re-centre yourself, getting lost in words for a while will be very soothing, just as the cover states.
A brilliant book that I am now passing on to my daughter who starts A-Level Psychology soon, hopefully it will provide inspiration during the course.....Now has this author done a book on swear words?
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/the-cabinet-of-calm-soothing-words-for-troubled-times-by-paul-anthony-jones/
"Xenodochy is a word of tolerance and empathy, curiosity and cooperation. And if ever a new watchword for our modern world were needed, this is surely it."
Powerful stuff and if ever a book was needed to deal with the stress of 2020 (viruses, Trump, social media trolls and climate crisis) then this is surely the book to help you heal.
This is the first book I've read by Paul Anthony Jones, I've seen others about but never gotten around to buying one of his books, I loved how this is laid out, a brief introduction and then come the words with a brief line to state when it would be helpful followed by a chapter on that word. You get so much information on the origins, examples of when it was first used and the odd tale about the words first use. I found it interesting how many of these words had a Scottish origin, I never knew how much influence they had.
My favourite word has to be Hurkle-Durkle, absolutely love how that one rolls off the tongue and it is very me...in fact I reckon most of us love a bit of Hurkle-Durkle now and then. Don't google it, buy this book to find out it's meaning.
This book isn't going to heal you but it will help you to calm down and re-centre yourself, getting lost in words for a while will be very soothing, just as the cover states.
A brilliant book that I am now passing on to my daughter who starts A-Level Psychology soon, hopefully it will provide inspiration during the course.....Now has this author done a book on swear words?
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/the-cabinet-of-calm-soothing-words-for-troubled-times-by-paul-anthony-jones/
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
In case you have been living in a forest in the middle of know where there is a lot going on at the moment. We are in the middle of a global pandemic at the moment, the planet is heating up dramatically and weather systems are becoming more extreme because of climate change. Politically we have the rise of nationalism in many countries and there is, of course, the UK’s special project, Brexit…
Some people have the ability for all these issues to just wash over them, shrugging off things that keep other people wide awake at night. But how to comfort those that need it? Well Paul Anthony Jones has just released The Cabinet of Calm. In here he has scoured the dustier corners of the dictionary to bring us words that will bring comfort to us when we are grieving, or in despair at the world around us, or have lost hope in everything.
Respair – the return of hope after a period of despair
All of these words that Jones has unearthed are a source of reassurance for those that seek solace in these troubled times within the pages of a book. In here you can learn what frowst means, words for when you are overcome with sadness or for those who often run out of weekend and you have the Monday morning blues. One very much for this moment in the middle of the pandemic and missing your friends is angel visits. If you’re in a bad mood following the news too, there is even a word coined by Dickens for a room to go and growl in.
As with his other books, it is a fascinating read, not only do you get the word, you get all the cultural and etymological background to each word and a raft of other much-underused words like sphexishness, forswunk and neiperty that you can add to your vocabulary. If you are a language addict then this is a must-read; however, its primary aim is to help those that are finding the real world all too much at the moment and I think that this will be a great help to them too.
Some people have the ability for all these issues to just wash over them, shrugging off things that keep other people wide awake at night. But how to comfort those that need it? Well Paul Anthony Jones has just released The Cabinet of Calm. In here he has scoured the dustier corners of the dictionary to bring us words that will bring comfort to us when we are grieving, or in despair at the world around us, or have lost hope in everything.
Respair – the return of hope after a period of despair
All of these words that Jones has unearthed are a source of reassurance for those that seek solace in these troubled times within the pages of a book. In here you can learn what frowst means, words for when you are overcome with sadness or for those who often run out of weekend and you have the Monday morning blues. One very much for this moment in the middle of the pandemic and missing your friends is angel visits. If you’re in a bad mood following the news too, there is even a word coined by Dickens for a room to go and growl in.
As with his other books, it is a fascinating read, not only do you get the word, you get all the cultural and etymological background to each word and a raft of other much-underused words like sphexishness, forswunk and neiperty that you can add to your vocabulary. If you are a language addict then this is a must-read; however, its primary aim is to help those that are finding the real world all too much at the moment and I think that this will be a great help to them too.
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