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65 reviews for:
The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the World, One Correction at a Time
Jeff Deck
3.18 AVERAGE
65 reviews for:
The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the World, One Correction at a Time
Jeff Deck
3.18 AVERAGE
Huh. Well. I guess I liked the idea of this book better than the actual book. It was kind of slow. And really its mission wasn't clear. Though writing a review for this book is making me self-conscious, cause really I have a typo in pretty much every review. Though I do often go back, re-read and fix them. Having the heroes basically skip Portland was a little disappointing, though having one of the authors apparently end up in Beaverton and only two hops away according to linkedin makes it a tiny bit better. Still a fun-ish book on language and nicety and perhaps making a difference, if only a small one.
I did enjoy reading this book even if I wanted to choke the author a couple of times. It was nice to see his progression as he traveled the country and see the different errors and the reactions if/when he confronted someone about them. This may become a suggestion for a future book group read.
THE GREAT TYPO HUNT was definitely a fun little nerdy read. I mean, two guys ride around the country with a bag of white-out and sharpies, ready to fix grammar and spelling errors on signs and billboards everywhere?! Yes, please!
Alongside the tales of craziness and adventure from state to state are musings from the author concerning the nature of language and of his quest to correct the typos of the world - which adds a nice philosophical twist to things. By altering small town window displays, are our authors destroying a hint of classic charm or are they leveling the playing field when it comes to keeping up with the big dogs in advertising? Should historical errors be taken as pieces of nostalgia and history or should these too be subject to the wrath of our great editors?
And what happens when typo corrections -- at the Grand Canyon, of all places -- ends up being a matter of national security, resulting in a typo hunt in court?
Although the story got a teensy bit repetitive near the end, this was an overall amazing book that gave loads of entertainment as well as a few interesting gem about travel, history, and (of course) language.
While I totally understand that this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, THE GREAT TYPO HUNT will certainly find an audience with fellow book nerds and grammar police everywhere, I know!
Alongside the tales of craziness and adventure from state to state are musings from the author concerning the nature of language and of his quest to correct the typos of the world - which adds a nice philosophical twist to things. By altering small town window displays, are our authors destroying a hint of classic charm or are they leveling the playing field when it comes to keeping up with the big dogs in advertising? Should historical errors be taken as pieces of nostalgia and history or should these too be subject to the wrath of our great editors?
And what happens when typo corrections -- at the Grand Canyon, of all places -- ends up being a matter of national security, resulting in a typo hunt in court?
Although the story got a teensy bit repetitive near the end, this was an overall amazing book that gave loads of entertainment as well as a few interesting gem about travel, history, and (of course) language.
While I totally understand that this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, THE GREAT TYPO HUNT will certainly find an audience with fellow book nerds and grammar police everywhere, I know!
This was great! I love the idea, and the book was well-written with some interesting side-bars thrown in. A must-read for anyone who cringes when you see someone say "your going to love it" or "its a must read for it's typo-correcting goodness!"
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. It's nerdy but interesting, and surprisingly insightful.
I thought I found a typo near the bottom of page 77 ("...we made an heinous discovery.") but, given the subject matter that follows, it's more likely a play on pronunciation. The only other typo I noticed is a slight variation on a quote on the bottom of page 223: "And we also decided" is repeated as "And we'd also decided". The book was well-edited and that's fabulous because bad editing would have been the biggest downfall for a book about typos.
I really enjoyed this book. It's nerdy but interesting, and surprisingly insightful.
I thought I found a typo near the bottom of page 77 ("...we made an heinous discovery.") but, given the subject matter that follows, it's more likely a play on pronunciation. The only other typo I noticed is a slight variation on a quote on the bottom of page 223: "And we also decided" is repeated as "And we'd also decided". The book was well-edited and that's fabulous because bad editing would have been the biggest downfall for a book about typos.
I was expecting kind of a light-hearted romp, but was actually rewarded with something much more thoughtful. Musings abound on subjects as wide-ranging as race, psychology, the media, the court system, education, the history and evolution of English, and yes, WHY typos should be corrected.
I couldn't help but notice that when using words in phrases in quotes, the book kept placing commas and periods outside the quotes. I'm pretty sure that usage is correct in the U.K. but not here. Just sayin'. :)
I couldn't help but notice that when using words in phrases in quotes, the book kept placing commas and periods outside the quotes. I'm pretty sure that usage is correct in the U.K. but not here. Just sayin'. :)
This authors mission is noble, if a bit conceded. An interesting setup, at the very least. But his prose in telling the story is so far up his own ass that I'm shocked he was able to yank enough of it out to actually write the thing.
This is not the dry Iacademicit tome the title may make you think it is.
Jeff Deck, 30-something college grad, decided to take a road trip. But not just any road trip; he wanted to go around the country spotting typos and correcting them. He roped two friends and his girlfriend into sharing different legs of the journey with him. Benjamin Herson, the co-author, did the largest section of the trip.
As with any road trip, they had adventures and Deck learned things about himself and the world. I'm sure he was changed, and probably improved, by the experience. That's what a good road trip is for, right?
For most of the book, it's an enjoyable read. Deck (and Herson) are pretty funny, and geekier, I suspect, than they really let on.
For my longer, more detailed review, you can check out Triple Take. http://www.flaminggeeks.com/tripletake . There you'll also find reviews from my other uh.. Takers?
As with any road trip, they had adventures and Deck learned things about himself and the world. I'm sure he was changed, and probably improved, by the experience. That's what a good road trip is for, right?
For most of the book, it's an enjoyable read. Deck (and Herson) are pretty funny, and geekier, I suspect, than they really let on.
For my longer, more detailed review, you can check out Triple Take. http://www.flaminggeeks.com/tripletake . There you'll also find reviews from my other uh.. Takers?
Jeff Deck sets out on an epic quest to rid America of typos. Along the way he encounters resistance, acceptance, and downright rudeness as he and his fellow members of TEAL (the Typo Eradication Advancement League) try to help others see the errors of their ways.
Deck started out wanting to change the world, like his fellow university graduates, but all he had were his editorial skills. I can empathize with him, because sadly, editorial skills are pretty much my greatest skills (sometimes I fear they're my only skills). His efforts, in tandem with those of his friend Benjamin Herson, yielded mixed results. In the end, what Deck learned was that his journey wasn't so much an outward one as an inward one. His work solidified his purpose; at the end of The Great Typo Hunt, Deck and Herson are planning another typo hunt. Whether this event ever took place, I don't know, but I'd certainly like to find out.
There's a handy little primer to help fend off the most common typos included as an appendix to the book, as well.
An enjoyable read overall, The Great Typo Hunt has moments of great humour--many of them--and some real insights into the constant evolution of the English language.
Deck started out wanting to change the world, like his fellow university graduates, but all he had were his editorial skills. I can empathize with him, because sadly, editorial skills are pretty much my greatest skills (sometimes I fear they're my only skills). His efforts, in tandem with those of his friend Benjamin Herson, yielded mixed results. In the end, what Deck learned was that his journey wasn't so much an outward one as an inward one. His work solidified his purpose; at the end of The Great Typo Hunt, Deck and Herson are planning another typo hunt. Whether this event ever took place, I don't know, but I'd certainly like to find out.
There's a handy little primer to help fend off the most common typos included as an appendix to the book, as well.
An enjoyable read overall, The Great Typo Hunt has moments of great humour--many of them--and some real insights into the constant evolution of the English language.