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A review by factandfables
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper
5.0
So, I haven't checked with the books I have back home, but I am fairly sure I don't actually own an English language dictionary. After reading this book, I am ready to go out and buy one tomorrow. And you should too - because if we are not buying dictionaries, no one will be around to define (and redefine) words because buying dictionaries is how these people will get paid. If you want to know why these people are important, read this book!
This book isn't perfect - it is a book about the complex task of defining the English language written by someone who spends their life doing this, and as such, it can be a little too technical at times.
It is however, fascinating for anyone who, like me, gets excited when learning about pockets of the world they know nothing about, and it was a really interesting glimpse into the ways that language can be tracked and defined.
One of my favorite books in a while
This book isn't perfect - it is a book about the complex task of defining the English language written by someone who spends their life doing this, and as such, it can be a little too technical at times.
It is however, fascinating for anyone who, like me, gets excited when learning about pockets of the world they know nothing about, and it was a really interesting glimpse into the ways that language can be tracked and defined.
One of my favorite books in a while