A Word a Day: A Romp Through Some of the Most Unusual and Intriguing Words in English

This book is a compilation put out by Mr. Anu Garg. If you are not familiar with Mr. Garg, he keeps the "Word a Day" email list. Mr. Garg's love of words shows through his "Word a Day" list and now, this book as well. A great gift for any linguaphiles on your list.

I will keep it brief because the title of this book explains its subject matter well. This is a well-written, intriguing little book that begs to be pored over at one's leisure. It is a pleasure to read about obscure words and their origins.

I'm a loyal fan of AWAD, so I knew what to expect from this book and wasn't disappointed. Each chapter has several odd words, with their histories and examples of how they can be used. But for me, the best part of Anu's writing is the selection of quotes that appear at the bottom of each page in small print. Anu Garg has more fun with words than just about anyone around. You can't read him for very long without picking up his enthusiasm. I hope all AWAD readers will get a copy of this as a gift for others--spread the word!

Anu Garg dreams of a "society (that) will replace guns with dictionaries." This utopian hope is unfortunately not likely to ever occur. Nonetheless, the author of this "romp through some of the most unusual and intriguing words in English" is doing his utmost to make the world a better place. Many loyal subscribers have long been receiving his free daily "Wordsmith" e-mail that serves to expand our knowledge and understanding of the English language. Garg takes us along on a journey to explore a myriad collection of words that aid us in communicating with each other. Ever wondered what one should call a group of Pheasants? What about annus mirabilis? Anu Garg will gladly tell you. He will also explain the meaning of a clochard or a massif. The English language is constantly evolving. Those who lived in the Middle Ages would be bewildered by the common tongue of today. Our democratic culture guarantees that English will never ossify and be under the control of an elite oligarchy. We will keep on adding more words and reinterpreting some in new ways previously thought not acceptable. Thus, Anu Garg will never be able to rest knowing that his task is finished. He has a job for life. The author thankfully possesses more than sufficient talent to handle these responsibilities. Almost certainly Garg's delightful wife Stuti and their wonderful five year old daughter Ananya will continue to offer their assistance. This is a fantastic book that should definitely grace your personal bookshelf. Moreover, it also makes a splendid gift for just about any occasion.

Fans of the always-intriguing 'A Word a Day' email newsletter will be delighted to see this compilation by creator Anu Garg. Garg is a great and sensitive painter of the play of words in English -- their history, their quirks, their shades of meanings, even their sounds. Rarely if ever does he fall into the all-too-common trap of polemics about language deterioration that some commentators indulge in. Garg is clearly a lover of his subject and knows a great deal. Topics are presented in clever sections such as "I Didn't Know there was a Word for That!" The jacket blurb by Richard Lederer, no slouch of a writer about words himself, refers to A Word a Day as a "banquet of words." I wouldn't go that far, because my only complaint is that due to the large print and margins, I left this book hungry for more. So I hope there's a sequel.