The Superior Person's Second Book

I bought Peter Bowler's first "Superior Person's Little Book of Words" years ago, and read it so often that it fell apart. I bought another. Then came newer editions. Of all the "word books" to emerge in recent years ( and I've read many of them) this is written with the most wit and style. You might read through his book once, then you'll keep going back anytime you want a smile or a laugh. Not only does he love interesting and unusual words, he's damned funny writing about them, with hilarious examples of using them. I pray that this man keeps exploring the riches of our language, and writing about them!

I learned a lot from this wonderful book, which was a well-considered Christmas gift from my extremely exoptable best friend. One thing I learned is that I am rather devoted to gynotikolobomassophilia, as long as it is with the right person, of course! Unfortunately, on the down side, I occasionally suffer from bouts of onychophagy when under stress. (Sometimes I bite my nails.) This book is an absolute treasure trove of exotic vocabulary. Prior to reading this book, I knew what maybe ten percent of these words meant. To say that I have been enlightened and broadened is somewhat of an understatement. I did not know, for instance, that "fabiform" means "bean-shaped." Likewise I was surprised to discover that "interbastation," which sounds positively naughty, actually means "quilting." Also amusing to me is the discussion of the typeface, a normally boring affair. Perhaps one reason I liked this book so much is because it is set in Galliard, "a type of solid weight, it possesses authentic sparkle that is lacking in most current Garamonds." This is a great book. The entries are universally witty and obscure, and will be sure to please the bibliophile in your life. I could not recommend this book more highly.

Bowler has compiled another interesting collection of words, with amusing commentary on them. While there is some repetition of common-root words (e.g., morology, morosis), and not all of these words seem particularly arcane (e.g., natatorium, zeitgeist), this book would be of use to the RUPTUARY aspiring to TAPINOSIS, and enjoyable for the rest of us.