The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Smart Vocabulary

by Paul McFedries

Defines over 1,000 words in subject areas such as people, computers, business, law, culture, and government, as well as foreign terms and new words. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028639979
• ISBN13: 9780028639970
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.2" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

a good guide for non-native English speakers

Though I doubt it would contribute much to native English speakers, the book is a true gem for a person like me who only recently moved to an English speaker country. It is humorously written and well presented. It is loaded with all-you-need-know about the words that will ease you into an English-speaking life. I recommend it to any non-native English speakers who are keen to construct a useful and usable vocab.

Good for life, not very useful for standart tests

As the date for my GRE and MCAT test approaches, I needed a book to increase my vocabulary for the verbal section (specially for the MCAT where vocabulary section is very tough) so I borrowed this book from a local library... the reading is very appealing: each vocabulary list are classified under a general topic, interesting and curious facts about the words are provided. However, I do not find it very useful for graduate examinations test since it devotes many sections to computer jargoon which obviously do not appear in the GRE. Yet for real life, I think it is useful since many words are used; moreover, one featured that I loved is that it presents English idioms... this is specially useful for people whom English is their second language such as moi

The most thought provoking vocabulary book I ever read . . .

If you enjoy words, love reading, and are naturally curious about meaning, this book is bound to become one of your all time favorites. I borrowed a copy from the library twice before realizing I'll be coming back to this book forever so I bought my own copy. It takes today's most relevant words and injects a stimulating and compelling reason for learning them. To summarize this book in one word "fascinating", to summarize in two words "must have." Jay Myers 2-23-03