Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
 Best value and best word book ever! September 30, 2008
Chiajung Lin (Pasaden, CA United States)
This book is light and easy to carry to anywhere wherever I go so that I can practice words anytime. The author takes me to study words step-by-step in very easy and relaxed method. I have over 20 word practice books, and this one probably the best I have so far.
Awesome Book September 1, 2008
J. Gandhi (Boise, ID USA)
Read this book in a train for the very first time in 2000. Bought it again in 2008 just to refresh my memory. Hasnt lost the charm yet. Explains the basic roots of words and sentences. Highly recommended
 A great place to start June 30, 2008
Kevin J. Kelly (Chicago, IL USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I first encountered this book in high school when I took a summer course on how to do better on the ACT (a course offered by my high school). Although I approached this book like I did any other back then (with no real effort), the book did stand out in my mind. I eventually bought the book many years later in an effort to better my vocabulary. br / br /The format of the book is like a first year Spanish (or any other foreign language) textbook. A list of words are provided at the beginning of the chapter and the rest of the chapter is dedicated to using the words and testing your knowledge. Many of the chapters rely on one root word and expand on it. For example there is one chapter on fears and most of the words end in phobia. This makes learning a little easier because instead of learning each word individually, you can learn a group of words. br / br /Some sample Chapters: br /4. How to talk about liars and lying. br /Words include (but are not limited to): notorious, consummate, incorrigible, congenital, egregious. br / br /16. How to talk about a variety of personal characteristics. br /words include: obsequious, supercilious, bibulous, innocuous. br / br / br /However, every few chapters the author changes subjects completely and skips a specific vocab lesson in order to teach an overall lesson br /Some chapters include: br /3. How grammar changes br /The difference between me and I at the end of a sentence, Proper verb agreement, and keeping the subject of the sentence the same. br / br /8. How to spell a word br /This chapter is dedicated to simple tricks that help you remember how to spell words. For example "I before e except after c." br / br / br /Overall I really like this layout. It takes a few weeks to read through (if you take your time and do it properly). There is one reason why I gave the book a 4 out of 5. You can't just read a vocab book and expect to have great vocabulary. The key is to read. Whether it be the newspaper, a magazine, or a novel every few weeks, the best way to improve your vocabulary is to constantly challenge yourself. The novel Ulysses by James Joyce draws from over 30,000 words!! Even though the book was written over 50 years ago, almost every word in it is still part of an essential modern vocabulary.
 Its not this easy August 28, 2007
Dr. Thilo Gross (Princeton, NJ, USA)
8 out of 16 found this review helpful
Why do you want to increase the size of your vocabulary? If you want just want to show off then this may be a book for you. However, if you want to be able to formulate your thoughts more precisely stay away from it. The method that the author proposes gives you a rough idea of the meaning of a word. That's it. After working through the book you may be able to say the same thing in six different ways, but you will not be able to tell the subtle differences in implication. That the author likewise lacks this level of sophistication becomes abundantly clear, e.g., when he claims that a palace and a castle are 'the same'. In order to really extend your vocabulary I would rather recommend to read book by Joyce, Hemmingway or Dickens -- they also make a more enjoyable read.
Ssimple yet powerful August 23, 2007
Gautham V. Pallapa (Arlington Texas USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I already had a copy of the book long back. I guess someone borrowed it and "forgot" to return it back. Really simple, yet packs a punch. Very effective too.
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