The New Oxford American Dictionary by Erin McKean

The New Oxford American Dictionary Reviews

• 
  Patti

  The plot really sucked! I couldn't follow it at all. :(
• 
  Jaime

  Now THIS book knows how to define stuff.
• 
  blueMeridian

  I have a confession to make: I love dictionaries. I love to read dictionaries. Each entry is like a mini-story! The implications of a word's history!
  
  Although a bit hefty for casual reading, The New Oxford American Dictionary covers an admirable portion of the English language, complete with numerous slang references (a warning for the purists) and many illustrative icons. Currently my favorite dictionary.
• 
  Madelyn

  I kinda put this on as a joke, but as I'm nearing the district spelling bee, I'm thinking I actually should read it.
• 
  Kristen Johansen

  My Kindle uses this dictionary. Very often, I am told the following....
  
  "in·ter·po·la·tor: n. a person who interpolates something."
  
  ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS?!?!?
• 
  bARRY

  it has a definition for "blah," although not for the word "janky."
• 
  Dana Ross

  Cover to cover page turner. I couldn't put it down.
  Fascinating.
  I read and reread it almost every day.
• 
  Kirsten

  Always a classic you will return to again and again! I return to read favorite passages frequently.
  
  
  {Added when Kindle opened it}.
• 
  Seth McClure

  Ending is weak. Especially the X's.
• 
  T.Kay Browning

  My kid apparently gave the kindle dictionary two stars. My hope for the future is diminished.
• 
  Julia

  Look, a dictionary never wears the label "read" in the past tense. This is a valuable tool, and I frequently turn through its "pages" but, no, I have not "read" the entirety. Solid, easy to navigate, and dependable.
  
• 
  Donadee's Corner

  Great book to have on your Kindle for reference!
• 
  Mrs Ross

  it's the damn dictionary LOL
• 
  Vishnu Maya-Sreenath Nair

  Thrilling page-turner.
• 
  Rebecca

  ok I accidently opened this and now its saying I am reading this lol there needs to be a option to delete a book if you opened it by accident or you read a small amount and don't want to read it now or even if it's so awful you just can't read anymore. I don't like to review a book I haven't read all the way thru so putting an option for "have read so many chapters or pages but just not interesting" or something like that, just so you can get it off your list. I do look something up now and then in the dictionary but I sure don't read it like a book lol. But I sure will give it 5 stars because hey it's a dictionary that has good info in it so everyone should have one handy.
• 
  William Gregory

  What a thrill!
  For all fans of reading, books, or even just words, this is a must read.
  When on the search for my next book I was captivated by this tome sitting on one of the bookshelves I rarely look at (the one in the north east corner of the living room, not the large one in the corridor that leads on to the kitchen) and knew from the first glance at its thick and crinkled spine that this would be my next endeavour. And boy do I feel lucky that I did!
  
  Sadly this was an American language book so there were some sections that were obviously not written with an Australian in mind, but I feel this gave me the opportunity to transplant myself in a different culture. Specifically the chapters on color, mom, and cilantro are eye-opening. For all Macquarie Dictionary fans out there (yes I’m talking to you) I would highly recommend this as a great jumping point for getting into foreign language dictionaries. I’m sure this excursion into the exotic pages of an unfamiliar language will prepare me for Collins German Pocket Dictionary (wish me luck!).
  
  Now into some favourite sections:
  Jeremiad, noun
  A cautionary or angry harangue
  
  Cad, noun
  A man who acts with deliberate disregard for another's feelings or rights
  
  Flecking, adjective
  1. Of particular similarity to the smell of a foal
  2. OR, a speed at which a frightened women runs in high heels
  
  Beautiful, adjective
  Generally pleasing : EXCELLENT
  
  Pupplechuck, verb
  To applaud the spectacular achievement of a loved one unexpectedly
  
  
  This book will always have a place in my heart. It came to me at just the right time in my life. I was feeling empty, depressed, and enervated (lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor). This beast fell into my lap and nothings been the same since. I have a new lease on life. I have a reason to read. I have a lens through which to approach new literature.
  Some may look down on dictionary readers as emotionally stunted, socially awkward, as missing out on the wonders of fiction, or the actually important facts presented in more general non-fiction. But I proudly stand in front of you (figuratively) and proclaim myself a dictionary reader!
  And I invite you, if you will join me, to read words about words.
• 
  Jim Syler

  The best dictionary of American English I've ever found. I wish they would kill most of the "personality" entries (I don't go to a dictionary to find out who Michael Jackson was), but that's just about the only flaw. This is the only prescriptive (as opposed to descriptive) dictionary of American English I'm aware of. This is the book I go to to find out what a word actually means, as opposed to how it's been used in popular culture in the last few years, which is how most dictionaries work.
• 
  Ella

  This is in place of the book jolt that i've read twice now and can't put double ups on so yeah. Jolts (By bernard Beckett) is a good book. You should read it.
• 
  Rob Grondahl

  Loved it! Probably could have used an editor. I think a lot of it is just made up.
  
• 
  Peter Cameron

  A little dry
• 
  Steve Ros

  It's a dictionary.
• 
  Autumn Stars

  This book doesn't define me. LOL
• 
  Patti Guerrero

  I am not reading this book...........using as dictionary instead of one provided .