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Product Description
--L. A. Weekly
The RANDOM HOUSE WEBSTER'S WORD MENU is a revolutionary reference that organizes language by subject matter, the way we understand and use it. More than a dictionary, the WORD MENU is also
A Reverse Dictionary, which arranges words in logical, categorized structures--if you know the meaning or you know a related word, you can find the word you need
A Treasury of Glossaries, with nearly 800 divisions and more than 75,000 entries
An Almanac, with entries concerning world holidays, sports terms, science, and more
A Thesaurus that helps you learn the terminology of an unfamiliar field, technical terms and jargon, and different ways of saying the same thing
"STEPHEN GLAZIER WAS A MODERN ROGET."
--William Safire, The New York Times
From the Publisher
"Destined to take its place beside the dictionary and the thesaurus as a classic..." -- L.A. Weekly
The critically acclaimed Random House Word Menu is the ultimate language reference: a reverse dictionary, thesaurus, almanac, and compendious glossary, all in one. Only the Word Menu organizes language the subject matter, the way we understand and use it, and from the general to the specific, so it's easy to use.
For example: you're can't come up with the right word for the part of the wall you're about to paint. A regular dictionary won't help; your thesaurus isn't specialized enough. Look in the Word Menu, first under "The Home," then under "Interior Structure," and then under "Structural and Decorative Element." There it is: dado, the lower part of wall separated from upper part by rail, moulding, or border.
"Stephen Glazier...was a modern Roget." -- William Safire, The New York Times
"An essential reference work for all writers." -- Word Trade --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
The idea behind this book is to group words into menus just like computer commands are grouped into menus. Glazier implemented this basic idea fairly well when he arranged this book.
The book is split into seven parts (Nature, Science and Technology, Domestic Life, Institutions, Arts and Leisure, Language, and The Human Condition). Each of the parts, in turn, is split into three or four chapters (a total of 25 chapters in all). Each chapter contains one or two levels of subject categories. The words contained in each subject category are listed in alphabetical order.
For example, you need to know the name for a phobia. Look up Part 3 - Institutions, Chapter 13 - Social Sciences, Psychology, Phobias. You can then skim the alphabetical list of phobias for the phobia you're looking for.
While this book is useful, I found it to be very entertaining as well. Flipping through its pages is like going through a linguistic museum of curiousities. (Just reflect on what words you may find under the subject category "Insults, Slurs, and Epithets", and you may get an idea of what I mean.) It is perfect for people who think that vocabulary study is boring.
Two things to consider, though.
1. To get full use out of the book, you must have a feel for how the book is organized. The learning curve is slight, but it is there.
2. Because you are required by the book's format to scan through lists of words, this book was formatted to make it easy to scan. This means that the definitions are sketchy and and there is no pronunciation guide. This is OK so long as you have an excellent dictionary to fill in the gaps left by the Word Menu.
I just wish you didn't have to buy it second hand.
Every writer should have a copy, and it makes a great present for an aspiring author.
It's hard to describe how useful this book is, in a way it's a reverse dictionary with a twist.
You'll find Action words in there, descriptions, dates... you name it. Grab one. You won't regret it.
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