Vocabulary Energizers: Stories of Word Origins

by David Popkin

Vocabulary Stories of Word Origins

Genres: Reference

143 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jim Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vocabulary Energizers is definitely a book with a younger crowd in mind – most likely to study for the SAT. I knew about 90% of the words already, but this is mitigated by the entertaining etymologies (histories of words.) Most of them come from Greek mythology, or have historical notes attached. There were also helpful synonyms and antonyms for each word.

The book was a little lackluster, but served its’ purpose. I will most likely go on read volume 2.

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun little book! Who knew the rich history behind so many common words? Most of these histories are new to me at least. I am afraid though that I am not the target audience for this book. I think that there was one word that I didn’t know, but I still enjoyed it. I also listened to it as an audiobook, but I have seen pictures that indicate there are workbook pages included. That explains the rather dry list of words that ended each section.
There was just one drawback. To use one of the vocabulary words, it is delicately written, but by no means bowdlerized. Because so many of the words are drawn from Greek mythology, their histories are decidedly seamy.