The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]

Mar 17, 2018 Melyssa rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-nonfiction-challenge

I have had this book on my shelf in hard copy forever, but I finally listened to the audiobook instead. I had no idea the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary took so long, and was such an elaborate process. That was very interesting, and the "madman's" involvement made it more so. Dr. Miner's story is a sad one to read, but it was gave a good look at what treatment for mental illnesses was like in this era. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2018 Jesse rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-popsugar, 2018-around-the-year

This book was terrific. I was a little hesitant when I picked this for my reading challenge, because lately there seem to be a plethora of historical nonfiction books that follow the pattern ": A story of , , and ", and some of them are NOT that good. But this is a good one. The two main characters are fascinating in their own rights, and their working relationship is as brilliant as it is improbable. Definitely an interesting read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2015 Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015, 2015-reading-challenge

A fascinating and tragic story about an unlikely contributor to the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, with just enough info about the creation of said dictionary to make me want to read more about it (which means the author's The Meaning of Everything is now on my to-read list). The narrative structure did bug me a little bit, especially Winchester's habit of telling a story that he'd already told us as if we hadn't heard it before, but not enough that I ever thought of stopping. The sa ...more

Like · see review