Aftercrimes, Geoslavery and Thermogeddon: Thought-Provoking Words from a Lexicographer's Notebook

by Erin McKean

Ever been brainjacked? Or Breitbarted? Perhaps you're a kangatarian or a newpreneur. If not, you can still be a wordnik. Come with us as we peek into the notebook of lexicographer Erin McKean, who offers a revealing look at a torrent of new words and phrases—in science, politics, social life—that reveal our changing societies. It's a surprising window on our world.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2011

Reviews

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

LEXICOGRAPHY WRIT’ LARGE.

‘Aftercrimes, Geoslavery, and Thermogeddon: Plus 157 more new words from a lexicographer’s notebook,’ by Erin McKean is a TED book. [See:M http://www.ted.com/pages/567] That means: 1) that it is an eBook, and 2) that it is about one-fifth in length and in price of a “normal” eBook.

Someone once said, or should have, that if you want to improve your mind, you should first improve your vocabulary; because everything you think, you think in words. Lexicographer, Erin McKean, may or may not agree with that idea, but her writing and speaking will expand both your vocabulary and your mind. [See her wacky and witty video at: http://www.TED.com/talks/ Search for Erin McKean]

Recommendation: An ideal read for the lexicographical mentch or mmaven—not to mention the middle-schooler who is just discovering the amazing wonder of words as the marvelous building blocks of ideas.

NOOKbook edition from Barnes and Noble
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[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Wordishness" is "the quality that a word or phrase has of packing up an idea into a handy carrying case, making it portable, accessible, and (post important) transmissible." - preface



Neat words/concepts:

- Bioprospecting vs. biopiracy: adapting vs. patenting ideas from nature

- Complementarian: person who believes in men and women's complementary roles

- Cybercasing: "casing the joint" through data, like location info in photos

- Diminished reality: removing something from an image

- File-drawer effect: how negative results get ignored, not published

- Genre blindness: how TV characters always get into the same old situations, never knowing better

- homoclef