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The Thinker's Thesaurus: Sophisticated Alternatives to Common Words By Peter E. Meltzer ( Marion Street Press, Inc. )
Release Date: 2005-09-28
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $16.95
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Product Description
Writers looking for more than elementary synonyms found in a standard thesaurus will find exceptional and thoughtful alternatives in this advanced thesaurus. Neither weird nor arcane, each listed synonym is carefully chosen, defined by a "clarifier," and used in an example from the popular press that demonstrates its contemporary usage. Words that may not be exact synonyms but anticipate what the reader was really looking for are also included; for example, in the listing for amusing, the word witling is featured, explained by the clarifier as a "person who tries to be amusing but isn't." Aimed at readers who want their writing and speaking to stand out, this thesaurus ensures that a synonym sought is a synonym well thought.
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 And the author is a mensch ( scipio_9 )
Full disclosure: between the ages of 5 and 15, or so, the brainy compiler of this fascinating and wide ranging thesaurus tormented me with his terrifying, almost encyclopedic knowledge of sports trivia. I seem to remember a particularly upsetting summer morning in 1968 during which I faced a lighting round of fifteen questions about Ty Cobb... only one of which I got right (Answer: The Georgia Peach). Unsurprisingly, he grew to be a human encyclopedia himself. This book is fascinating and a great bridge between the words in one's vocabulary that are obscure but used, and those that are unbelievably obscure and SHOULD be used.
Three cheers to Mr. Meltzer, he can still torment me with knowledge... but this time, he has given me a cheat sheet.
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Oh, the irony ( vysey2 )
"I though this book would really help my writting. Wrong, for every word, the book only gives you one other word to replace it with and although it states that these words are used by journalists, I find that incredably hard to believe because I haven't found a single word I had heard before yet. I guess if you are a journalist this would be a good book but for those who would just like to broaden their vocabulary, this book sucks!" (Rebecca Lee)
Is there anything more ironic than someone complaining that a thesaurus introduces them to words with which they were hitherto unacquainted?
Possibly there is. How about, for instance, having the chutzpah to purchase a book entitled the 'Thinker's Thesaurus', when one is still undecided on how many 't's the word 'writing' requires? One might venture that a dictionary rather than a thesaurus would be a more sensible purchase.
In a time when most thesauri provide less synonyms (and certainly less interesting synonyms) than the average well-read person should already be familiar with, I think Mr Meltzer is to be commended on his efforts to augment our dwindling vocabularies.
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Indespensible ( skufsuk )
If you thinking about getting this book, but unsure because it isn't in your hands - buy it. This book will help you find cool words, but cool words that mean exactly what you want and don't want to say. It has succinct examples and clear definitions on what words mean. I could write a somewhat lengthy review but I'll stick to the basics. By far one of the coolest thesauruses I have found to date. BUY IT.
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A tool worth its weight in gold! ( lightgiver98 )
Do not miss having this text, if you are creative and wish to stop moments in time as a writer!
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 Good Idea
Definitely a worthwhile project but frustratingly incomplete. I had expected it to list many - if not most - of the words found in Roget's but with more interesting synonyms. So far, it has been pretty useless. I hope they, or other parties, publish a more extensive version.
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