Kevin R. Free's upbeat approach to this fun deep dive into the making of a dictionary adds to its charms. Well suited to word geeks, the audiobook explores the evolution of the modern dictionary while chronicling the author's stint as a lexicographer in training at Merriam-Webster. There, he encounters past and present word-mad professionals; learns the stringent, sometimes arcane, rules of word definition; and ponders the role of dictionaries in today's world. The result is both entertaining and informative. Free's cheerful tenor, engaging pacing, and crisp enunciation lighten the prose whenever "fact overload" threatens. A few corrective pitch changes early on are not disruptive. The result is an educational and entertaining listen for anyone who's ever used any kind of dictionary. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2025]
Trade Ed. Simon & Schuster Audio 2025
DD ISBN 9781668149713 $26.99
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