Building a Better Vocabulary

By: Kevin Flanigan, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Kevin Flanigan

Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

What is the difference between specious and spurious? What does the word bombast have to do with cushion stuffing? Would you want to be called a snollygoster?

The hallmark of a powerful vocabulary is not simply knowing many words; rather, it's knowing the exact word to use in a specific context or situation. A great vocabulary can enhance your speaking, writing, and even thinking skills. This course will boost your vocabulary, whether you want to enhance your personal lexicon, write or speak more articulately in professional settings, or advance your knowledge of the English language. For anyone who has ever grasped for the perfect word at a particular moment, this course provides a research-based and enjoyable method for improving your vocabulary.

Building a Better Vocabulary offers an intriguing look at the nuts and bolts of English, teaches you the etymology and morphology - or the history and structure - of words, and delves into the cognitive science behind committing new words to long-term memory. By the end of the 36 enjoyable lectures, you will have a practical framework for continuing to build your vocabulary by discovering new words and fully mastering the nuances of familiar ones.

If you are an avid reader, you may have previously encountered some of the words in this course. But even the most voracious reader will be surprised and delighted by these eye-opening lectures, which delve into the building blocks of the English language and reveal intriguing new nuances to words you thought you knew well. These lectures will kindle a passion for the process by which words are created and for the beauty of the words you read, speak, and hear every day.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLC

Kevin Flanigan is the man!!!!

I’m a college grad who bought this to improve vocabulary. But it has turned into much more than that. It’s my go-to podcast. My late night listen. And my only choice while driving in my car. Kevin is funny, smart, and sounds like a great dad. Must listen!!!

Professor Flanigan is awesome!

Great presentation! This is one of my favorite lectures. It is very informative and entertaining. My only recommendation is that he should spell each word at least once for those of us who may be listening to the audio during our drives.

Pretty amazing

World class lecture, for real. The material is thoughtfully sequenced and presented with genuine delight. The accompanying PDF alone, full of notes, is worth the book. Thank you for making this available.

Great Lessons in Vocubulary

"Building a Better Vocabulary" is a great course that covers a lot of words and how to use them properly. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself in the process.

I'm in love with words

Professor Flannigan has inspired me to be a pursuer of neologism, etymology, and morphology. his course made the idea of adding more and more to my lexicon fun! I recommend this book whole heartedly!

This book is a delight!

I loved this book. Professor Flanigan really brings these words to life! I found myself laughing at his stories and enjoying the use of powerful new words. Definitely worth a credit if you like learning new things.

Helpful and fun

This was a good course, presented in a fun and engaging way, but I wish the presenter gave the spelling of each word discussed, this would have been helpful, especially for words one had never heard of before. The spelling is given for a few words but for the majority you have to figure them out.

Need text

This is a great resource, however it would be even better if it comes with a text. Reader struggles with the spellings of all the new words.

Entertaining Education!

This is really fun to listen to and Flanigan gives such great strategies for expanding your vocabulary. I highly recommend this for everyone, not just those actively looking to expand their vocab.

Excellent vocabulary audible book

I love this book. I liked how the author made it so interesting by implementing stories, personal experience and word etiology.

Buying this book for me was better or the same as taking a course in college.

However, I have a word of advice. This is a practical book. Thus, you need to re-listen a couple of times and you need to put into practice.

Other than that, it is a book is amazing!!
I honestly recommend it. You'll find a lot of value for the money invested.