Word Smart, 4th Edition (Smart Guides),   ISBN:9780375765759

Customer Rating: 

When my father purchased this book for me to prepare for the Verbal section of the SAT, I really thought that the authors of this book compiled a list of 1,505 formidable looking words which I would certainly never see again in my life. I was very wrong.

All (yes, all, not almost all) of these words appear in our daily lives, even if it's rare to hear the words used casually. As an AP English student in high school, I noticed that the words in this book frequently appear in the writings of Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, William Faulkner, and Charles Dickens - and even in contemporary writings, such as those of J.K Rowling. These words commonly appear in major newspapers and magazines such as Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and these words are bound to appear in any professional writing or documents. The authors did their research when they compiled these precise 1,505 words! Anyone who thoroughly reads this book will have a vocabulary to dazzle an interview, impress an English teacher, and of course, show off to friends. I believe that after going through these words, you would very seldom find the need to refer to your dictionary to look up an unfamiliar word.

While these words prove beneficial to our daily lives, Word Smart is an ideal choice for those who are still attending high school or college. If your mind is set on memorizing these words (especially helpful for those preparing to take the SAT or other standardized tests), I strongly recommend that you read Harry Lorayne's Page-a-Minute Memory Book, which is actually recommended by the authors of this book in Chapter 1. Not only will it help you memorize the 1,505 words in this book, but it will also prove exceptionally helpful, inside and outside of your academic career.

I hope my review of this book was helpful. You will not regret this purchase; by the end, you'll want to begin reading Word Smart II!

Customer Rating: 

This book has plenty of important words that show up frequently on the SAT. The authors provide good definitions and examples to help you understand them. But reading the book alone won't get you far, its necessary to make flash cards and re memorize the words again and again.

Customer Rating: 

In high school they used Word Smart as part of the curriculum for SAT prep. At the time we hated it, but now as an adult I'm glad that I saved the book in my parents' closet because I dug it out to use once again as a reference. The book is well-organized, well-written, and a fantastic resource. As a writer I have started studying this book once again, and will probably buy Volume II soon.

Customer Rating: 

I have several other books on vocabulary. I rate this book as one of the best and now indispensable as well.

Customer Rating: 

Book was in excellent condition. It is a great tool to help build one's vocabulary.