Word Power Made Easy,   ISBN:9780883659250

Customer Rating: 

I purchased this book for my son now in his 1st year of college. I told him it's the way to expand his vocabulary. After two weeks I asked how he liked the book and he commented, "It's the best way to learn vocabulary because it teaches you how to figure out what words mean." I was not surprised. I had also bought a copy of it for myself since I felt the same when I initially went through its lessons 25 years ago as a college student myself. It's a classic, easy to read, and should be the first step to take. Thanks.

Customer Rating: 

Instead of a paced and breathable intro to greek and latin etymology, this book is over-ensembled with various activities, spelling bees, and multiple choice formats. It's a bit too muddled for me as definitions are mixed into paragraphs and several similar versions of the same word inundate the reviewer as well. Too stuffy and turgid for my taste. Better books cut the clutter and provide the clarity to more easily integrate our ancient english roots.

Customer Rating: 

I own several vocabulary books and Word Power Made Easy is my favorite. Most other vocabulary books that I have just list a word, use it in a sentence, and then give a simple definition. Word Power Made Easy does a lot more. The book gives very detailed definitions for each word, shows whether the word is a noun, verb, etc., shows the root words, and finishes each section with multiple quizzes. I cannot recommend this book more highly. I feel as though a 5 star rating for this book is inadequate. It is in a league of its own.

Customer Rating: 

I read this book when i was student. I have advised my cousins and recently my wife who was preparing for a competitive exam to read this book with always very positive feedback.
This book is best way to make 'words' your friend. etymology, roots, suffixes/prefixes are what this book is all about. But then the way book is written is perfect for readers(students :) ). Chapters are so written to introduce reader to a category (doctors/emotions/mania etc.) and learn words related to that category(and also based on roots you learn words based on same root). I have been grateful to this book which got me initiated with good and active vocabulary.

Customer Rating: 

I got the 1978 edition of this book for free at paperbackswap.com and quickly found it be a very good vocabulary book.

The methods used in it for building vocabulary are among the best I've seen. After an initial assessment and introduction, a group of words is introduced with meanings and pronunciation. Then you do some short, easy exercises to become familiar with the words. The next session discusses the etymology of the words and shows some related words (words with the same roots) and develops their meanings as well. Again, you have some short, easy exercises (about 5 minutes). One of my favorite exercises is one in which you answer a series of Yes/No questions that test your understanding of the words without just being drilled on the definitions. For example: Does a gynecologist have more male than female patients? A third session uses etymology to develop some words not covered in the second session and more practice is included. Occasional intermissions discuss grammar and spelling topics.

None of the words are of the type that you should only learn them if you are trying to impress someone. They are real words encountered in literature, ACT tests, SAT tests, etc. Undoubtedly in any lesson you will know some of the words already and will possibly be familiar or have encountered most or all of them.

However, it is likely that there will be some words that you had incorrect notions about their meanings or had not been aware of subtleties of difference in meaning between related words. For example, most people are familiar with the words "egoist" and "egotist", but may not know the differences in meaning between those two related words. This book will address that very well.

Two things I would change about the book:

1. The 1978 edition is printed just like a novel in small print. I would prefer a little more white space and perhaps bigger print for doing exercises. I have not seen other editions to know if this phenomenon continues.

2. The author uses "AW" in pronunciation keys for the "o" sound as in the words "normal" or "for". To me, the use of AW encourages the reader to pronounce these words like JFK would have, in a regional accent, rather than what I believe is the more conventional O sound. I would prefer a simple "O".