Word by Word

Lexicographer Kory Stamper has always loved words. After struggles with organic chemistry steered her from a medical career, she joined the Merriam-Webster company in Massachusetts. In her book, she takes listeners on a verbal tour of her office and the work that goes into creating dictionaries. She narrates with a delight and fascination with language. Showing wry, self-mocking humor, she cheerfully discusses her lack of social skills and which letters of the alphabet have the most words. She's a "real-world" person who pragmatically takes on definitions relating to sex and profanity. If it's in the dictionary, Stamper's interested--and interesting. Her thoughts on topics such as the many ways the word "running" is used in English are entertaining and informative. J.A.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine