Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Book Review & Giveaway: 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know


Grammar Girl's 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know by Mignon Fogarty

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 30 million times. Now she’s turning her attention to improving our vocabulary—one word at a time.

Not sure whether your post-high school vocabulary is up to snuff? This handy reference guide is a great starting point for ensuring you know the words that will help you impress your college professors, hold your own among your peers, write killer papers, and simply sound articulate--a skill that will benefit you for years to come.

Full of clear, straightforward definitions and fun quotations from luminaries such as J.D. Salinger and Susan B. Anthony, to characters such as Marge and Homer Simpson, this highly-useable guidebook gives you the confidence to succeed and sets you up for a lifetime of success.

I managed to graduate from high school and live another 20 years without knowing many of these words.  If asked to define canard, bellicose, fungible, kudzu, nadir, or schadenfreude I would have failed a test!

The author gives a great explanation and definition of each word and then follows up with a quote from a movie, TV show, famous person or famous quote that use the word in context.

It was a falsehood, a canard, a prevarication. Oh, why beat about the bush. It was a simple lie told by a little girl named Sandy. ~ From Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of Living Lies.

You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Towers ~ Brad Pitt in Fight Club

If you are looking for a fun way to improve your vocabulary give Grammar Girl's book a try.



Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Source: From Publisher for Review

Book Giveaway:
I have an extra copy of 101 Words to giveaway.
Open to US only
Ends 10/4/11
To enter just leave a comment on this post with a word you think every high school graduate should know.
Make sure there is a way to contact you if you win.

52 comments:

  1. Responsibility. There's one everyone should learn.

    frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a fun book to learn by. Count me in please.
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ooh, I want to know new words!
    shelbynordholt@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I definitely need this book. I don't know any words!! Knowing the difference between effect and affect is a common problem in high school.
    cleanteenfiction at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. "No" is the word we need to know. This sound like a very, very useful book. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to win a copy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a wonderful reference tool and I could definantly use the help.
    Brtjaden (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think a word every high school graduate should know is: Maturity.

    email: cruz042@csusm.edu

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Every high school student should learn affect/effect.

    hawthornescarlet at gmail dot com.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love this book! Thanks for the giveaway:)

    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Every HS graduate should learn the meaning of punctuality.
    jryder416 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Respect

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. affect vs effect
    Not many people seem to know the difference.

    reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. As an SAT tutor I'm dying for this book!

    A good word: preparation

    Woops forgot to leave email:

    sophiathewriter at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am not entering - just wanted to stop and say hi and that I too am hosting a Grammar Girls giveaway - soon!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Facetious!

    situationswhereyoumayneedit at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. supercalafragalisticaxpealadocious!

    tlabunski **((gmail))**

    ReplyDelete
  18. This sounds like a book that I need as I start my senior year. :) I think every high school graduate should know the meaning of the word "insouciant" because it is just an awesome word. Thank you for sharing!

    liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. hah! love the sound of this book. I think learning the work: responsibility is an important on. For ourselves and to how are to others.

    terilhack at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like to keep my mind active by learning something new each day; this book sounds like it can make it fun, too.

    kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. This sounds like a book that all young women should have in their personal libraries.
    bookmomofap(at)myself(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. This sounds like a geat book for anyone to have o their shelf. I think reliability and dependability should be on the list.

    pams00 @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. This sounds like a great book! The word I think every high school student should know is "meticulous." You'd be surprised at how many students disregard this word when it comes to studies and life in general.

    rainmisoa at hotmail dot com

    Thank you for the giveaway! ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  24. Capitalism

    treerose @ yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to have a copy of this at hand. I hate to screw things up.

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Forgot to list my word. Irregardless, I never knew if this was an expression/informal word or not.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Definitely a useful book, thank you! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom "redundant"

    ReplyDelete
  28. Respect

    unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Haha this sounds like a really fun read, and a must have! :D
    Kait.Reader at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'll agree with nadir. It's used a lot in the medical world.

    mycreativity at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Compassion

    llm 96 (AT) aol (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lol sounds funny and educational. Need this have a Senior in High School this year. I think they all need to learn the words responsibility and maturity I see way too many teenager now a days that don't know the meaning of either word.

    ReplyDelete
  33. The word they should know is "save." If they start saving $ now, maybe they can retire when they wish.
    I had fun reading the other responses. Some of the postings don't have a word. That was disappointing.

    westwardd [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Philanthropy is a word I think everyone should know.

    Susan M.
    Samfor3(at)frontier(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. High school graduates should know the meaning of... swag, because they use it incorrectly too much.

    asiangirlconnie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Respect is a word high school graduates should know.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Integrity. Many thanks for this great book. Ellie. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Empathy - the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.

    methom@earthlink.net
    Thank you for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hmmm so many words that students should know when they graduate.

    Responsibility is definitely one...though I like the word facilitate too.

    contact: wceyeoere@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  40. I think the gauntlet has been throwned down, and I'm eager to find out if I can hold my own in this competition! I really want to know what all 101 words are. My pick for one that every high school graduate should know is "perseverance." But I confess I had to look up the spelling :/

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Integrity

    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Determination

    I'm a high school graduate and first year college student. Every high school graduate should know determination because things don't always go your way and the only sure fire way to make sure things turn out in your favor is to have a determination to succeed and then follow it up!

    ReplyDelete
  43. mirrormera92@aol.com
    I forgot to post it!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I think every high school student should understand work ethic. I know that is two words but it is so important in life.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Patience...that's my suggested word. :) Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

    Diane Melendez
    kui900@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I agree with LaVonne. High school kids (trust me, I know, I'm a senior right now) need to have a better work ethic and value their mentors in their lives better.

    supersonic182@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. How about this, I think all students (especially in Massachusetts) should learn that "irregardless" is NOT a word.

    Lindsey Aylward
    LindseyAylward@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Would love to win this!

    jeanbooknerd [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  49. Phlegm. I don't know why. It's just a word that fascinates me. Not phlegm, itself. The word.

    ntaylor228 at yahood to com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I think that the word patience is applicable for most high schoolers.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs images from the April Showers kit by MK-Designs