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Archive for the 'Book reviews' category

Ennui, Obfuscate, Imbroglio and other words that make you sound clever

31st
Dec
by Sarah Turner

Of all the presents I got for Christmas, one of my faves was a book called How to Sound Clever: Master the 600 English words you pretend to understand when you don’t by Hubert van deb Bergh and it’s a dazzling collection of sumptuous words such as denouement, anthropomorphise and obfuscate.

I recently chatted to a chap at a mulled wine and organic cheese party (yes, really) who used the word contemptuous (expressing contempt) when he was actually looking for the word contemporaneous (happening during the same period of time).

What do you say in situations like this? Do you correct the person in question (Oi, dufus, I think you mean…) or do you smile sweetly and nod eagerly? (I chose the latter.)

Mind you, I once answered a maths question at school with the utter belief that approximately meant exactly, on the button, accurately – rather than the exact opposite. (In my defence, I was only 10.)

So here are a few words from the book that you may or may not know. But see how many you can squeeze in tonight when you’re out partying.

  • Anachronistic (adj): Very old-fashioned
  • Anthropomorphise (verb): To attribute human form to something not human
  • Behemoth (noun): A huge thing, especially an organisation
  • Conflation (noun): The act of fusing two or more ideas together
  • Denouement (noun): Climax of several actions when the outcome becomes clear
  • Dichotomy (noun): A contrast between two things that are polar opposites
  • Ennui (noun): Dissatisfaction when nothing exciting happens for a while
  • Fetid (adj): Unsavoury smell
  • Garrulous (adj): Talkative, especially on unimportant matters
  • Halcyon (adj): A happy and peaceful time in the past
  • Imbroglio (noun): A messy and embarrassing situation
  • Obfuscate (verb): To bewilder
  • Quango: A quasi non-governmental organisation like the Press Complaints Commission
  • Perfunctory (adj): Done carelessly, as a matter of routine
  • Parse (verb): To examine something closely by breaking it up into parts
  • Sanguine (adj): Optimistic, upbeat
  • Vicarious (adj.) Experiencing feelings via someone else’s description

Posted in Book reviews, Word stuff | comments icon 2 Comments »

Get Off Your A*** by Brad Burton – A review

26th
Jan
by Sarah Turner

It’s a rare occasion where I finish reading a business book and say ‘brilliant!’ (In fact, I rarely finish reading a business book at all.)

Brad Burton - Get Off Your ArseBut Brad Burton’s Get off Your Arse is unputdownable (yeah, I know it’s a made up word).

The pace of the book is frenetic and not for the faint-hearted. And Brad, who hails from a tough area of Manchester, tells it like it is: yes, being self-employed is scary, difficult and sometimes you want to chuck the towel in. But ultimately, it’s a fantastic ride. You’ve just got to get off your arse and get on with it.

I’ve met Brad. And he’s what you’d describe as a diamond geezer. But don’t let the cheeky chappy northerner act fool you. As Brad himself says ‘I’m not as thick as I look.’ Ain’t that the truth. In just a few short years Brad’s gone from delivering pizzas for extra cash to heading up the UK’s fastest growing business networking group. (4Networking.)

Part coaching, part biography, part humorous, part inspirational, GOYA is packed full of advice, tips, and success stories about business, networking and life. (Without being all you’re-so-awesome-you-totally-rock American.)

If you’re running your own business, or thinking about getting out of the corporate rat race, buy this book. It’s essential reading.


Tags: 4networking, brad burton, get off your arse, GOYA
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