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Product Information

A veritable "tko of terminology," Better Than Great is the essential guide for describing the extraordinary -- the must have reference for anyone wishing to rise above tired superlatives. Deft praise encourages others to feel as we do, share our enthusiasms. It rewards deserving objects of admiration. It persuades people to take certain actions. It sells things. Sadly, in this "age of awesome," our words and phrases of acclaim are exhausted, all but impotent. Even so, we find ourselves defaulting to such habitual choices as good, great, and terrific, or substitute the weary synonyms that tuble our of a thesaurus -- superb, marvelous, outstanding, and the like. The piling on of intensifers such as the now-silly "super," only makes matters worse and negative modifiers render our common parlance nearly tragic. Until now. Arthur Plotnik, the wunderkind of word-wonks is, without mincing, proffering a well knit wellspring of worthy and wondrous words to rescue our worn-down usage. Plotnik is both hella AND hecka up to the task of rescuing the English language and offers readers the chance to never be at a loss for words

Product Identifiers

PublisherStart Publishing LLC

ISBN-101573446602

ISBN-139781573446600

eBay Product ID (ePID)99357315

Product Key Features

Number of Pages320 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameBetter than Great : a Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives

Publication Year2011

SubjectDictionaries, Grammar & Punctuation, Word Lists

TypeNot Available

Subject AreaRéférence, Language Arts & Disciplines

AuthorArthur Plotnik

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.8 in

Item Weight9 Oz

Item Length7 in

Item Width5 in

Additional Product Features

LCCN2010-053409

Dewey Edition22

Reviews"One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style — a freaking genius-god in the writing world." — Jessica Page Morrell, Powells Books Blog "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" --Billy Collins, former U. S. Poet Laureate Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire. --Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." --Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." --Dave Kindred, author, Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word "great" or "fantastic" or "awesome" in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.) --Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style -- a freaking genius-god in the writing world." -- Jessica Page Morrell, Powells Books Blog "Plotnik's "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." --Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press "Arthur Plotnik's Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." -- Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" --Billy Collins, former U. S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." -- Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire. --Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." --Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." --Dave Kindred, author, Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word "great" or "fantastic" or "awesome" in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.) --Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style — a freaking genius-god in the writing world." — Jessica Page Morrell, Powell's Books Blog "[W]hat could be as fabulous, stupendous, showstopping, socko-boffo and epiphanic as this neatly organized, humorous yet helpful 'acclamatory hoard' of words for praising?" —Jim Higgins, Book Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "...well-written, and engaging.... As a reference tool for writers, Better Than Great is just that. All readers will ... find it supremely fascinating to learn of the terms .... to express greatness." —Barry Silverstein --ForeWord Magazine, April 4, 2011 "Plotnik's "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." — Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press " Better Than Great is . . . more entertaining and informative than any book of lists has a right to be." — Richard Nordquist, About.com/Grammar and Composition ". . . a wide range of fresh superlatives in a number of categories, pulling from rare gems and vintage gold all the way through current phrases influenced by hip-hop. . . . [T]here are plenty of forms of marketing communications that could use of an injection of less-worn adjectives . . . So for writers of all shapes and sizes Better than Great is indeed just that." — Adam Sherk, adamsherk.com, News Media, SEO, PR and social media marketing blog "Arthur Plotnik's Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." — Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" — Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." — Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words " Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire." — Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." — Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." — Dave Kindred, author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word 'great' or 'fantastic' or 'awesome' in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.)" — Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style — a freaking genius-god in the writing world." — Jessica Page Morrell, Powells Books Blog, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style -- a freaking genius-god in the writing world." -- Jessica Page Morrell, Powells Books Blog "Plotnik's "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." --Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" --Billy Collins, former U. S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." -- Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire. --Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." --Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." --Dave Kindred, author, Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word "great" or "fantastic" or "awesome" in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.) --Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style — a freaking genius-god in the writing world." — Jessica Page Morrell, Powells Books Blog "Plotnik's "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." — Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press "Arthur Plotnik's Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." — Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" — Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." — Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words " Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire." — Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." — Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." — Dave Kindred, author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word 'great' or 'fantastic' or 'awesome' in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.)" — Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today's most distinguished writers on language and writing style — a freaking genius-god in the writing world." — Jessica Page Morrell, Powell's Books Blog "Plotnik's "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." — Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press " Better Than Great is . . . more entertaining and informative than any book of lists has a right to be." — Richard Nordquist, About.com/Grammar and Composition ". . . a wide range of fresh superlatives in a number of categories, pulling from rare gems and vintage gold all the way through current phrases influenced by hip-hop. . . . [T]here are plenty of forms of marketing communications that could use of an injection of less-worn adjectives . . . So for writers of all shapes and sizes Better than Great is indeed just that." — Adam Sherk, adamsherk.com, News Media, SEO, PR and social media marketing blog "Arthur Plotnik's Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." — Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" — Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." — Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words " Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it's craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire." — Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I'd call it perfection printed and bound." — Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." — Dave Kindred, author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word 'great' or 'fantastic' or 'awesome' in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it's getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can't believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.)" — Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It, "One of today''s most distinguished writers on language and writing style -- a freaking genius-god in the writing world." -- Jessica Page Morrell, Powell''s Books Blog "[W]hat could be as fabulous, stupendous, showstopping, socko-boffo and epiphanic as this neatly organized, humorous yet helpful ''acclamatory hoard'' of words for praising?" --Jim Higgins, Book Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Plotnik''s "acclamatory hoard" is every bit as entertaining as it is useful. And (to lift one phrase) that ain''t exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." -- Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press " Better Than Great is . . . more entertaining and informative than any book of lists has a right to be." -- Richard Nordquist, About.com/Grammar and Composition ". . . a wide range of fresh superlatives in a number of categories, pulling from rare gems and vintage gold all the way through current phrases influenced by hip-hop. . . . [T]here are plenty of forms of marketing communications that could use of an injection of less-worn adjectives . . . So for writers of all shapes and sizes Better than Great is indeed just that." -- Adam Sherk, adamsherk.com, News Media, SEO, PR and social media marketing blog "Arthur Plotnik''s Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." -- Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry "AMEN-ASTONISHING!" -- Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there's a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik's new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." -- Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words " Better than Great comes in the guise of a single-purpose synonym finder. But it''s craftier than that. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire." -- Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax "How to describe this book? Choose any term from pages 7 to 30. I''d call it perfection printed and bound." -- Bryan A. Garner, author of Garner''s Modern American Usage "Even I loved Art Plotnik''s sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." -- Dave Kindred, author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac "Have you used the word ''great'' or ''fantastic'' or ''awesome'' in the last week? Ha! I thought so. Everyone has. And it''s getting really really tiresome. In your hands lies a new way of life. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. I can''t believe I ever got published without it. It is, in a word, ripsniptious! (P.S. Never lend this book to anyone. You will not get it back. That happened to me.)" -- Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It "...a veritable plea to the masses, especially the portion of the masses that makes a habit of critiquing things. And really, who doesn''t?" -- Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2011 "...delightful, spankingly amusing... Plotnik presents hundreds of words and phrases that will make any conversation a sojourn through paradise... -- Terri Schlichenmeyer, Shelf Awareness for Readers , July 15, 2011

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal423/.1

Intended AudienceTrade

Lc Classification NumberPe1241.P56 2011