Verbal Advantage: 10 Steps to a Powerful Vocabulary

I grew up in a few single wide trailers and had the vocabulary that you would expect. After my military career and over 10 years in the corporate world, my vocabulary increased just by association with my peer groups (even before I ever purchased Verbal Advantage). I still have many friends who I care about deeply that never left that small town I grew up in. When I communicate with them today I can't help but to think they are not as intelligent as I am. I don't want to feel that way, but it's true. If I owned a company, the chances are I would not hire them. Verbal Advantage made me realize that successful Executives probably view my current communication ability in the same regard as I view my childhood friends from the trailer parks. As much as that Executive may like me and believe I have a high aptitude, I doubt he would give me a Vice President job. There is a communication gap between executives and myself in the same way there is between myself and my old buddies. Is this fair? Probably not... But not much in life is fair. In reality however, we all play by the same rules. One of those rules is that people in a position to hire you need to be able to see you in that role before they will put you into that role. Vocabulary is one facet that will help. Two other details that you should investigate are 1) Your appearance, including your attire and physical looks and 2) The way you carry yourself. I despised vocabulary and grammar in school. For some reason Verbal Advantage is really enjoyable for me. Maybe it's because now I can see the correlation between success and vocabulary? Not sure, either way I thoroughly enjoy Verbal Advantage. I suggest getting both the audio program and this book. I've went through this entire program more than once. It's not a fast process. I never realized how many words I just glossed over while reading or talking with others. I've reread books from a few years ago and noticed the author used many words that I had never seen until I went through VA. How did I not notice that I didn't know these words the first time I read the books? You'll be amazed at how many words you gloss over without even slowing down. Even at times when the learning curve feels slow, all of a sudden during a conversation you'll whip out a brand new word you learned weeks ago and didn't even realize you were ready to use it. It's a great feeling when you use the precise word to communicate effectively. There are no downsides to improving yourself. Success is not something you pursue; Success is something you become...

Initially, I was disappointed, because I seem to possess already a larger than average vocabulary, so I tabled the book awhile and came back later. Now, I see its virtues more clearly. Everyone can benefit from the book's riches, including its 3,500 words. The scheme is based on "levels" and then on "organization around themes" that not only increase vocabulary, but remind of us unused words, and also make them more precise (including pronunciation). Many include etymologies. Most juxtapose synonyms to differentiate meanings. Sometimes definitions seem sparse or omitted, but one still develops the sense by other routes. The "levels" are degrees of sophistication and/or complexity, arbitrary obviously, but with deliberation that is sensible, which then the user can determine how sophisticated to enrich his vocabulary. For example, Level 10 is Latinate vocabulary one might not use/encounter with frequency, but even these arcane words suggest other possibilities for different uses. Even so, one can always pick-and-choose words suggested. Everyone can benefit from this work, from the articulate to the newbie, going to a "level" of one's own choosing. Acquiring a vocabulary this large will require time, and a strategy to exercise with it regularly. Just being reminded of words so often unused is itself a valuable tool. And most importantly, each word is actually developed with substance not merely quick definition and/or synonyms. Even words already-known can, and have, become more precise through re-acquaintance with this book. My only cavil, and it's minor, is not being able to use this resource as a "reference" also. But even I'm not sure how that could be achieved alongside its other ambitions. Just enriching one's vocabulary is itself a noble project, and this book certainly takes that task seriously and performs well. Overall, it is an impressive and very useful device.

This is a fun book for learning new words. The words are divided in 10 levels, each level containing 50 "key" words. Each level is progressively more challenging (you may read this as - it contains the words you might have been less likely to encounter, though this depends on what do your normally read). Beside each word, you'll find the pronounciation in brackets. With words which may have two of more pronounciation, they are all mentioned here. The "key word" is follows with the definition, as well as the origin. For example, if the word has a Latin root, then the Latin word is mentioned, together with the meaning of the Latin word. Then the usage of the words is mentioned, together with different contexts in which such word may be used. You'll find the contexts where the word was originally used, as well as how its usage spread to other contexts, sometimes altering the meaning the word originally had. You'll also find sections warning your of "abusage" of the words. You'll find antonyms and synonyms of the "key" words, together with their definitions, usage, appropriate contexts, and distinguishing differences. Each level is followed by a reviews, sample text where you can check out your comprehension, additional notes and a quiz. At the beginning of the book is a "pretest" with 100 words, designed to help you to evaluate your current vocabulary level. At the end of the book is "posttest" with 100 words, designed to help you evaluate how much has your vocabulary expanded after working with this book.

I am on my 3rd copy over 20 years, and I have sent a several high school \ early college young adults this book because I've found it so useful. I had a bad injury at 25, and finding I was going to be in the hospital over a month, this the most important thing my parents were to find in my apartment. They couldn't so they bought another. The course starts deceptively easy. Synonyms and antonyms introduced early provide a framework to support more difficult words later. It is a book that literally should be read cover to cover. The instructions in the introduction are very relevant. As a retired UCLA staff, I can say there are very few self led instructional courses that meet the quality this book offers.

This book is one of the most enjoyable reads that's ever graced this planet! Yes I am talking about a vernacular enhancement tool! Very explanatory, gives lucid examples, very pragmatic and so utilitarian to the point where I read 2 levels on a quotidian basis to show off my new vocab skills. Those of you who've read this book know that a lot of the words I'm using come directly from this tome!(scholarly book). as far as an index is concerned you don't need one! the purpose of this book is for you to learn these words to the extent that you know exactly where they are! if you can locate them without the index you're on the right track! an index is a crutch. this book progresses from easy to hard, so you don't need an index. anyway this book is wonderful! I also recommend word smart I and II, although not as great as this book, they are still good tools to have around. Happy enhancing people!

First thing off the bat, the author mentions that there is a right word for every occasion. On the book's cover, it says "10 easy steps to a powerful vocabulary." When I think of the word "step," I think of different actions performed in succession. Well, each "step" is the same in this book. You read 50 words and their definitions, frequently provided with synonyms, antonyms, and sometimes etymology, and then you take a quiz at the end. The more appropriate word be "level," as the only thing changing in each "step" is the difficulty. I suppose "10 levels of vocabulary building" just doesn't sound as enticing as "10 easy steps to a powerful vocabulary." Yes, I am being pedantic here, but the author himself is pedantic throughout the book when it comes to diction and pronunciation. Secondly, I find fault in the statement "only 3,500 words separate high-vocabulary people from low-vocabulary people." Based on my own research from a cursory google search, the average native English speaker knows over 20,000 words, and there is a correlation with educational attainment and vocabulary size, i.e. the more educated you are the more likely you have a larger vocabulary. Anyway, that 3,500-word figure comes from the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation. Doing some more "research," this institution mainly does career aptitude tests. From my experience with taking those tests, and just about everyone else I've known who have taken them, these are nonsense and wastes of time. Those 3,500 words may just be business jargon, and I think it is somewhat safe to assume executives would be most familiar with that. Or perhaps those tests attract more educated people in the first place, and their vocabulary sizes tend not to differ much. I found nothing about the methodology, but such a bold claim requires citation. If the source is something involved with career aptitude tests, I'd be highly suspicious. Of course, I found absolutely nothing about foreign English speakers. Most foreigners never attain even the low-end average vocabulary size of native-speakers, but many of them still attain highly lucrative careers. It is also worth mentioning that the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, spoke at a fourth-grade level in his public speeches. Maybe this has something to do with code-switching, that is using a different style of speech depending on circumstances, but being president is just about as executive as you can get. The book is entertaining though, and my vocabulary did improve a bit by the end of it. One final gripe I have is the rather arbitrary ordering of the words; xenophobia and disingenuous are level 9 words, but I think most college graduates know those terms. Regardless, I have a few other vocabulary books, and I like this one the best, despite the bold claims of the author. I think it's because, probably much to the chagrin of the author of my wording this way, the gamified approach to vocabulary building. You learn words and take a quiz at the end. If you pass the quiz, you move on to the next level. If not, you repeat the level, or as we say in video game parlance, you grind and level up. I think this book is most useful if you're studying for a standardized test such as the GRE, SAT, TOEFL, etc., or you just want to study vocabulary for the hell of it. The overwhelming majority of words you will learn will most likely never be used in colloquial speech. If you're already an avid reader with an extensive vocabulary, you can skip this book entirely. As for career progression . . . eh, just always remember that correlation is not the same thing as causation.

I have had this book about 10 years and love it so much. I'm still working my way through it and revisiting chapters. It's challenging. I've been helping a friend's 13-year-old with her spelling bee prep. She is on her way to nationals. I had told her this was my favorite book for learning words and that reading everything I could get my hands on when I was her age is what helped me really learn words, context and grammar When going through her practice words, I noticed she knew the words and sometimes the context but not really how to use them. I bought this copy for her. She will grow into it over time, as I did, and I hope she loves it as much as I have.

This is the Rolls Royce of vocabulary building programs. What makes it better? You learn the meaning of words along with their history, usage, pronunciation, etymology. Other programs give superficial meanings and expect one to resort to memory with no emphasis on how the word can be used effectively. There are also plethora of tips on style and grammar. Although it professes to teach 500 words, with 50 words in 10 levels, the program comprises hundreds more when you count the delectable synonyms and antonyms which the author peruses individually. I've purchased other vocabulary programs and when you juxtapose them, there is no comparison. Quality always distinguishes itself from the ordinary. Get the program and review it often. It's better than anything else out there.