Awards

• Commended for Independent Publisher Book Awards (Writing/Publishing) 2012

Overview

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!

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9781573446600

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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 <br> 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. <br>--Bruce Ingram, film and entertainment critic, Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press <br> 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. <br>-- Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry <p> AMEN-ASTONISHING! --Billy Collins, former U. S. Poet Laureate <br> For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there'

It's difficult to describe how a thesaurus is entertaining, but the author has managed it. From the sheer number of quality adjectives, I imagine I would find one in this terrific - scratch that - frabjous compendium. <br>--Portland Book Review <br> This book easily provided the most fun I've ever had in a thesaurus. To make look-up easy and accessible, Plotnik divides the words into fifteen categories: Great, Sublime, Physically Affecting, Mentally or Emotionally Affecting, Beautiful, Joy-Giving, Large, Exceptional, Intense, Delicious, Trendy, Cool, Wicked Cool, Forceful, and Challenging Belief or Expression. He fronts each chapter with a fun intro that explains the chapter to follow and offers insight into his choices and how to utilize the book to full impact. <br>--Author Culture <br> 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 <br> [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? <br>--Jim Higgins, Book Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel <br> 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 <br> 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 <br>. . . 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 f

Author Information

Arthur Plotnik is a versatile author with a distinguished background in editing and publishing. Among his seven previous books (not to mention 22 pseudonymous potboilers early in his career) are The Elements of Editing and The Elements of Expression, both Book-of-the-Month Club selections, and the bestselling Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style. His articles, op-eds, and literary pieces have been published widely, including his columns in The Writer magazine, on whose editorial board he serves. Plotnik studied under Philip Roth in the Iowa Writers Workshop, was a reporter for the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union, and after earning a second graduate degree, worked as a Library of Congress staffer in Washington and magazine editor in New York. He received numerous honors and awards as a long-time editor and publisher with the American Library Association in Chicago. He lives in that city with his wife and an avalanchine tumble of jottings for Better than Great.

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