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Pedantic
A hilarious and useful guide to the 100 terms smart people should know
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Pedantic
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Ideal for language enthusiasts, students, and anyone intrigued by words that convey precise ideas across philosophy, science, and the arts.
A compendium of 100 words and phrases smart people use - even if they only kinda sorta (secretly don't) know what they mean - with pithy definitions and fascinating etymologies to solidify their meanings.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
Your boss makes a joke about Schrödinger's cat - something you've heard of, but what exactly happened (or didn't happen) with that cat? Or you're reading a New Yorker article that explains that 'Solecism slipped into solipsism into full-blown narcissistic projection.' An excellent point... if you know what 'solecism' means... or, for that matter, 'solipsism'.
Language gurus Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras explain all of the words and phrases smart people should know. Covering the worlds of science, the arts and philosophy, they explore broad topics, like quantum physics and ontology, and more specific ones, like shibboleth and bête noire.
From Latin phrases we often hear and read (prima facie, sui generis and the like) to those pesky words that have entered our vocabularies from other languages (bildungsroman, sturm und drang), Pedantic will inform and delight even the most pernickety word nerds.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781760877996
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 March 2020
Country: Australia
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 174g
Pages: 192
Collections
About the Author
Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras are the authors of the #1 bestselling page-a-day calendar The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said and many other humor and gift books, most recently That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means. They recently launched a new NPR-affiliate podcast based on their New York Times bestseller You're Saying It Wrong. Their work has received the attention of personalities like David Brinkley and Howard Stern, and media outlets including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, Washington Post, HuffPost, and the Times (UK).
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"Dance First. Think Later"
Dance First. Think Later by Kathryn and Ross Petras is a treasure trove of motivational and thought-provoking quotes that inspire the reader to live a richer, more meaningful life. This exceptional collection encapsulates the wisdom of an eclectic mix of historical icons, contemporary figures, and brilliant minds from various walks of life. Timeless in their wisdom, thought-provoking in their message,...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Pre-order365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Page-A-Day Calendar 2027
365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Page-A-Day Calendar 2027 offers a daily dose of absurdly asinine articulations. Delve into baffling gaffes and fantastic fumbles, featuring statements from truth-challenged politicians, pointless 911 calls, what not to say in court, and hilarious headlines. This is a hilarious roundup of famous people, including sports stars, politicians, entertainers, and names from the headlines—all saying really...Calendar$3499Unit price /UnavailableOut 11 Aug 2026Pre-order -
Awkword Moments
A compendium of 100 words and phrases smart people use—even if they only kinda sorta (secretly don't) know what they mean—with pithy definitions and fascinating etymologies to solidify their meanings. Your boss makes a joke about Schrödinger's cat—which is something you've heard of, but you're a little vague about what exactly happened (or didn't happen) with that cat. Or you're...HardbackSold Out
Also by Ross Petras
View all-
"Dance First. Think Later"
Dance First. Think Later by Kathryn and Ross Petras is a treasure trove of motivational and thought-provoking quotes that inspire the reader to live a richer, more meaningful life. This exceptional collection encapsulates the wisdom of an eclectic mix of historical icons, contemporary figures, and brilliant minds from various walks of life. Timeless in their wisdom, thought-provoking in their message,...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Pre-order
365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Page-A-Day Calendar 2027
365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Page-A-Day Calendar 2027 offers a daily dose of absurdly asinine articulations. Delve into baffling gaffes and fantastic fumbles, featuring statements from truth-challenged politicians, pointless 911 calls, what not to say in court, and hilarious headlines. This is a hilarious roundup of famous people, including sports stars, politicians, entertainers, and names from the headlines—all saying really...Calendar$3499Unit price /UnavailableOut 11 Aug 2026Pre-order -
Awkword Moments
A compendium of 100 words and phrases smart people use—even if they only kinda sorta (secretly don't) know what they mean—with pithy definitions and fascinating etymologies to solidify their meanings. Your boss makes a joke about Schrödinger's cat—which is something you've heard of, but you're a little vague about what exactly happened (or didn't happen) with that cat. Or you're...HardbackSold Out
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