Semantricks: A Dictionary of Words You Thought You Knew

I don't doubt that Lewis Gediman and his co-authors of "Semantricks" are familiar with the book's spiritual ancestor, Ambrose Bierce's turn-of-the-century satirical work "The Devil's Dictionary." While Bierce's book was more sociopolitical commentary than pun, the formats are certainly similar: pick a word, give a Wildean smirk of a definition. And while Bierce's original audience is mostly dead, the style is just as appealing today.

The "definitions" in "Semantricks" range from groaners (Dicker: have sex with a woman) to plenty of legit keepers (Deign: Condescending Scandinavian). By-and-large, this little volume does just what its makers intended, provoking everything from a smirks to a chortle. I had a physics professor who could have gotten a whole semester of torturous one-liners out of this baby, and hopefully I can inflict a few on my friends and family, too.

My only critical comment, honestly, is that both the "Forward" and the "Note on Organization" (which basically states that it's in alphabetical order, and there are pictures) are unnecessary - if you get it, you get it, eh? If you're a fan of punny wordplay, "Semantricks" more than the trick. Ambrose woulda been proud.

There is something about a well-constructed pun that delights the mind and makes the sphincter pucker. And, believe me, after reading this book, you will be able to crack walnuts with your butt. It's laugh-out-loud funny, intelligent, witty, and insightful in ways that mainstream humor used to be before America's Funniest Home Videos made The Three Stooges look like Shakespeare. I read it in one sitting. And not because I'm very lonely. Because it's that good! So, if your boss is out of town, and you can't sleep in your cubicle, then buy this book, and have fun cracking up at what these extremely clever guys can do with the English language.