Verbal Advantage: 10 Steps to a Powerful Vocabulary

Other reviews convinced me to buy this book as it promised to be head and shoulders above other vocabulary books. But since getting and working with this book I find that despite the grand promises of the author as to what I will learn as a reader it is still nothing more than a book of lists of words to learn. I rate the book higher than average because I feel those subsets of lists that are presented represent excellent choices in establishing levels of vocabulary to add to my skills and knowledge. In the end I feel the book is better than most but don't expect much more than one list after the other to trudge through.

I have been re-reading this book for now over two years. It is still a great book.

I bought it for half years and today I helped my Gf to bought one again.As a non-native speaker of English,to recognize some educated words that is not an easy thing.So many years,I found hundreds of books which about studying new words but they all disapointed me for their poor form.However,this book has no page un-useful,the word which collected in that can help my vocabulary ability grow to a high level.So I recommend it to my Gf and she also decided to have one.

I reach for this book every time I have a free minute. The selection of words are ones I can really use, not off the wall words that will not help my professional growth. As a guidance counselor, I'm always looking for cool words since I talk to people all day! The book gives excellent examples about using the words in the correct context and provides interesting tid bits about word origins. This is a great resource.

The program appears sound in that it asks users to build their vocabulary by study and repetition; this is the basis for any good vocabulary program. The word entries are interesting and each varies a bit to retain interest - some discuss etymology, some synonyms, etc. It is novel in that it claims to build vocabulary from easier to hard words.

However, the narrative accompanying the work is very overblown and full of hype. This probably appeals to an uneducated reader who needs to be convinced that building vocabulary is a good thing, or who is looking for a concrete payoff from the boss, but is off-putting to anyone with an understanding of basic research and publication practices.

1) There are numerous references to research and expert opinion, but there are no citations or bibliography to lend the work credence or credibility to the experts.
2) How are the words selected and by what criteria were they placed in their levels?
3) The pre-test / post-test is a bit of a joke. As one reviewer pointed out, a post-test taken immediately after the pretest revealed something like a 25 point gain. The inference the reviewer made is that the post-test is easier than the pre-test, ostensibly to give the reader a fasle sense of achievement. Since there is no discussion of validity or controls in the tests, one is left to assume the worst.
4) The quotes on the jacket are from program users, I don't see anywhere in the book support from experts.
5) The book does not claim to have expert authentication of the material it contains or any research to support it's effectiveness. And since the author's only offered qualifications are the support of his customers and his own assertions, one is left to wonder who made up the material in the book? Who has determined the effectiveness of the program?
6) I did not see these obvious objections in the other reviews. I am left to wonder if there is not a Le Tip operation going on here to promote books?

Other than that, Random House, we enjoyed the play ;-)