Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Building a Better Vocabulary cover art

Building a Better Vocabulary

Written by: Kevin Flanigan,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Kevin Flanigan
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $52.57

Buy Now for $52.57

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

What is the difference between specious and spurious? What does the word bombast have to do with cushion stuffing? Would you want to be called a snollygoster?

The hallmark of a powerful vocabulary is not simply knowing many words; rather, it's knowing the exact word to use in a specific context or situation. A great vocabulary can enhance your speaking, writing, and even thinking skills. This course will boost your vocabulary, whether you want to enhance your personal lexicon, write or speak more articulately in professional settings, or advance your knowledge of the English language. For anyone who has ever grasped for the perfect word at a particular moment, this course provides a research-based and enjoyable method for improving your vocabulary.

Building a Better Vocabulary offers an intriguing look at the nuts and bolts of English, teaches you the etymology and morphology - or the history and structure - of words, and delves into the cognitive science behind committing new words to long-term memory. By the end of the 36 enjoyable lectures, you will have a practical framework for continuing to build your vocabulary by discovering new words and fully mastering the nuances of familiar ones.

If you are an avid reader, you may have previously encountered some of the words in this course. But even the most voracious reader will be surprised and delighted by these eye-opening lectures, which delve into the building blocks of the English language and reveal intriguing new nuances to words you thought you knew well. These lectures will kindle a passion for the process by which words are created and for the beauty of the words you read, speak, and hear every day.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLC

What listeners say about Building a Better Vocabulary

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    51
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    46
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    46
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • J
  • 2019-11-12

I certainly dig it, my homie

I love it when I'm learning a word and the perfect picture is in my mind. thanks, cool story teller man.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

educational entertainment overview

the narrator great writer and educator ductless extremely entertaining and educational. I liked every part of it. Highly recommended to anyone that is a teacher or anyone that wants to improve your vocabulary.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Build your vocabulary. Highly recommended !

Long hours but totally worth it. Plenty of activities and tips to improve your vocabulary step by step. The lecturer spends quality time to explain in depth the why and how. You will not.get bored and learn a lot. Guaranteed. #Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

Do not hesitate to invest in this audio. Entertaining. Full of insight. Well researched. Worth every penny.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Best Course for Advanced Vocabulary Learners

Gone over it a few times. Each time makes more sense, more fun, and more depth. As a lawyer, I am a vocabulary cruncher. I have gone over other vocabulary courses. This course really nails it down in a thorough, entertaining and scholarly fashion. My son loves it too. PDF materials seriously compliments. The level is for advanced learners.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and engaging book

Highly recommend the book to everyone who have an interest in learning new vocabulary it adds a new perspective to learning, retaining, and using new vocabulary.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book on vocabulary

after listening to this audiobook i have a much greater appreciation of the english language and i am more confident in piecing together the meaning of words i haven't heard before. #Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I wish I could give more stars

very effective and engaging approach to learning new words and fully grasping their meaning and usage

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Dad's Course of Vocab Building

From fifteen minutes a day, I feel like I'm truly improving on my vocabulary, enough to even look up new words on my own and put them in my vocabulary notebook. You are constantly urged to make connections with these words based on real life experiences, and that's where the title of my review comes from. Kevin consistently tells anecdotes of his past that bring you into his pg 13 life of dad jokes. #Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

So much value in just the first chapter alone.. Great book that offers a framework on how to learn and remember new words more effectively

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!