On the Tip of My Tongue, Tom Read Wilson
On the Tip of My Tongue, Tom Read Wilson
List: $22.99 | Sale: $16.09
Club: $11.49

On the Tip of My Tongue
The perfect word for every life moment

Author: Tom Read Wilson

Narrator: Tom Read Wilson

Unabridged: 3 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Aurum

Published: 09/06/2022


Synopsis

In On the Tip of My Tongue, logophile and television star Tom Read Wilson takes a delicious dive into the etymology and usage of words, euphemisms and bon mots.

Written with his trademark sparkling wit, the star of Celebs Go Dating and self-avowed word-lover presents a hilarious and fascinating guide which aims to leave you never lost for words again.

Divided into sections spanning dating, personal development, show business, compliments, curses, and how to dodge offence while speaking your mind, this book will equip you with the words needed to navigate all the situations of modern life with style and grace.

From treppenwitz (the German word for the feeling of a missed riposte in an argument) to Callipygian (a 17th Century word referring to someone with well shaped buttocks) to JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out), this guide covers a wide and varied range of words, from those with roots in antiquity to new ones being coined in the present day.

With Tom’s wit and lifelong love of words by your side, you'll always be able to pick the perfect word, phrase or quip, whether you are trying to understand the many metaphors for sex or trying to tell your mother you love her.

This is a delightful and hilarious etymological solution to the dilemmas and conundrums of modern life and a must-read for every budding vocabularian.

Reviews

Goodreads review by D. T. on May 11, 2023

The words we use are an intimate portrait of ourselves, as the author notes, and in this lighthearted and informative book, Wilson is a playful, erudite, and unabashed lover of words. We get to know him through a selection of words in a wide variety of subjects, from the highfalutin to the rudely lo......more

Goodreads review by Lindsey's Literary Leanings on August 02, 2024

Absolutely love Tom, and also etymology being a big reader. I read this book in less than a day. It is fascinating and hugely funny, especially the chapter on ways to dodge offense. I will buying his children's books for my partner's neices.......more

Goodreads review by Alice on January 07, 2024

A neat book with splendid words & their fascinating origins. I knew very few of these, and it has certainly changed how I view and use words. However, it does take a bit of time to adjust to the unique writing style.......more

Goodreads review by Tawni on March 04, 2024

So much fun! I only wish there‘d been even more examples of how to use some of the more unique words and phrases. A couple of example sentences after each entry would have been a nice addition!......more

Goodreads review by Lauren on January 28, 2023

I loved every minute of this book and found myself saying words aloud just for the fun of it. Just as pulchritudinous as the author.......more


Quotes

you’ll do well to improve on this sparkling and idiosyncratic meditation on words and their meanings, from an actor-turned-writer…—Marcus Berkmann, Daily Mail

Books of the Year 2022The Spectator