The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary
12 journalers for this copy...
Picked this up from BookCloseouts.com, to put in my "Books about Things" bookbox. I read this on a bookring recently and really enjoyed it.
From the cover -
In his national bestseller, Simon Winchester offers a truly wonderful celebration of the English language and of its unrivaled treasure house, the Oxford English Dictionary. Winchester serves up a lightning history of the English language and pays homage to the great dictionary makers, from "the irredeemably famous" Samuel Johnson to the "short, pale, smug and boastful" schoolmaster from New Hartford, Noah Webster. Winchester lovingly describes the nuts-and-bolts of dictionary making. We visit the ugly corrugated iron structure grandly dubbed the Scriptorium, and meet some of the legion of volunteers, from Fitzedward Hall, a bitter hermit obsessively devoted to the OED, to W.C. Minor, whose story is one of dangerous madness, ineluctable sadness, and ultimate redemption.
The Meaning of Everything is a scintillating account of the creation of the greatest monument ever erected to a living language. Simon Winchester's supple, vigorous prose illuminates this dauntingly ambitious project - a seventy-year odyssey to create the grandfather of all word-books.
From the cover -
In his national bestseller, Simon Winchester offers a truly wonderful celebration of the English language and of its unrivaled treasure house, the Oxford English Dictionary. Winchester serves up a lightning history of the English language and pays homage to the great dictionary makers, from "the irredeemably famous" Samuel Johnson to the "short, pale, smug and boastful" schoolmaster from New Hartford, Noah Webster. Winchester lovingly describes the nuts-and-bolts of dictionary making. We visit the ugly corrugated iron structure grandly dubbed the Scriptorium, and meet some of the legion of volunteers, from Fitzedward Hall, a bitter hermit obsessively devoted to the OED, to W.C. Minor, whose story is one of dangerous madness, ineluctable sadness, and ultimate redemption.
The Meaning of Everything is a scintillating account of the creation of the greatest monument ever erected to a living language. Simon Winchester's supple, vigorous prose illuminates this dauntingly ambitious project - a seventy-year odyssey to create the grandfather of all word-books.
Journal Entry 2 by 
maryzee
at Books About Things Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 5, 2006
maryzee at Books About Things Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (9/6/2006 UTC) at Books About Things Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Putting into my "Books about Things" bookbox.
Putting into my "Books about Things" bookbox.
Taken from "books about things" bookbox. I think I will enjoy this
I've tried several times to get into this but just can't. Will release soon.
Journal Entry 5 by 
elizardbreath
at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 21, 2007
elizardbreath at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 21, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (12/21/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Releasing into Bunnylady's Neverending Bookbox.
Releasing into Bunnylady's Neverending Bookbox.
Journal Entry 6 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Sunday, January 13, 2008
This looks very interesting. I love words and look forward to reading this. I see it has already been in MaryZee's Books About Things box which made me laugh. When I picked it up I thought-PERFECT! I can read it this week and have another book to swap when The Books About Things bookbox arrives. ;) Bookcrossing is such a small world.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing.
This book is going back out in MaryZee's Biographies of Things Bookbox. I've had it for far too long, I remember reading it when it arrived--but it's been a while. I hope it finds a new home soon. http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/465947
Taking this out of the Biography of Things bookbox. Simon Wichester is great. I enjoyed the Professor and the Madman, so I am assuming this is probably the neat stuff that would'nt fit in that book. Some interesting new material, but I liked the Professor and the Madman better.
Placed in 6of8's MaryZee's Biography of Things Bookbox. Travel far ....
Made its way to Colorado in MZ's memorial bookbox --
Ahhh...a MZ book :-). I read The Professor and the Madman and so I think I have gotten enough about the Oxford English Dictionary, so, travel on little book!
Ahhh...a MZ book :-). I read The Professor and the Madman and so I think I have gotten enough about the Oxford English Dictionary, so, travel on little book!
Taken from MaryZee's Biographies of Things box with thanks. I enjoyed The Professor and the Madman so I'm hoping this one will be interesting as well.
Headed out in the latest incarnation of MaryZee's Biographies of Things box.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'm so glad you've found this book!
Won't you please make a journal entry to let the book's previous readers know that it's safely in your hands? How did you find it? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?
It's now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!
If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow the further adventures of your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.
(Think of it like Where's George for books...or a little like geocaching - you can follow the book's journey every time someone makes a new entry. Some BookCrossers even leave books *in* geocaches!)
BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!
I'm so glad you've found this book!
Won't you please make a journal entry to let the book's previous readers know that it's safely in your hands? How did you find it? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?
It's now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!
If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow the further adventures of your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.
(Think of it like Where's George for books...or a little like geocaching - you can follow the book's journey every time someone makes a new entry. Some BookCrossers even leave books *in* geocaches!)
BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!
It's very fitting that one of maryzee's own books is traveling with this bookbox! I like Winchester's work, and enjoyed his book The Professor and the Madman (the subjects of which are touched on here, though not in depth). I dipped into this book to see if I wanted to choose it from among so many tempting volumes, but after enjoying some of the photos ("Hey, that's Tolkien!") and browsing a wee bit, I decided to leave it in the box for someone else. [Having noticed it on the wishlists of one or two of the participants farther down the list, I hope that it manages to fill a wish!]
Taking from the Things bookbox as it was on my wishlist, although I have no idea why. Interesting about the other Winchester book which I never heard of!
from the Things bookbox last round. I liked this better than The Professor and the Madman. I click on the OED all the time on my kindle and never noticed the nuances in the descriptions. Great book.
Journal Entry 16 by 
NancyNova
at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, May 14, 2017
NancyNova at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, May 14, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (5/14/2017 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Into the Things bookbox
Journal Entry 17 by 
6of8
at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Utah USA on Monday, August 14, 2017
6of8 at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Utah USA on Monday, August 14, 2017
I see that this book has made the rounds in this box, starting with MaryZee herself. Not sure if it will go back in the box or travel some other way.
Journal Entry 18 by 6of8 at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Maryland USA on Saturday, February 10, 2018
6of8 at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Maryland USA on Saturday, February 10, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (2/10/2018 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Maryland USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is back in the Biographies of Things book box and on its way to Florida.
Any future reader or recipient of this book is encouraged to leave a journal entry here on the BookCrossing site to let prior readers know the fate of the book. You can make an anonymous entry without joining the BookCrossing movement, but if you are interested in joining, it is a free and spam-free community where your contact information is not shared with others. Best of all, members receive private messages via e-mail from books like this one when those books are journaled, allowing for long-term relationships between books and readers.
Any future reader or recipient of this book is encouraged to leave a journal entry here on the BookCrossing site to let prior readers know the fate of the book. You can make an anonymous entry without joining the BookCrossing movement, but if you are interested in joining, it is a free and spam-free community where your contact information is not shared with others. Best of all, members receive private messages via e-mail from books like this one when those books are journaled, allowing for long-term relationships between books and readers.
Just want to chime in as I've read this book in the past.
When I started reading to it I have to admit it was a little boring, I even thought, I may be out of my mind to think that a book about dictionary sounds interesting. But then as a kid I liked to read dictionary (as there was nothing else to read at home and I didn't know yet libraries exist.) I am glad I persevered as the book got more interesting, so much so that I would likely seek out The Madman and The Professor to learn more about what was mentioned briefly in this one.
When I started reading to it I have to admit it was a little boring, I even thought, I may be out of my mind to think that a book about dictionary sounds interesting. But then as a kid I liked to read dictionary (as there was nothing else to read at home and I didn't know yet libraries exist.) I am glad I persevered as the book got more interesting, so much so that I would likely seek out The Madman and The Professor to learn more about what was mentioned briefly in this one.
Made a short stop at my house for Biographies of Things book box. It will stay in the box.
I have already read this book.
I have already read this book.
I'm claiming this from the Biographies of Things bookbox, because it's already been through the hands of everyone left on the mailing list! I plan to wild-release it in honor of maryzee.
Journal Entry 22 by 
GoryDetails
at Little Free Library, Nubble Rd in York, Maine USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018
GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Nubble Rd in York, Maine USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (5/30/2018 UTC) at Little Free Library, Nubble Rd in York, Maine USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
In memory of maryzee, who started this book on its travels long ago, I left this book in the Little Free Library on this warm, sunny day; hope someone enjoys it!*** Released for the 2018 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***
I found it in my Little Free Library this morning. It looks great! I plan on reading it and then putting it back for someone else to find.
