The New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know

My eighth-grade son told me he had an assignment that he couldn't finish until he got to school the next morning because he had to look something up in the Cultural Literacy dictionary. I thought he was trying to pull one over on me, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and told him he could only use this excuse once. A few days later he told me he used a special favor with his school librarian and was able to bring this book home. Huh? You mean he wasn't kidding me before? So I flipped through the pages to see what this was. I was shocked that he had assignments where he actually had to look something up in a paper book instead of Googling it. OK son, you have my attention. So he walked me through it and explained to me why he needed this reference book for his assignments. He showed me a few examples of references he had used for projects where the references used cultural terms he was unfamiliar with, like D-Day and the League of Women Voters. He explained that the reference book he was using was just a little mature for him, but that he could look up some of these unfamiliar issues, define them, and cite their definitions in his paper and then continue on with his research. Wow. I would have expected kids his age to just bluff their way through the assignment. So no more calling in favors with the librarian. I bought him his own copy for home. I can't believe any of my kids are using actual physical desktop references anymore, but I really love it. Although the definitions are a little simplistic in some cases, they give him enough of a frame of reference to be able to continue on with work without having to look up every single new item online. This book is great for young students. I imagine it would be useful for foreign students too. I guess it would be great for space aliens and time travelers too. It's really a great way for anyone who is unfamiliar with today's common cultural references to quickly define the term and "get it" like the rest of us. I realize this physical book will become dated before too long, but at least it covers common references from now through the past.

This book, to put it plainly, is awesome. It is crammed full of knowledge that will truly put you on the road to cultural literacy. This book does not go into detail on any given subject. Instead it gives you the general meaning on a variety of subjects. It describes itself as a dictionary and that is how it is formatted. I do not understand why people complain that this book does not go in-depth on all of the subjects. That describes an encyclopedia and encyclopedias are available for sale too. The definitions are presented according to subjects. The subject headers in this book are: The Bible, Mythology and Folklore, Proverbs, Idioms, World Literature, Philosophy, and Religion, Literature in English, Conventions of Written English, Fine Arts, World History to 1550, World History Since 1550, American History to 1865, American History Since 1865, World Politics, American Politics, World Politics, American Politics, World Geography, American Geography, Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology, Business and Economics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Technology. Home schoolers I highly recommend this to you. It will serve as a great general reference for a well designed curriculum. Public Schoolers I recommend you buy this as well. It will serve as supplement for the complete lack of curriculum and education that the government is providing you, that is if you have even been taught to read.

This is 1st class reading material. I was born N America,and alot of the material N the book, wasn't taught N any school I've attended..It definitely leaves one wanting more,(Once you read it) if you have the mind 4 it.. I feel students would benefit greatly, if it were required reading or there was a class especially 4 it.With teachers interested N teaching.......I ordered one of the first volumes and completely read it thru,on my first trip 2 Brasil. Since then I have re-ordered and given several copies 2 my bookworm grandsons.They tell me they don't teach anything like that @ their school , either. SO, I have 2 ask myself,?WHAT R they teaching, N school these days?.....It sure makes me wonder.Both of my bookworms R N advanced classes. When they come 2 visit, they spend hours N my library, only coming out 2 graze ,,(raid the refrigerator),momentarily, then disappearing, back N-2 a good book. Jon R. Bass--Santa Fe,NM--87508

I am a foreign citizen living in the US for about 4 years for graduate level degree in the US. Culture as well as language are the biggest obstacles of my life in the US. I overcame the basic survival and class language barrier after living 2-3 years, but the cultural barrier with combined with conversational language is very challenging. Not only for more socializing but also more nature English writing and speacking, I worked hard, and Culturacy Dictionary helps me a lot. It includes expressions from various areas, e.g. bible, literature, idiom, etc. During the reading or watching TV, I can understand better the implications and expressions rooted from relgion, history, literature, and other areas of culture. I use this dictionary with several ways. First, just read the page I am intersted in. Second, I consult it during my writing to find better expression, and do more research to understand the background better via internet. Third, play game with this book with my American Classmates - in fact, this helps me the most. They explain what is not written in the dictionary, and this is the way I can acquire the knowledge of the expression easily and last long in my brain. This dictionary is wonderful, I think, for both for navtive and non-native. Non natives can upgrade their English level with cultural understanding, and natives can be more sophisticated using their languages. It is a great tool, and I am happy to find it!

great book

素晴らしい本です、アメリカのこともと知りたい方は読んだ方がいいですよ!

素晴らしい本です。 「教養あるアメリカ人」として承知しておくべき知識を"The Bible"から"Technology"まで２３の大項目に分類し、簡潔に解説しています。 それぞれの冒頭に「何故この知識が教養人として必須であるのか」を分かりやすく解説しており、先ずはその部分だけを読むことで「知の全体像」が何となく掴めると思います。 あとは自分が興味のある部分（小項目）を拾い読みしてもよいでしょうし、知識欲旺盛な方は片っ端から読んでいき、そこからヒントを得て更に他の文献に当たるなど発展させていくのも一興かと思います。元より本書は"DICTIONARY"ですから、通読には馴染まないでしょうが、ページを開く度に、そこから「知」を深め、分け入っていく喜びの誘惑を感じます。 なお、既に「教養人」を自負されている方には、その教養が本物であるかを確認するのに好都合な試験紙となるでしょう。 「教養ある日本人」の知識ミニマムを凝縮したこの種の書物があればご教示下さい。

Excellent reference book.

This is a hefty book. I think I was expecting something smaller BUT it's proving to be interesting and informative. This book was recommended reading by J. J. McCullough.