I like reading the dictionary–or I did back when dictionaries were books. I would open it to look up one word and end up exploring that word’s fascinating neighbors and neighborhood, page by page. Same for the encyclopedia, again, when those even existed. For anyone who hasn’t observed them in the wild, an encyclopedia is “a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically.” I know, because I looked it up on dictionary.com.
Before the development of the Information Superhighway, when we needed to know something, we had to use an encyclopedia or go to the library. (Through the snow, of course. Uphill both ways.)
Looking up something like “world’s largest waterfall” would invariably result in a long perusal of other waterfall superlatives, the highest, the widest, the largest volume, countries with the most waterfalls, or something tangentially related, such as the major exports of Zambia. An hour later I would look up and think What was I supposed to be looking for?
In other words, pretty much like the internet, but with more reliable sources.
As a book editor, I learn all kinds of things while fact-checking manuscripts, either online or at the library: women prisoners of war in World War II; educational challenges for military kids; historic diners in Indiana, Pennsylvania; popular dance moves and terms, like “stanky leg.” For which, by the way, I discovered an amazing array of potential origins and meanings.
Wonder if I could create a podcast about odd bits of knowledge discovered while fact-checking. Sounds riveting, doesn’t it? Like reading the dictionary. At least forty-seven other people besides me would be fascinated—and they’re probably all podcasters who are already capturing that booming market.
Based on what I hear on some podcasts, I may not have enough expletives in my vocabulary to be successful in that genre anyway. Come to think of it, it’s usually the same word adapted for any part of speech. Having worked in a newsroom, I’m familiar with that technique, at least as a spectator. If I put it into practice and my mother heard me, she’d probably march all the way from Oklahoma to wash my mouth out with soap.
Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll stick to editing books and reading the dictionary. Looking up words that start with F … like facts. Just the facts, ma’am.
Terri Barnes is a writer and book editor and is the author of Spouse Calls: Messages from a Military Life.
