The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Book Brief
Beta272
Poem • Nonfiction
•
Psychology•
Psychology2021
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig explores the human experience through newly coined words that capture complex emotions. Each entry provides a term for a unique feeling, accompanied by explanations that resonate with person-first experiences, encouraging readers to articulate nuanced emotions often left unexpressed in everyday language.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
5,148 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig offers a poignant exploration of emotions too complex for words. Readers appreciate its rich, inventive lexicon that resonates personally. However, some critique its introspective nature, feeling it occasionally lacks depth in application. Overall, it is celebrated for its evocative and thought-provoking concepts.
Who Should Read The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows?
A reader who enjoys The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig is likely introspective and fascinated by language's ability to articulate complex emotions. They might also enjoy The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry for their poetic exploration of the human experience.
5,148 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows began as a popular blog and YouTube channel where John Koenig coined new terms to articulate feelings that have no specific name in the English language.
The term "sonder," which describes the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own, is one of the most well-known entries and has been widely adopted and referenced in popular culture and various media.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
John Koenig's passion for language and etymology shines through as he often creates terms by blending roots and affixes from languages such as Greek, Latin, and German, giving his invented words an air of authenticity and familiarity.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
272
Poem • Nonfiction
•
Psychology•
Psychology2021
Adult
18+ years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!