The Compact Oxford English Dictionary

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Summary: Professor and the Madman OED
Review: I like the book because it comes with a really cool magnifying glass to read the tiny words,I purchased a supplemental magnifying glass to make the words even larger! My only suggestion would be that they print the book large enough to not require a magnifying glass perhaps 6' square? Sure it might be cumbersome but you would not need the magnifying glass, nevertheless I would still want the magnifying glass because its pretty cool on its own.

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Summary: read this!
Review: A fascinating read. It's a little slow and predictable at recidivist but after salacious I couldn't put it down. Cheers.

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Summary: First class all the way
Review: All hail the "OED"! All hail the "OED"! If I had to serve hard time, I'd bring along this dictionary ("nor iron bars a cage"). The greatest dictionary in any language. Thanks, Murray. Essential; nay: unique.

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Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: Another great Dictionary by the people at Oxford. Though I prefer Merriam Webster's 3rd New International, this is one of my favortie dictionaries. Less cumbersome than the twelve volume OED, and the magnifiyng glass is useful. Has virtually every word in the english language except for "mortacious". Oh well. Great read.

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Summary: The OED legacy
Review: As a child I would take the magnifying glass fom my fathers OED to burn small insects, and start fires (with a little help from the sun). My relationship with the OED has gradually progressed, and now is one of my greatest tools. I hope someday to pass the OED magnifying glass down to my children.

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Summary: Better buy it now!
Review: As a volunteer reader for the OED [we're the people who supply the quotations that illustrate the usages of the words], I can let you in on a little secret. The next edition of this dictionary is not due out until 2010. The ne plus ultra of dictionaries.

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Summary: If you buy no other English-language reference book EVER....
Review: BUY THIS BOOK! The OED is THE definitive reference work on the English language, and has long enjoyed its reputation. This update contains every word I've ever heard of, and many, many, many words that are new to me (and I'm a writer; my business is words). Its print is tiny, but the magnifying glass makes reading easy. Browse the OED and you can't help but learn something.

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Summary: Caution
Review: Caution: Buy the 20 Volume set, so you don't have to use the magnifying glass. A peculiar thing happened to me: I left my book on the table, with the magnifying glass enlarging the word, "penis." When I came back, my book was on fire. Now I'll never get to look up the word, "penis," again. Now the lame definition from the American Heritage Dictionary will have to suffice (by the way, "vulva" was also one of my beloved definitions that was a victim of the fire). So I write a eulogy on the brilliant life of my "penis": "Penis," I love your smooth texture, I love the information you gave to my head, But I don't love the ashes you have turned to, Even though it is the only part of you I have left. I will look for you in my new 20 Volume Set, Existing in the pastures between "peninsula" and "penitence" But you will not be the same, As when you were a small "penis," - in my Compact edition.

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Summary: Lots Of Words
Review: Countless words distract and corrupt negative space..

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Summary: Almost Useless
Review: Even with the magnifying glass this volume's type is so small as to be almost useless. Navigation is difficult, as is reading extended entries. Intense light is needed to illuminate this tiny type. I wish now I had invested the extra $650.00 to purchase the full-sized set, and would vastly recommend one of the abridged, full-sized versions of the OED to this version.