I confess to reading dictionaries for fun so this kind of book is heaven to me. With echoes of Douglas Adams' 'Meaning Of Liff', this funny, beautiful book comes complete with fascinating and curious side notes, placing the words and ideas which they convey into social, historical or literary contexts. Most importantly, I have finally discovered that there is a word which describes my previously undiagnosed condition, one which I suspect afflicts many booksellers - 'Buchadlerauge' - 'Knowing from memory where a specific book may be found on a shelf'.

This delightful little book is the perfect gift for any of us who are keen linguists, Germanophiles or, indeed, just forever searching for that perfect (if implausibly constructed) word to describe the sound of fingernails on a board. Perfectly priced for gifts and a really enjoyable way to pass the time and expand your vocabulary in the best possible way. I'll be selling these all Christmas long, wunderbar!