Word Power Made Easy – A summary

Norman Lewis was a grammarian and lexicographer from the United States who was widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on English language talents. Throughout his life, he published various books on language-related topics, including Roget’s New Pocket Thesaurus in Dictionary Form and 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary.

Word Power Made Easy was initially published in 1949 and has been reprinted multiple times since then. In only the second phrase of the book, Norman Lewis says that the only thing you can do with a book like Word Power Made Easy is to engage with it, to ‘speak aloud to it, talk back to it,’ to ‘use your voice, not just your eyes and mind.’

So, why attempt summarizing Word Power Made Easy?

We want the world to know that this is one of those books that you will never tire of reading. It, like a dictionary, will undoubtedly be useful to you at some point. And here’s our summary of the book, which is chock-full of useful quizzes, exams, and progress checks – justice.

Part One: Getting off to a good start

Chapter 1 – How to test your present vocabulary

So, why should you be concerned about your vocabulary?

Lewis immediately responds to this topic by stating that there is enough evidence in favor of a close association between vocabulary and achievement. Put that into simple terms: more words are equal to more money.

How many words do you know right now?

There is no need to look any further for an answer to this question. The first chapter of Lewis’ book is essentially a barrage of tests designed to determine whether your existing vocabulary is ‘below average, average, above average, outstanding, or superior in range, verbal speed, and responsiveness.’

Chapter 2 – How to expand your vocabulary? 

Do you know what the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is?

If not, it argues that language impacts your ideas; in other words, a Russian genuinely distinguishes more hues of blue than an American simply because the Russian language has more terms for the subtleties.

So, what does this say about the importance of acquiring new words?

Even if the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is possibly exaggerated, it is indisputable that expanding your vocabulary can improve your thinking.

Why?

Because words are images of things, and the more things you can identify, the better your vision of – and ability to connect with – the world.

Chapter 3 – How to talk about personality types

In chapter three, you’ll discover a variety of phrases “that define all kinds and sorts of individuals, including terminology for self-interest, reactions to the world, attitudes toward others, skill and awkwardness, marital states, and hate of man, woman, and marriage.”

You’ll discover the difference between an egoist and an egotist, what an ”ambivert’ is, and that ‘misogamist’ is a term through amazing examples.

Lewis concludes the three sections of this chapter with the joyous realization that you’ve probably already learned more words through them than you would in a single year.

Chapter 4 – How to talk about doctors

Have you ever caught yourself skimming through the tedious hospital conversation in every other House episode?

Now is your time to impress your colleagues!

Many terminologies linked to pediatric illnesses and skeletal abnormalities, heart and skin problems, and nerve and mental disorders are covered in Chapter 4.

Chapter 5 – How to talk about various practitioners

This is the chapter where you may expand your vocabulary with terms like “orthodontist,” “optometrist,” “podiatrist,” and “gerontologist.” You’ll also get more familiar with several related terms and become more aware of how words operate.

Chapter 6 – How to talk about various science and scientists

Here you will learn about some of the most important knowledge explorers, as well as the names of many different scientific disciplines. Words such as ‘an anthropology,’ ‘geologist,’ ‘an entomologist,’ ‘a semanticist,’ ‘a sociologist,’ and so on. As usual, Lewis includes a section in which he discusses the etymology of these internationalisms and several self-assessment exams.

Chapter 7 – How to discuss lying and liars

Not everyone who lies is the same. Some are skilled liars, while others are born liars; the flagrant liars are a narrative in and of itself, and the fluent liars can twist facts as easily as they can pronounce their names.

Chapter 8 – How to check Your progress: Comprehensive test

Each of the book’s three parts concludes with a 120-item comprehensive exam. Don’t miss this!

Part Two: gaining increased momentum

Chapter 9 – How to talk about actions

The second part progresses from nouns to other parts of speech. And the ninth chapter begins with several verbs that “accurately describe important human activities.” Through examples and amusing comments, learn what the terms “disparaging,” “equivocating,” “militating,” and “obviating” mean. Of course, all the related words and their etymologies are back for your enjoyment.

Chapter 10 – How to discuss different speech habits

This is the chapter to work with if you want to learn what “taciturn” or “garrulous” means and don’t want to sound “inarticulate” and “banal” the next time you’re out with your friends.

Chapter 11: How to insult your adversaries

So this is your opportunity to tell your enemies exactly what you think of them; if they are sycophants or ignoramuses, reprobates, or sociopaths.

Chapter 12 -How to flatter your friends

On the plus side, there are numerous words in the dictionary that you can use to flatter your friends. They’re wonderful, to be sure, but some of them are ‘ingenious,’ while others are ‘magnanimous,’ and a third may be ‘perspicacious’ – which is why you’d go to him or her for help with your problems!

Chapter 13 – Checking your progress: Comprehensive test II

Part II appears to require another 120-item self-assessment test.

Part Three: finishing with a feeling of complete success

Chapter 14 – How to talk about common phenomena and occurrences

As Robert Louis Stevenson once said, the world is full of many things, and it’s wonderful to be able to name at least some of them. This chapter introduces the terms ‘ephemerality’ and ‘cacophony,’ as well as ‘parsimonious’ and ‘opulent.’

Chapter 15 – How to talk about what goes on.

When you’re not only completely exhausted but also frustrated, you’re said to be ‘enervated.’ Other times, when you can’t make up your mind and keep changing your mind, you’re probably ‘vacillating.’ Learn more about the resemblance here.

Chapter 16 – How to talk about a Variety of Personal Characteristics.

This chapter will teach you some “adjectives that describe genuine humility, dissatisfaction, snobbery, female courtesy, financial embarrassment, sadness, and so on.” So look here if you want to learn the definitions of words like ‘impecunious,’ ‘obstreperous,’ and ‘innocuous.’

Chapter 17 – How to check your progress: Comprehensive test III

By now we don’t need to tell you what you’ll find in this chapter, do we?

Chapter 18 – How to check your standing as an amateur etymologist

The majority of the chapters in Lewis’ book begin with teaser questions; this chapter answers them.

 Some notable quotes from Word Power Made Easy

• Words are the instruments employing which men and women grasp the thoughts of others and with which they do much of their thinking. They are the tools of thought.
• No matter what your age, you can go on learning efficiently, or start learning once again if perhaps you have stopped.
• Successful people have superior vocabularies.
• If a student has a superior vocabulary, it will probably follow that he will do better work academically.
• Educational research has discovered that your I.Q. is intimately related to your vocabulary.

How to read Word Power Made Easy?

This is a one-of-a-kind question. Reading from the first page of a book is the approach that everyone takes when reading a book. However, this book isn’t just for reading! One must take the proper approach. Instead of flipping through the first few pages that tell you “how to pronounce,” “use of schwa,” and “test your vocabulary,” JUMP to Chapter 1 of Unit 1. These first few pages are quite gloomy.

After finishing Unit-1, go over it again the next day. All of the words will stick with you. You could also keep a notebook to help you remember the words. A few units are following. You can even deduce the meaning of words you’ve never heard of. You are not required to learn words; however, a dictionary will be useful. It will teach you how to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words.

How long should it take to finish Word Power Made Easy with regular study?

Reading it for the first time would take you about 90 hours. You can divide the hours according to your available time. A second time would take between 50 and 60 hours. You would have remembered most of the words and completed most of the exercises.

The third time you would only take around 30 hours. This time you’ll be skimming the book and only unremembered words would take your major attention.

Apart from those, develop a habit of reading. It may be books, newspapers, magazines, etc. Only solving the exercises in Word Power Made Easy won’t help. Reading a lot will help you understand the usage of new words.

Also do not think Word Power Made Easy is a one-time read. You should revisit the book every few months or even years.

Key takeaways

• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis offers an alternative method for learning new words. 
• It is also a better way to learn them because the book correctly assumes that words can only be properly absorbed when they are placed in a specific context, which is how the majority of them are introduced.
• In this book, there are sections dedicated to rules and applied grammar. The author has presented simple techniques for improving one’s vocabulary and word skills.
• This book has helped and improved the language of generations of students. This is a fundamental book about the English language and proper word usage. 

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FAQs

Q1. Is Word Power Made Easy book beneficial to students?

Answer – Anyone looking to expand their vocabulary will find it extremely useful. Word Power Made Easy, written by bestselling grammarian Norman Lewis, is a handy reference for students looking to improve their English speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Q2. How many new words are there in Word Power Made Easy?

Answer – Surprisingly, it is quite engaging, to the point where you do not feel bored or pressed. By the end of the book, you’ll have learned 400-450 new words, as well as the desire to use them in sentences and brag about them.

Q3. How many sessions are there in the book Word Power Made Easy?

Answer – Power Made Easy is an excellent book. If you try it, you’ll notice that it has many sessions, each lasting half an hour, which aids in the gradual development of your vocabulary. It is made up of about 70 sessions, and by the time you get to the last page, you will be a word master if you enjoyed working with it.