Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition

Ever thought, There should be a German word for that? Well, thanks to the brilliantly original mind behind Schott's Original Miscellany, now there is. Schottenfreude is a unique, must-have dictionary, complete with newly coined words that explore the idiosyncrasies of life as only the German language can. In what other language but German could you construct le mot juste for a secret love of bad foods, the inability to remember jokes, Sunday-afternoon depression, the urge to yawn, the glee of gossip, reassuring your hairdresser, delight at the changing of the seasons, the urge to hoard, or the ineffable pleasure of a cold pillow? A beguiling, ideal gift book for the Gelehrte or anyone on your list--just beware of rapidly expanding (and potentially incomprehensible) vocabularies.

Ben Schott is the creator and designer of the international bestseller Schott’s Original Miscellany and its three sequels. He also wrote the news annual Schott’s Almanac (2006-2011). Together his books have sold some 2.5 million copies, in twenty one languages (including Japanese and Braille). Schott is a contributing columnist to the op-ed pages of The New York Times and a regular contributor to The Times of London. He divides his time between New York and London.