How to buy an original The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows in India?

You can buy the original The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows hardcover in India directly from CrowCrowCrow. We import authentic editions from authorized US retailers and brand partners, ensuring factory-sealed quality. All customs duties and GST are included in the price, and your order is shipped via ExpressBox tracked delivery.

What is 'sonder' as defined in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows?

'Sonder' is defined as the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

What kind of emotions does this book define?

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows defines a wide range of emotions, both common and rare, that often lack specific words. Examples include 'lachesism' (the desire for a disaster to happen), 'anemoia' (nostalgia for a time you've never known), and 'astrophe' (the longing to explore beyond Earth). It covers feelings related to identity, connection, longing, and the passage of time.

Is this book suitable for a general reader or is it a clinical textbook?

This book is primarily for a general reader interested in language, psychology, and self-reflection, not a clinical textbook. It offers poetic definitions and lyrical essays that explore the human condition, making complex emotions accessible and relatable. While it delves into psychological concepts, it does so through creative language and artistic expression.

What is the difference between this book and a regular dictionary?

Unlike a regular dictionary that lists existing words and their meanings, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows invents new words to describe feelings that lack specific terminology. It focuses on the emotional and philosophical aspects of human experience, offering poetic etymologies and narrative essays rather than standard linguistic definitions.

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Hardcover | John Koenig's Emotional Vocabulary

About this item

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig is a groundbreaking hardcover that invents words for emotions we all feel but struggle to name. Imported to India, this book provides a unique lexicon for understanding the human condition, featuring poetic definitions and lyrical essays that explore the ineffable aspects of life. Discover terms like 'sonder,' the realization that everyone lives a life as vivid and complex as your own, and 'lachesism,' the desire for a catastrophic disaster to alter your life.

This collection delves into forgotten corners of human experience, offering whimsical etymologies and otherworldly collages. It's designed for anyone who enjoys a shift in perspective, pondering the ineffable feelings that make up our lives. The book's beautiful packaging and illustrations make it a perfect gift for creatives, word nerds, and anyone seeking a deeper connection with their inner world.

For Indian readers, this imported edition offers a unique linguistic tool to articulate nuanced emotions, enhancing self-awareness and empathy. The book arrives via ExpressBox with all customs and GST included, ensuring a transparent and hassle-free delivery to your pincode.

Key Features

New Words for Unnamed Feelings — Covers over 200 invented words for emotions like 'sonder' (the realization of everyone's complex life) and 'lachesism' (the desire for disaster), enriching emotional vocabulary.
Poetic Definitions & Lyrical Essays — Each entry includes whimsical etymologies and narrative essays that explore the human condition, offering a deeply relatable and thought-provoking reading experience.
Beautifully Illustrated & Packaged — Features otherworldly collages and a gorgeous package, making it an aesthetically pleasing addition to any bookshelf and an ideal gift for word lovers and creatives.
Enhances Self-Awareness & Empathy — By providing language for complex feelings, the book helps readers understand their own emotions and connect more deeply with the experiences of others.

Why choose this product

A Lexicon for the Ineffable

John Koenig's Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows crafts beautiful new words for feelings that have long eluded expression. This isn't just a dictionary; it's an exploration of the human heart, offering solace and understanding through language. Each definition is a journey, revealing the shared, yet often silent, complexities of our inner lives. For those in India seeking to articulate their feelings more precisely, this book provides the precise vocabulary, turning abstract emotions into tangible concepts. It's a testament to the power of words to illuminate our experiences and foster deeper connections.

Who Should Read This Book & Who Might Skip It

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy introspection, language, psychology, and creative expression. If you're a writer, poet, therapist, or simply someone who loves words and wants to understand emotions better, this is for you. It's perfect for those who appreciate unique perspectives and the beauty of language. However, if you prefer straightforward, factual non-fiction without poetic or philosophical exploration, or if you are looking for a clinical psychology text, this book might not align with your expectations. It's a work of art and language, not a diagnostic manual.

How to use

Open to Any Page — This book is designed for discovery. Simply open to any page and explore a new word and its definition, or read sequentially to follow the author's exploration of language and emotion.
Reflect on Definitions — Read the poetic definitions and lyrical essays. Consider how these invented words apply to your own experiences, feelings, and observations of the world around you.
Integrate into Your Vocabulary — Use these new terms to articulate your feelings more precisely in journaling, conversations, or creative writing. Sharing these words can foster deeper understanding and connection with others.

Example scenarios

Typical situations where The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Hardcover | Defining Unexpressed Emotions helps — illustrative scenarios, not customer reviews.

Scenario 1

Illustrative example

Where it helps

A reader in Mumbai feels a deep sense of nostalgia for a past they never experienced, struggling to articulate this unique longing.

How this product helps

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows provides the term 'anemoia' for this specific feeling, validating the experience and offering language to describe it, fostering self-understanding and connection with others who might share this sentiment.

Scenario 2

Illustrative example

Where it helps

A writer in Delhi wants to capture the complex feeling of realizing everyone they meet has a rich inner life, but lacks the precise word.

How this product helps

The book introduces 'sonder,' the profound realization that every passerby has a life as vivid and complex as one's own. This term helps the writer articulate this empathy-inducing concept, enriching their narrative and understanding of human connection.

Book details & contents

Who it's for

Reading Level	General/Trade
Intended Audience	Adults, Creatives, Word Nerds, Introspective Readers
Use Case	Personal reflection, understanding emotions, literary exploration, gift

How we compare

Feature	The Dictionary of	Others
Concept Origin	Invented words for nuanced emotions, sourced from US authors and publishers.	May offer existing terms for emotions or translations of foreign words; focus on established vocabulary.
Linguistic Approach	Creative etymologies, poetic definitions, lyrical essays, and artistic collages.	Standard dictionary definitions, linguistic analysis, or collections of existing emotional terms.
Focus	Articulating the ineffable, exploring the human condition through new language.	Defining known emotions, providing existing vocabulary, or exploring psychological concepts factually.
Target Audience	Creatives, word lovers, introspective readers, those seeking new perspectives.	General readers, students of language or psychology, those needing standard emotional vocabulary.
Imported Value	Authentic USA edition, factory-sealed, all duties and GST included.

SKU	hzr0716
GTIN	09781501153648
Brand	Simon & Schuster
Author	John Koenig
Binding	Hardcover
Pages	288
Language	English
Dimensions	13.3 cm x 18.3 cm x 2.4 cm (5.2" x 7.2" x 0.9")
Weight	0.27 kg (0.6 lbs)
Publication Date	November 16, 2021
ISBN	9781501153648

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The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Hardcover | Defining Unexpressed Emotions

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About this item

Key Features

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Example scenarios

Book details & contents

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How we compare

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