The dictionary has always had a special place in my book-obsessed heart. I was that kid that would flip through the dictionary, looking at different words and their meanings and usages for fun.

Words are absolutely fascinating to me. English is the alphabet soup of languages. A little bit of Latin, a little bit of Spanish, throw in some French and some Greek for good measure, there is a reason English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Oh but isn’t it fascinating.

The Oxford English Dictionary has long been considered the go-to dictionary for the Queen’s English. (Although, I am much more used to Merriam-Webster myself). The main difference between the two, however, is in their extensiveness. You may have a copy of the Merriam-Webster dictionary on your shelf, but the Oxford English has twenty volumes and would most likely not fit on your shelf, no matter how well-enforced.

This book is a wild ride of the dictionary’s origins, specifically how it relates to one, Dr. W. C. Minor, who resided at an asylum for the criminally insane.

Dr. Minor’s story is the very definition of life being stranger than fiction. But he isn’t the only stellar character in this story. We also have Professor James Murray who leads this absurdly large undertaking through its many, many weeds.

What better way to end the year than with some fun facts for your New Year’s Eve party?