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An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition
An "exaltation of larks"? Yes! And a "leap of leopards," a "parliament of owls," an "ostentation of peacocks," a "smack of jellyfish," and a "murder of crows"!
For those who have ever wondered if the familiar "pride of lions" and "gaggle of geese" were only the tip of a linguistic iceberg, James Lipton has provided the definitive answer: here are hundreds of equally pithy, and often poetic, terms unearthed by Mr. Lipton in the Books of Venery that were the constant study of anyone who aspired to the title of gentleman in the fifteenth century. When Mr. Lipton's painstaking research revealed that five hundred years ago the terms of venery had already been turned into the Game of Venery, he embarked on an odyssey that has given us a "slouch of models," a "shrivel of critics," an "unction of undertakers," a "blur of Impressionists," a "score of bachelors," and a "pocket of quarterbacks."
This ultimate edition of An Exaltation of Larks is Mr. Lipton's brilliant answer to the assault on language and literacy in the last decades of the twentieth century. In it you will find more than 1,100 resurrected or newly minted contributions to that most endangered of all species, our language, in a setting of 250 witty, beautiful, and remarkably apt engravings.
For those who have ever wondered if the familiar "pride of lions" and "gaggle of geese" were only the tip of a linguistic iceberg, James Lipton has provided the definitive answer: here are hundreds of equally pithy, and often poetic, terms unearthed by Mr. Lipton in the Books of Venery that were the constant study of anyone who aspired to the title of gentleman in the fifteenth century. When Mr. Lipton's painstaking research revealed that five hundred years ago the terms of venery had already been turned into the Game of Venery, he embarked on an odyssey that has given us a "slouch of models," a "shrivel of critics," an "unction of undertakers," a "blur of Impressionists," a "score of bachelors," and a "pocket of quarterbacks."
This ultimate edition of An Exaltation of Larks is Mr. Lipton's brilliant answer to the assault on language and literacy in the last decades of the twentieth century. In it you will find more than 1,100 resurrected or newly minted contributions to that most endangered of all species, our language, in a setting of 250 witty, beautiful, and remarkably apt engravings.
295 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
James Lipton
16 books14 followersJames Lipton was an American writer, poet, and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. He was the executive producer, writer and host of the Bravo cable television series, Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994. He was also a pilot and a member of AOPA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 7, 2014
Loved this book. It’s a linguistic treatise about the names for groups: groups of various animals, or groups of people of various professions or social circles, or groups of abstract concepts. A Comedy of Errors is in this book (yes, it’s a group name, created by Shakespeare, not the genre name). So is a School of Fish or a Barrel of Monkeys or an Exaltation of Larks. It includes over 1000 terms, some more established than others.
Lipton writes about his sources for this book, some of them from 15th century, and its instant, unexpected by the author, success. In his opinion, the group names he lists in his book are both poetry and a game. He participated in the game too, creating several group names, and he encourages everyone to pitch in.
The book is funny. It’s thoughtful. It’s written in English so beautiful and rich I wanted to cry from joy, just as I laughed at its puns or winced at its insights. It’s also very well researched and extremely quotable. Since 1968, when it was first published, the book has enjoyed multiple editions and never been out of print. New copies are still available on Amazon. Below are a few quotes.
Lipton bemoans the slow simplification of the English language, from Shakespeare to Twitter. I share his concern. And I enjoyed his book.
Lipton writes about his sources for this book, some of them from 15th century, and its instant, unexpected by the author, success. In his opinion, the group names he lists in his book are both poetry and a game. He participated in the game too, creating several group names, and he encourages everyone to pitch in.
The book is funny. It’s thoughtful. It’s written in English so beautiful and rich I wanted to cry from joy, just as I laughed at its puns or winced at its insights. It’s also very well researched and extremely quotable. Since 1968, when it was first published, the book has enjoyed multiple editions and never been out of print. New copies are still available on Amazon. Below are a few quotes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obviously, at one time or another, every one of these terms had to be invented—and it is also obvious that much imagination, wit and semantic ingenuity has always gone into that invention: the terms are so charming and poetic it is hard to believe their inventors were unaware of the possibilities open to them, and unconscious of the fun and beauty they were creating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…every one of the terms you will find in Parts II and III of this book has an equal claim on our respect and loyalty. The fact that many of them have slipped out of our common speech can only, I think, be described as lamentable. There is little enough poetry in our speech (and lives) to continue to ignore a vein as rich as this. … The thesis of this book can be summed up very simply: when a group of ravens flaps by, you should, if you want to refer to their presence, say, “There goes an unkindness of ravens.” Anything else would be wrong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The heart and soul of this book is the concern that our language, one of our most precious natural resources, is also a dwindling one that deserves at least as much protection as our woodlands, wetlands and whooping cranes.
With the keenest, most powerful linguistic instrument at our disposal, our language shrinks, not at the highest level of intellectual life, where the endangered species is bred and kept alive, like Siberian tigers in a zoo, but at nearly every level below it. Motion pictures, radio and television, contemporary language’s primary delivery systems, deliberately, by tacit fiat, make do with the vocabulary of the common denominator toward which they are aimed, a legitimate business strategy, a damaging linguistic one. By the age of nineteen, the average American has logged 11,000 hours in school and 15,000 hours in front of the television tube, listening to the same few hundred hackneyed words in listless rotation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forty years ago, Oscar Hammerstein grumbled that if as and like were interchangeable, Shakespeare would’ve called it Like You Like It; it’s as well Hammerstein didn’t live to hear today’s ubiquitous “like.” Quite unique, less perfect and most fatal are reduced to absurdity by adding qualifiers to unmodifiable adjectives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lipton bemoans the slow simplification of the English language, from Shakespeare to Twitter. I share his concern. And I enjoyed his book.
May 16, 2014
Initially, I misjudged James Lipton’s quirky and curious book, An Exaltation of Larks, missing the playful and fanciful element. When I read that a group of elk is called a gang, I felt only unalloyed disgust. Perhaps among flabby academicians, elk are referred to as gangs. But, I live among muscular mountain men who would laugh in derision at that term. Or fix you with a questioning stare.
This book didn’t grab me until I started from the beginning.The dedication: For my mother, Betty Lipton, who showed me the way to words. (Swoon. I want my kids to say that some day.)
This is the sort of book that fits well in a bathroom. Read a page, put it down.
Lipton encourages the reader to join a game, coming up with new collective nouns. The groups that tickled my fancy the most were the medical professions (a joint of osteopaths) and music (a pound of pianists, a bridge of lyricists). Not to mention a load of diapers or a twaddle of public speakers.
Some terms are so familiar we don’t see them as collective terms, as in Shakespeare’s a comedy of errors and a sea of troubles (from Hamlet). The book of Hebrews gives us cloud of witnesses. Does that joggle you linguistically like it does me?
The greatest challenge facing me is that of identification. Before I learn the collective terms [murmuration, charm, exaltation, murder, unkindness and dule] I need to learn to distinguish starlings, finches, larks, crows, ravens and doves.
This book didn’t grab me until I started from the beginning.The dedication: For my mother, Betty Lipton, who showed me the way to words. (Swoon. I want my kids to say that some day.)
This is the sort of book that fits well in a bathroom. Read a page, put it down.
Lipton encourages the reader to join a game, coming up with new collective nouns. The groups that tickled my fancy the most were the medical professions (a joint of osteopaths) and music (a pound of pianists, a bridge of lyricists). Not to mention a load of diapers or a twaddle of public speakers.
Some terms are so familiar we don’t see them as collective terms, as in Shakespeare’s a comedy of errors and a sea of troubles (from Hamlet). The book of Hebrews gives us cloud of witnesses. Does that joggle you linguistically like it does me?
The greatest challenge facing me is that of identification. Before I learn the collective terms [murmuration, charm, exaltation, murder, unkindness and dule] I need to learn to distinguish starlings, finches, larks, crows, ravens and doves.
October 22, 2016
A book for people who've mastered such basics as a pride of lions and want to go onward. To a murder of crows, a parliament of owls, or a truelove of doves.
You can have your pick for cats: clowder, cluster, and clutter are all recorded. Though some have distinctions: it is a gaggle of geese on the grounds, but a skein of geese in the air.
Some are more fun than others, and he includes a long section with possibilities for new ones.
You can have your pick for cats: clowder, cluster, and clutter are all recorded. Though some have distinctions: it is a gaggle of geese on the grounds, but a skein of geese in the air.
Some are more fun than others, and he includes a long section with possibilities for new ones.
January 22, 2020
Not as interesting as I thought it would be. Seemed a jumble of unconnected topics. Better organization would have helped.
June 11, 2017
I had been a very happy owner of the 1977 Edition: An is Exaltation of Larks or, The Venereal Game. It was much shorter and carried less text. This the updated, third edition seems a step down. Brevity, in this case being the soul of wit. This edition has more substance. It appears with a more complete history of the collection of collections. There is what reads like a fair effort at providing etymologies for many of the terms. I found the text cluttered and the insistence on using script fonts hard to read.
Lists in the first half contained thrown together items with little or no relation to one another. The last half was better organized but there seemed to be little care in selecting the best of offered examples. Some were too obvious and the obscure may or may not rate explanations.
Historically, terms of venery were mostly hunting terms. Pride of Lions, Murder of Crows, Herd of Hinds and etc. The term venery common root as venereal meaning to seek or desire , to lust after or for this book: to hunt. The earliest collection of list of collectives; Lipton gives as appearing in the 1300's in Norman French. He will offer as his inspiration the List of St Albanse written about 150 years later. It is also Lipton's opinion that this book was written by Dame Juliana and therefore the more interesting as coming from a time when few women could write and covering hunting, not a traditional 15th century center of female activity.
Once Lipton gets past his history and a few stories about getting to see original copies of some of these books, he has divided the actual text into sections moving from the traditional to the modern. We are not given any complete list for nay of the early editions. Very old and not so old collectives may be found consecutively. While he will make some effort to identify which old source originated which terms, in the modern lists there are a few general statements about who may have offered items under which topic, but nothing in the way of footnotes.
For me the consistently best part of this edition are the illustrations. Whimsical, detailed and entertaining, they best exemplify the humor and satiric aptness that is and was always a part of the Terms of Venery.
Exaltation of Larks is not meant as a scholarly book, and it is not scholarly. It is meant to be entertaining and it is , mostly , almost. It is also cluttered, poorly organized, documented and rarely as funny as it might have been. The shorter earlier edition was a more entertaining read. This one is not a bad read, just not much of an entertaining read.
Lists in the first half contained thrown together items with little or no relation to one another. The last half was better organized but there seemed to be little care in selecting the best of offered examples. Some were too obvious and the obscure may or may not rate explanations.
Historically, terms of venery were mostly hunting terms. Pride of Lions, Murder of Crows, Herd of Hinds and etc. The term venery common root as venereal meaning to seek or desire , to lust after or for this book: to hunt. The earliest collection of list of collectives; Lipton gives as appearing in the 1300's in Norman French. He will offer as his inspiration the List of St Albanse written about 150 years later. It is also Lipton's opinion that this book was written by Dame Juliana and therefore the more interesting as coming from a time when few women could write and covering hunting, not a traditional 15th century center of female activity.
Once Lipton gets past his history and a few stories about getting to see original copies of some of these books, he has divided the actual text into sections moving from the traditional to the modern. We are not given any complete list for nay of the early editions. Very old and not so old collectives may be found consecutively. While he will make some effort to identify which old source originated which terms, in the modern lists there are a few general statements about who may have offered items under which topic, but nothing in the way of footnotes.
For me the consistently best part of this edition are the illustrations. Whimsical, detailed and entertaining, they best exemplify the humor and satiric aptness that is and was always a part of the Terms of Venery.
Exaltation of Larks is not meant as a scholarly book, and it is not scholarly. It is meant to be entertaining and it is , mostly , almost. It is also cluttered, poorly organized, documented and rarely as funny as it might have been. The shorter earlier edition was a more entertaining read. This one is not a bad read, just not much of an entertaining read.
August 10, 2019
শব্দ সম্পর্কে আমাদের সবার মনের দরজার ভেতরের কপাটে নিজস্ব (অনবশ্য স্বকীয়) একটা রায় পেরেক মারা আছে। যখন আমরা একটা অচেনা শব্দ (যেমন এর আগের বাক্যে অনবশ্য (= not necessarily, অনাবশ্যকের সাথে গুলিয়ে ফেললে চলবে না) পড়ি বা শুনি, মনের দরজা লাগিয়ে ঐ রায়টা আমরা একবার পড়ে নিই। প্রতিটি শব্দ আমাদের প্রতি জনের সে রায়ের জোরে বাঁচে, বন্দী থাকে, সমাহিত হয়, পুনর্জীবন পায়।
অবশিষ্টাংশ...
অবশিষ্টাংশ...
Read
September 4, 2019I read the intermediate second edition, larger than the slim debut volume, but much smaller than the final Leaves of Grass-style final version. The black and white engravings are astonishing (and woefully uncredited, except for the phrase “curiously appropriate illustrations from the work of such masters as Dürer and Grandville” on the back cover). The collective nouns are all in capital letters, like “A DRAY OF SQUIRRELS” and “A CRY OF PLAYERS.” (The latter is accompanied by the note: “The proper venereal term for a troupe of actors in the 16th century.”) I wish I could write one of these. “AN IMPERTINENCE OF PEDDLERS.” How rich was our language before industrial capitalism ground it down to fine powder!
August 18, 2018
This is one giant book of venery terms and I totally enjoyed it. While others suffer from reading hangover I am having a serious craving for just picking this book up, hugging it tightly then shoving it onto my bookshelf rather than returning it. It makes me want to cry that such intelligent words have to be returned to where they came from *sigh*.
The author himself can be quite wordy in those parts where he has free rein away from the actual reading to explain his subject. His language isn't for beginning readers as he loves to dance the tightrope between being easily understand and needing a dictionary.
At the same time and for those who want to skip the discussion parts (if you do you will be missing a very giant yummy portion of linguistic learning if you enjoy that) the rest of the book is easily accessible. The author has done a great job of categorizing the majority of his words to fit the categories into which he thinks the terms of venery belong such as newer terms, older terms that are still in use and some that have fallen out of place. Strangely enough some of those that are suppose to be in the latter group are still in use even now.
The first two categories are a little bit harder to maneuver due to they are just provided with the terms unlike the third part, which is broken down into further groups.
The terms of venery are given as at most a smattering on each page so there aren't too many to overwhelm the reader. Some of them have furthermore explanations as to why their combination was put together and/or the explanation of why the two words perfectly balance each other out.
Finally the author has his second section of the book dedicated to helping his readers to continue on their own Hunt whether it is a solitary game or one with friends. The different versions provided just helps to give more courses for those who want to increase their fun nights of linguistic challenges.
At the same time the reader is given a refreshing break with the illustrations mostly from J. J. Grandville, who was a French caricaturist. As such the reader will find many whimsical illustrations of animal-headed human-bodied creatures parodying the world of men.
All in all this was a wonderful balance between linguistic explorations and refreshing tongue-in-cheek comedy. For those who enjoy terms of venery this will be one book that you definitely won't want to surrender back to the library if you have to.
The author himself can be quite wordy in those parts where he has free rein away from the actual reading to explain his subject. His language isn't for beginning readers as he loves to dance the tightrope between being easily understand and needing a dictionary.
At the same time and for those who want to skip the discussion parts (if you do you will be missing a very giant yummy portion of linguistic learning if you enjoy that) the rest of the book is easily accessible. The author has done a great job of categorizing the majority of his words to fit the categories into which he thinks the terms of venery belong such as newer terms, older terms that are still in use and some that have fallen out of place. Strangely enough some of those that are suppose to be in the latter group are still in use even now.
The first two categories are a little bit harder to maneuver due to they are just provided with the terms unlike the third part, which is broken down into further groups.
The terms of venery are given as at most a smattering on each page so there aren't too many to overwhelm the reader. Some of them have furthermore explanations as to why their combination was put together and/or the explanation of why the two words perfectly balance each other out.
Finally the author has his second section of the book dedicated to helping his readers to continue on their own Hunt whether it is a solitary game or one with friends. The different versions provided just helps to give more courses for those who want to increase their fun nights of linguistic challenges.
At the same time the reader is given a refreshing break with the illustrations mostly from J. J. Grandville, who was a French caricaturist. As such the reader will find many whimsical illustrations of animal-headed human-bodied creatures parodying the world of men.
All in all this was a wonderful balance between linguistic explorations and refreshing tongue-in-cheek comedy. For those who enjoy terms of venery this will be one book that you definitely won't want to surrender back to the library if you have to.
February 15, 2021
Yes, it's that James Lipton. This is a good book to feed your dreams. As the title suggests, it's a collection of collective nouns for various groupings of beings or things. Lipton makes suggestions for new additions to the arcana of Collectiviana and those are hit or miss, in this reader's opinion. Some are groaners. The delight of collective nouns is usually their mystery. They should suggest the grouping described but also add a little bit of oomph that makes the phrase sound like a weird line of poetry. That's what makes them memorable. Lipton's innovations tend to be a little pedantic and overly descriptive. (Read: cliches.) Charmingly surreal illustrations anachronistic as all get out (mostly of animals dressed in "human drag") add to the enjoyable experience of this book. I also have the Ultimate Edition as described above but my hardcover has a different dust jacket cover (consistent with the inner art). I think the cover art of my edition is more appealing than the edition pictured above which could probably light a dim room enough for you to find your way out of it (so there's that).
October 4, 2022
Interesting.
6/10
6/10
August 1, 2022
A fun collection of group terms, both established (a parliament of owls) and created for tbe book (a commentary of rabbis).
June 21, 2020
What a delightful book. Part serious investigation into the origin and use of words, part chatty and fun, part game and all the above wrapped up with interesting, eclectic illustrations. This is one of those books that you can browse, study, ponder over, disagree with and add to with equal joy and energy.
It even comes with a section of suggested games so you too can be creative.
It is, to expand the list in the book, a woopie of joy.
It even comes with a section of suggested games so you too can be creative.
It is, to expand the list in the book, a woopie of joy.
November 23, 2010
A gaggle of geese.
A comedy of errors.
A rash of dermatologists?!
If you've ever wondered whether familiar terms like "a pride of lions" or "a string of ponies" were only the tip of a linguistic iceberg, An Exaltation of Larks provides the definitive answer. This classic collection of collective nouns includes more than 1,100 equally pithy, and often poetic, terms -- some resurrected from the Books of Venery that were the constant study of fifteenth-century gentlemen; some ("a blur of Impressionists," "a score of bachelors") more recently minted. Here too is a game for readers inspired to invent their own "terms of venery." Infectious in spirit and beautifully illustrated with more than 250 witty engravings, An Exaltation of Larks is a word-lover's garden of delights.
~~from the back cover
I enjoyed the terms of venery, but once the author delved off into modern territory, I thought the entire thing became tedious and a bit boring. I suspect that labels me as not having understood the game, and on the whole, that would be an accurate assumption.
I didn't like the engravings much either.
A comedy of errors.
A rash of dermatologists?!
If you've ever wondered whether familiar terms like "a pride of lions" or "a string of ponies" were only the tip of a linguistic iceberg, An Exaltation of Larks provides the definitive answer. This classic collection of collective nouns includes more than 1,100 equally pithy, and often poetic, terms -- some resurrected from the Books of Venery that were the constant study of fifteenth-century gentlemen; some ("a blur of Impressionists," "a score of bachelors") more recently minted. Here too is a game for readers inspired to invent their own "terms of venery." Infectious in spirit and beautifully illustrated with more than 250 witty engravings, An Exaltation of Larks is a word-lover's garden of delights.
~~from the back cover
I enjoyed the terms of venery, but once the author delved off into modern territory, I thought the entire thing became tedious and a bit boring. I suspect that labels me as not having understood the game, and on the whole, that would be an accurate assumption.
I didn't like the engravings much either.
January 8, 2016
An exquisite reference book to all things venereal--the adjectival form of "terms of venery" or hunting terms of course. You know pride of lions and gaggle of geese, but how about parliament of owls. The book details the 15th century terms for animals, people and things to bring to light stuff you knew but never thought of--a clutch of eggs, a comedy of errors. In addition, the real fun comes from Lipton's new additions: a charge of shoppers, a deal of agents, a book of Mormons (I liked it too, Ben), and a column of accountants. He adds a do it yourself game of coming up with your own terms of venery. I hope to be in a key of Phi Beta Kappas instead of my usual pallor of night students to play it some time. I think any in our browse of readers would get a kick out of this book.
January 31, 2009
This book is so much fun, one is almost tempted to forgive James Lipton for..
Well, there's so much to forgive James Lipton for. But in my fantasy, when he is wheeled before the tribunal for the sundry crimes against humanity perpetrated during "Inside the Actors Studio" (with Jennifer Lopez, REALLY, James?), instead of the straight thumbs down vote that would otherwise certainly be his fate, there will be - miraculously - a MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE. Namely, the existence of this fine book.
Oh, don't worry, I'll ultimately vote him down anyway. But I won't feel good about it.
Well, there's so much to forgive James Lipton for. But in my fantasy, when he is wheeled before the tribunal for the sundry crimes against humanity perpetrated during "Inside the Actors Studio" (with Jennifer Lopez, REALLY, James?), instead of the straight thumbs down vote that would otherwise certainly be his fate, there will be - miraculously - a MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE. Namely, the existence of this fine book.
Oh, don't worry, I'll ultimately vote him down anyway. But I won't feel good about it.
January 19, 2015
A fun read, if sometimes a bit dry during Mr. Lipton's introductions. His love of language comes through clearly, but his style edges close to academic dissertation at times. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it though; the terms are clever and sometimes snarky and the author included a section at the back with different games a group of like minded language lovers can play if they feel inspired. I'll enjoy dipping back into this book again and again.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/109084...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/109084...
June 7, 2023
An embarrassment of riches ...
This book was first recommended to me in 1998, and has made its way on to the keeper shelf in my study. I think that every member of 'a browse of readers' should have access to this book.
This is considered by many to be the authoritative collection of collective nouns.
From an 'aarmory of aardvarks' to a 'consumption of yuppies', there is something for everyone.
A highly recommended addition to your library of books.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This book was first recommended to me in 1998, and has made its way on to the keeper shelf in my study. I think that every member of 'a browse of readers' should have access to this book.
This is considered by many to be the authoritative collection of collective nouns.
From an 'aarmory of aardvarks' to a 'consumption of yuppies', there is something for everyone.
A highly recommended addition to your library of books.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 22, 2008
This book is a quick, pleasant read with a bonus of lasting fun playing the Game of Venery. Mr. Lipton included "a browse of readers." I would like to propose "a volume of books." And now it's your turn...
December 4, 2008
This book is really fun. I have searching for this in used book stores and I finally found an old hardcover copy. I heard James on NPR once and he was talking about this book--I became curious about such and esoteric subject.
September 23, 2010
Love the show; hideous idea for a book. I mean, REALLY.
August 20, 2011
Received this from my High School English teacher Mr. Charles (Charlie) Roemer when I graduated.
March 5, 2018
At some point in your life you heard the phrase, a charm of goldfinches, or a parliament of owls, or an unkindness of ravens, and however briefly, you were enchanted. Perhaps you took the time to find out what other wonderful phrases there might be out there, and you found list after list. Then your attention was caught by the next amazing thing you'd never known before, and you forgot that for a moment you'd been fascinated by terms of venery.
Nonetheless, they've been part of your life all the while (a flight of stairs, a peal of bells, a round of drinks, a bouquet of flowers...)
James Lipton made a lifelong quest of venery; he's researched, tabulated, invented, and invited others to invent, so here you'll find lists from the Middle Ages as well as lists recent enough to give us a summons of meter maids, a sleaze of tabloids, a convulsion of belly dancers. Those are fun (and as he points out, this is a game ANYone can play) - but I really love the old, old terms. They date from a time when the English language was burgeoning with new words, assimilating other languages, and the beauty and rightness of these phrases show it.
The ones whose meanings are obscure or lost, through changes in the language, he explains etymologically. And he also explains one I'd never really questioned; when you learn a thing as a kid, you tend to accept it - but WHY a school of fish? Because school is most likely a corruption of 'shoal,' which actually DOES make sense.
The terms are grouped and broken out into sections, with a preface for each, and scores of line illustrations. You can read it straight through, or leave it lying around to dip into whenever you have a few minutes to kill.
Learning is rarely this lovely.
Nonetheless, they've been part of your life all the while (a flight of stairs, a peal of bells, a round of drinks, a bouquet of flowers...)
James Lipton made a lifelong quest of venery; he's researched, tabulated, invented, and invited others to invent, so here you'll find lists from the Middle Ages as well as lists recent enough to give us a summons of meter maids, a sleaze of tabloids, a convulsion of belly dancers. Those are fun (and as he points out, this is a game ANYone can play) - but I really love the old, old terms. They date from a time when the English language was burgeoning with new words, assimilating other languages, and the beauty and rightness of these phrases show it.
The ones whose meanings are obscure or lost, through changes in the language, he explains etymologically. And he also explains one I'd never really questioned; when you learn a thing as a kid, you tend to accept it - but WHY a school of fish? Because school is most likely a corruption of 'shoal,' which actually DOES make sense.
The terms are grouped and broken out into sections, with a preface for each, and scores of line illustrations. You can read it straight through, or leave it lying around to dip into whenever you have a few minutes to kill.
Learning is rarely this lovely.
November 13, 2016
Like the title illustrates, this book presents the collective noun used to describe many groups. The author, also known for hosting Inside the Actors Studio, has enjoyed collecting these terms for numerous years and also plays it as a game.
While I loved the lists, this book also includes illustrations and some lengthy background explanations for some terms. These black and white sketches (wood block prints?) are from an earlier book that also presented a number of these collective nouns. Personally, I am not a big fan of them. A few would have been fine, but overall I didn't feel like they added to the book, in fact, I think they were a distraction. Furthermore, I did skim over many of the explanations as I was interested, but it's nice to know the history of many of the terms are available to those that are fascinated by them.
Lipton acknowledges that these terms can fit into six Families: (1) ONOMATOPOEIA--a gaggle of geese; (2) CHARACTERISTIC--a leap of leopards; (3) APPEARANCE--a knot of toads; (4) HABITAT--a nest of rabbits; (5) COMMENT [pro or con]--a richness of martens; and (6) ERROR [resulting from an incorrect transcription]--a school of fish, originally 'shoal'.
Some of my favorites:
* a mountain of debt
* an unkindness of ravens
* a paddling of ducks
* a crash of rhinoceroses
* a peep of chickens
* a drift of fishermen
* a sentence of judges
* a no-no of nannies
* an oops of turnovers (basketball)
* an oompah of tuba players
And my all-time favorite:
* a shush of librarians
While I loved the lists, this book also includes illustrations and some lengthy background explanations for some terms. These black and white sketches (wood block prints?) are from an earlier book that also presented a number of these collective nouns. Personally, I am not a big fan of them. A few would have been fine, but overall I didn't feel like they added to the book, in fact, I think they were a distraction. Furthermore, I did skim over many of the explanations as I was interested, but it's nice to know the history of many of the terms are available to those that are fascinated by them.
Lipton acknowledges that these terms can fit into six Families: (1) ONOMATOPOEIA--a gaggle of geese; (2) CHARACTERISTIC--a leap of leopards; (3) APPEARANCE--a knot of toads; (4) HABITAT--a nest of rabbits; (5) COMMENT [pro or con]--a richness of martens; and (6) ERROR [resulting from an incorrect transcription]--a school of fish, originally 'shoal'.
Some of my favorites:
* a mountain of debt
* an unkindness of ravens
* a paddling of ducks
* a crash of rhinoceroses
* a peep of chickens
* a drift of fishermen
* a sentence of judges
* a no-no of nannies
* an oops of turnovers (basketball)
* an oompah of tuba players
And my all-time favorite:
* a shush of librarians
June 5, 2018
I don't even remember how this book ended up on my to-read list, I just know it's been on there for a while. An Exaltation of Larks is part reference book, part game book, part English nerd jokery. It's about collective nouns, both ones that can trace their origins back to the 15th century, and new ones that I'm convinced Lipton made up. It's a quick, dictionary esque read (anyone else read the dictionary as a kid? Only me?), which while enjoyable, gives an interesting perspective on how language has changed. The ultimate edition is from 1993, and it really shows its age in some places, and is timeless in others.
For example, a lot of the catholic terms came up from Reformation England, so an Abomination of Nuns (which someone needs to tell Catholic school kids about this collective noun) is an actual term. Some are timeless, like an exaltation of Larks, while some are... unpleasant, like a falsetto of transvestites (in the debauchery section, I might add). Overall, while this is an interesting introduction to game of venery, it is definitely several years out of date and very white, upper class men (see, an inertia of Janitor or a Calcutta of Cab drivers). I'd be fascinated to see one with more input from various groups - for example, what would a group of trans* people consider themselves? What about gender fluid?
Overall, an interesting invitation to a years old game that needs to be brought in this century.
For example, a lot of the catholic terms came up from Reformation England, so an Abomination of Nuns (which someone needs to tell Catholic school kids about this collective noun) is an actual term. Some are timeless, like an exaltation of Larks, while some are... unpleasant, like a falsetto of transvestites (in the debauchery section, I might add). Overall, while this is an interesting introduction to game of venery, it is definitely several years out of date and very white, upper class men (see, an inertia of Janitor or a Calcutta of Cab drivers). I'd be fascinated to see one with more input from various groups - for example, what would a group of trans* people consider themselves? What about gender fluid?
Overall, an interesting invitation to a years old game that needs to be brought in this century.
December 26, 2018
My parents had a copy of the first edition of An Exaltation of Larks. I remember enjoying leafing through that copy and enjoying the playful descriptors of groups. I don't recall how deeply James Lipton went in that first edition, but this ultimate edition is considerably augmented. Lipton writes about going deeper into the origins of "venery", this delightful and insightful way of both describing and categorizing groups of animals, objects and people. I had no idea that this game of venery was an entertainment several hundred years ago, and that phrases we take for granted like "a pack of dogs", "a hill of beans", "a string of ponies" and many others arose from this aristocratic pursuit. Lipton takes us through those familiar turns of phrase just to point out how they have enriched our language and then deliciously resurrects others that have fallen into disuse. He finally offers pages and pages of contemporary offerings, many of which were contributed by readers of his first book. In the last pages, he offers ways for you to take part in the game of venery, in the form of parlor games. Anyone who loves words will enjoy a deep dive into the richness of the English language offered here by James Lipton.
May 11, 2020
This is a Word Nerd book. I am using it as a short term read, as each page seemingly stands on its own. Certainly each chapter does, built as they are around a common theme. But there is no harm in reading a page, or ten, and then putting the book down for an indefinite period. No continuity lost.
The book explores the naming of groups. Surely everyone knows of a Gaggle of Geese, a School of Fish, a Flock of Sheep, etc. Less known are WHY these group names arose and endure. Some go back to Elizabethan times, and even more amusingly, many are clever puns or other form of wordplay. A Wince of Dentists, a Lot of Realtors, a Leap of Leopards, for example.
Many knew James Lipton as an actor, producer, educator, novelist, but most famously as the host of Inside The Actors' Studio, broadcast for years on television, with Lipton interviewing actors before an audience of drama students. If you had ever watched, you would have realized that Lipton liked the sound of his voice. Hence the chapter introductions tend to be both verbose and filled with multi-syllabic "bon mots".
Not to worry. Skip over if you will and get to the definitions and origins of rarely used but often amusing group names. A Chime of Ice Cream Carts, Pummel of Masseurs......
The book explores the naming of groups. Surely everyone knows of a Gaggle of Geese, a School of Fish, a Flock of Sheep, etc. Less known are WHY these group names arose and endure. Some go back to Elizabethan times, and even more amusingly, many are clever puns or other form of wordplay. A Wince of Dentists, a Lot of Realtors, a Leap of Leopards, for example.
Many knew James Lipton as an actor, producer, educator, novelist, but most famously as the host of Inside The Actors' Studio, broadcast for years on television, with Lipton interviewing actors before an audience of drama students. If you had ever watched, you would have realized that Lipton liked the sound of his voice. Hence the chapter introductions tend to be both verbose and filled with multi-syllabic "bon mots".
Not to worry. Skip over if you will and get to the definitions and origins of rarely used but often amusing group names. A Chime of Ice Cream Carts, Pummel of Masseurs......
April 17, 2024
What a peculiar book. I guess it was (mostly?) tongue-in-cheek? This was the third (!) edition, so apparently there is recurring/sustained demand for this title/concept. I actually really dig the old terms of venery (murder of crows, skulk of foxes, charm of finches, exaltation of larks per the title, etc.). I also enjoy coming up with jokey contemporary examples (I used to work with some less-than-energetic National Park Service folks who were the inspiration for many a gently-mocking term of venery: a repose of rangers, an inertness of rangers, a sluggishness of rangers, a lethargy of rangers, etc.), but it was unclear exactly what the author was going for in this book. I appreciated his attempt to explain what makes a good term of venery (it's kind of like the classic definition of obscenity - you know it when you see it). He is adamant that jokey cleverness does not usually work well for these terms, but most of the modern entries seem too cutesy and punny. The sheer volume of terms (there are more than a thousand) became overwhelming, which meant that any truly memorable ones were lost in the shuffle. Oh, and the pictures were just weird and creepy.
October 23, 2019
a short essay and a few lists - a joyful look at the poetry and humor in our language. Specifically re the subject of collective nouns dating back to the 1400s! A murmuration of starlings! A parliament of owls!! a charm of finches!!! A smack of jellyfish!!!! An unkindness of ravens!!! A clowder of cats!?!? A kindle of kittens! An ostentation of peacocks!! A wince of dentists!!!! and on and on.
also some fun old quotes re language:
TS Eliot: Words, "...slip, slide, perish, decay with imprecision, will not stay in place, will not stay still."
and thoughts on poetry:
Wordsworth: "...emotion recollected in tranquility."
Coleridge: "...the best words in their best order."
Elizabeth Drew: "... one great source of the maintenance and renewal of language."
also some fun old quotes re language:
TS Eliot: Words, "...slip, slide, perish, decay with imprecision, will not stay in place, will not stay still."
and thoughts on poetry:
Wordsworth: "...emotion recollected in tranquility."
Coleridge: "...the best words in their best order."
Elizabeth Drew: "... one great source of the maintenance and renewal of language."
March 8, 2020
Less a book in a narrative sense, and more a reference book, an Exaltation of Larks is a fantastic collection of names for groups, and a reflection of the history and transformation of language. Wonderful examples of groups such as 'a murder of crows', 'a gaggle of geese' and (my personal favorite) 'a rage of maidens' are mostly well known, however the book contains a collection of terms to describe groups seemingly without limit to include names for nouns of all kinds, and invites the reader to come up with clever names of their own. The illustrations for certain terms is also a delight, and pull the reader in with not only terms you may not have heard of, but also descriptions of the origins of phrases where applicable. RIP James Lipton
July 15, 2023
Dnf @60%
I hate to quit a book when I'm far in the story, but I *really* didn't like the way the book was going. I enjoyed the first half for most part, but the second half made me struggle to keep going. This is not the first time, but throuple plots really don't fascinate me, and this one was specially worse for being filled with Hollywood's unreal depictions of love, huge time lapses, and multiple POVs.
I hate to quit a book when I'm far in the story, but I *really* didn't like the way the book was going. I enjoyed the first half for most part, but the second half made me struggle to keep going. This is not the first time, but throuple plots really don't fascinate me, and this one was specially worse for being filled with Hollywood's unreal depictions of love, huge time lapses, and multiple POVs.
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