Book Review: The Dictionary of High School B.S. - From Acne to Varsity, All the Funny, Lame, and Annoying Aspects of High School Life by Lois Beckwith

It has been a few years since I graduated high school, but like everyone else I can still recall the awkward, embarrassing moments and even a few of the good ones. Lois Beckwith’s The Dictionary of High School B.S. does a wonderful job of bringing back those old feelings, even the ones that you would rather it not.

As the subtitle explains the book covers from acne to varsity, all the funny, lame, and annoying aspects of high school life in your typical dictionary A-Z fashion. Of course, a good number of terms are left out, but the author does make note of these obvious exceptions existing simply because such a task would be impossible to complete. Rightfully so, the author used a good bit of humor in every definition.

The terms that are in existence are all the basics that every high school graduate or attendee can recognize and enjoy in the humor surrounding them. As I read, memories of my own lunch period, biology class, school band, and school mascot began to come back to me. I did laugh out loud at couple of definitions, sometimes from what was written and other times at the memories that the words brought to mind.

I was sad that some words were not as fleshed out as they could have been. For example, the definition of “debate” in the book deals with the debates that people had to put on in their history classes, but leaves the competitive world of high school debate unmentioned. That area, among others, is overflowing with untapped opportunity, but I suppose it falls under the category of exceptions that had to be left out for the sake of simplicity.

I will say that I did find the book lacking in substance at first. It wasn’t until my girlfriend, who was reading over my shoulder, said that the book sounded trite and seemed to be trying too hard on some definitions that I took a step back and reevaluated how I was reading the definitions. After a bit of thought I realized that most high school kids try to sound deep and sophisticated or reach a bit at times for a laugh.

Article Author: Ryan Fair

Ryan Fair is a graduate student in education. He spends his time reading, writing, and studying.

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