The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, billed as "the first thesaurus for writers, by writers," attempts to adapt and augment the standard dictionary-style thesaurus to better serve writers. Additions include excerpts from Garner's Modern American Usage, an overview of basic grammar, and lists of words, in spectrums and toolkits, to help you choose the best word.
Essays from Contemporary Writers
The biggest difference between the Writer's Thesaurus and others are the mini-essays on selected words written by eleven contributing authors, including David Foster Wallace, songwriter/musician Stephin Merritt, Francine Prose, and Zadie Smith. Whether or not these essays add value to the standard reference book will depend on the reader. Fans of the writers will be curious to read their take on certain words. Teachers and librarians, faced with persuading students to use books rather than the internet, will recognize the value of having famous -- even celebrity -- writers on board. How better to seduce young people into using a reference book than by including indie musicians and trendy novelists?
Older versus Younger Thesaurus Users
However, for older writers, these essays will be interesting, but gratuitous. Most people only buy one thesaurus in their lifetimes; over the long run, pieces like these only take up valuable space on the page. While the Writer's Thesaurus has the same number of synonyms as the gold standard Roget's International, the entries are shorter and the price is higher. (The Writer’s Thesaurus only comes in hardcover.) As for the usage notes, experienced writers will probably have picked up a usage book in the course of their educations. Young writers, on the other hand, might appreciate having everything within two covers. Given the current pressures on the book industry, these features are smart for marketing; whether or not they’re as valuable for the consumer is another matter.
Conclusion
If you don't own either a thesaurus or a usage book, or if you're a fan of one or more of the contributing authors, then the Writer's Thesaurus is a worthwhile investment. The entries for synonyms are as good as most thesauri, and you'll enjoy having everything in one place. For writers who seek the best thesaurus, don’t need a usage guide, and don’t mind veering from the standard dictionary format, the classic Roget's International will be more satisfying in the long run.
