AUTHOR Dr. Richard Lederer is the best-selling author of Anguished English, Crazy English, The Miracle of Language, Word Circus, and Literary Trivia. More than a million of his books are in print: his work is at the center of the new Pocket Books hardcover line, and Dell recently started a new language series, The Intrepid Linguist Library, based on Lederer's Anguished English and Get Thee to a Punnery. In addition, his weekly column, "Looking at Language," reaches more than a million readers through newspapers and magazines across the United States.
SPEAKER Richard Lederer is at home and at ease speaking in any setting and for any length of time. He makes approximately 200 appearances a year for fund-raisers, corporations, academic groups, and library associations. Recent appearances have included Bristol Myers-Squibb, Lexmark, American Academy of Neurological Surgeons, the International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of English, and various state bar, library, reading, writing, and journalism associations. His talks and workshops about language, literature, and writing have been called "as much a performance as a presentation," "a dazzling combination of information and entertainment," "learning dressed up to have fun." Lederer was elected 1990 International Punster of the Year by the International Save the Pun Foundation. In 1994, the members of the International Platform Association awarded him first place among their showcase speakers.
MEDIA WORK Richard Lederer broadcasts regularly on New York Public radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, and a number of clear-channel commercial radio stations. He has appeared a number of times on just about every major radio program in the US, including Larry King radio, Tom Snyder, Roy Leonard, Dave Maynard, David Brudnoy, G. Gordon Liddy, the Today Show, and CNN Prime Time.
PUBLICATIONS In addition to his books and columns, Richard Lederer is the Grammar Grappler for Writer's Digest, associate editor of The Farmers' Almanac, and a regular contributor to Reader's Digest, Writing! and Verbatim. His books have been Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild alternate selections, and his work has appeared in the likes of the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and Reader's Digest; and he has been profiled in magazines as diverse as the New Yorker, People, and the National Enquirer.
Heels Over Head in Love with English - takes you on a joy ride through the glories and oddities of our English language.
Conan the Grammarian - common-sense approach to grammar and usage. Where do you stand on terminal prepositions, split infinitives, and impact as a verb? What are the rules and who makes them?
The Play of Words in the Classroom - using games to teach English as a language as well as a subject - demonstrates how language play in the classroom generates language power in the student.
Pun and Games - language flies in the face of the physical law that says two things can't occupy the same space at the same time. In his keynote address, Richard Lederer will explore the multiple meanings of words and show how such verbal pyrotechnics are inherent in the very nature and history of language itself. Using narrative humor, visual props, and poetry, Dr. Lederer will present a taxonomy of puns, bloopers, oxymora, paradoxes, and other double and trip tour de farces.
Literature Lives! - shows how literary characters born at the tip of a pen can assume a vitality and longevity that pulse more powerfully than flesh and blood. Dr. Lederer's exploration of literary immortality will take place within the context of the importance of literacy.
English With a Russian Dressing - draws from experiences with 10-17 year old Russian students. Using artwork and writing from the younger students, he shows the passion for and skill in the English language displayed by these Russian youngsters.
The Writing Life - insights into the life of a non-fiction writer. How does one become a writer and stay in the profession? How do writers get their ideas and inspiration? How do they convert prose into cash?
Sidney Sheldon: Anguished English and More Anguished English are the two funniest books I have ever read.
Edwin Newman: Richard Lederer's delight in the English language is itself delightful -- and contagious.
James J. Kilpatrick: Richards Lederer's new book will remind many readers of a good after-dinner speech. It combines one part meat and potatoes with four parts salad and dessert. It rests easily upon the reader's eye. Lederer is a serious teacher of English who does not take himself too seriously.
Robert Fulghum: If I had been given this book (Crazy English) to be read in high school or college while suffering through English classes, I would have grown up thinking of my own language as a magic moving sea of possibilities and not a corset for my mind. The final paragraph ought to be read in every English class in the land and the book ought to be set alongside The Elements of Style by Strunk and White as an equal classic.
Bill Bryson: Richard Lederer has done it again -- another delightful, witty, and hugely absorbing celebration of the English language. Is there no stopping the man?
Philadelphia Inquirer Plenty writers tackle the subject of our national tongue, but Richard Lederer's explorations are especially engaging.
Richmond Times-Dispatch Someone should declare Richard Lederer a national treasure.
Book-of-the-Month Club America's Wittiest Verbalist
Denver Post The Wizard of Idiom. The first name in popular linguistics.
Los Angeles Times Lederer beguiles and bedazzles.
Chicago Tribune America's Top Pun
Boston Globe The Abbot of Absurdity
The New Yorker Columnist Extraordinaire.
International Platform Association, 1994 This speaker is tops and will get an enthusiastic response from just about any audience anywhere.
TX Library Association "During the 1850s pioneers heading for our state tacked notes to their old homes: 'Gone to Texas.' You were such a hit with Texans that you may need to have such a notice handy for future trips."
Northern New England TESOL Dr. Lederer must be seen and heard to appreciate the amplitude of his repertoire.
The Women's Fund for Her, Houston, TX Your reputation both as a wonderful speaker and a genuinely nice person has preceded you and generated unbridled enthusiasm. We are anticipating a sell-out crowd.
International Association of Business Communicators Your talk to Yankee/IABC has just the effect I was hoping for. So many members have told me that, after listening to you, they feel renewed, refreshed, and reinforced in their love of language.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company We certainly enjoyed having you at this year's workshop. You are a very knowledgeable and most interesting speaker. It is obvious that you are devoted to your work and want others to be just as enthusiastic as you are about the English language. Your presentation style was amusing, yet informative, thus capturing the audience's attention.
College Fraternity Editors Association Your presentation was the favorite of the attendees who returned their questionnaires. You even beat out the Night At the Beach for 'best reason to attend the conference.'
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities It is rare to see erudition dressed up to have fun.
Cardigan Mountain School Wow! What have you done to our students!? I haven't seen this type of behavior, involving so many of our boys, in the three years I have been here.
Missouri Scholars Academy Your presentation was a high point of the three weeks. According to the kids: "Richard Lederer, with his tongue twisters and mind bogglers, taught us that the English language had more to it than we had ever dreamt of."
Tabor Academy To have had the enormous privilege of your reflections on language and your labor intensive compilations continues to feed us for weeks afterward.
Auburn Public Library Attendance doubled. A month later people are still commenting how much they enjoyed the evening.
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