I usually struggle with non-fiction. These days, I mostly read at night, for 15 minutes before fatigue takes over, and when I’m tired and sleepy, I don’t want facts and information. I want a good story!
But lately, I’m warming to non-fiction, especially biography and memoir. Perhaps I’ve stumbled upon some well written books. I also like how I learn new things from non-fiction. For example, my latest read, Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World, has taught me much about 20th century history, the changing role of women, and the Kennedy family. (Did you know that JFK had EIGHT brothers and sisters? I didn’t- until now!)
It’s also taught me new vocabulary. According to Eileen McNamara, author of Eunice, Joe Kennedy (JFK’s father and the family patriarch) earned his fortune in the 1920s as a Wall Street speculator “with the help of insider information, not then illegal”. Kennedy “saw the crash coming and sold off his holdings in time. He got richer still by shorting stocks as prices fell and by buying up real estate at discounted prices in the aftermath of the crash. He had also been prescient about the movie industry.”
I didn’t know what prescient means, and I had to look it up.
prescient: \ ˈpre-sh(ē-)ən(t)\ from the Latin verb praescire, “to know beforehand”; having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future
Turns out, prescience is related to “science” (based on the Latin word for “to know”), and words like “omniscient” and “conscience”. Thank you, Merriam Webster.
Word Nerd Workout
Can you think of another word related to “science”? Or a synonym for prescience?
If you like learning new words, or learning about the meaning and history of words, join the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme at Bermuda Onion. Every Wednesday on Kathy’s blog, readers share new words they’ve learned or enjoy.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
I’ve really been into nonfiction lately and would like to read that book. My first thought for a synonym is foresight.
Foresight is perfect, Kathy! I’ll post a review for Eunice later this week and you can see if you want to add it to your TBR.
I know prescient but don’t use it often. I should. I’m glad you are discovering nonfition. Biographies and memoirs are a great way to make the transition from the formal story mode into real-life stories. Enjoy.
Thanks, Margot!
I’ve always loved this word. I vow to use it more often. And I really want to read that Eunice book. Thanks!
Ooo Amy, I bet you’d like it. I mean it’s not perfect – it kind of rambles, and there are a lot of names of important people I will never remember – but it’s been thought provoking and informative. Last night I was reading about the abortion debate in the 1960s… very interesting.