is better than nothing, I'd suggest they have their children pick out both classic novels and a variety of periodicals, like Businessweek, The Economist, The New Yorker, Popular Mechanics, Scientific American. Some parents understood that I was offering their child a pattern of self-education that would be worth far more than I could offer them with never-ending flash cards and timed drills. Others didn't seem to understand why I wouldn't immediately offer them some quick-fix course they could pay for. And since my policy was no college test-prep courses for anyone younger than tenth grade, they went searching elsewhere for some place to throw their money. But I still maintain that the number one thing to improve vocabulary, not to mention reading comprehension, critical thinking, and even writing ability, is to simply READ. A. LOT. I fully agree. A robust vocabulary is incredibly useful for all areas of our lives. It helps advance a person more consciously and profoundly. What really defines the mastery of vocabulary however is when to use it in context. Having a huge library of words doesn't mean you have to use them all the time. If something is better said in a simpler fashion then that's the best course to take. It not only shows sophistication but wits for giving the concern that others want to understand you as well. Brevity really is the soul of wit. I Google things all the time. On top of words I come across while reading, a word might