Rheingold (Tools for Thought, Talking Tech) is neither a linguist nor a Fachidiot (``narrow-minded technical expert''). Instead, as an animateur (``a person who can communicate difficult concepts to general audiences''), he often interjects an occurencia (``witty remark'') as he reveals the Elementargedanken (``elementary thoughts of mankind'') throughout these informal and informative essays. Over 150 words in 40 languages (Italian, Yiddish, Sanskrit, Mayan, Sioux, Thai, Kiriwina) are arranged thematically (business, dreams, spirituality, technology, politics), and only a fewthe Haida potlatch, the French-Creole lagniappe, the German Katzenjammerhave a recognizable ring. His aim is to present genuinely useful (rather than simply odd) words, since they ``mold thoughts.'' Because he writes with an infectious enthusiasm for the subject, this delightful, fascinating lexicon is likely to spread the words. (March)
