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Kory Stamper

@korystamper.bsky.social

4.1K followers 330 following 700 posts

Writer of dictionaries and books about dictionaries (WORD BY WORD [2017]; TRUE COLOR [2026]; more TK). niila myaamia. Often wrong on the internet. Opinions, baked goods mine. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2106554/kory-stamper/

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · Jul 15

Good morning, kids and people, today in book, we have a cover:

(Preorder this jawn at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555914... and use the Bookshop link if you can!)

The book cover for my latest book, "True Color: The Strange and Spectacular History of Defining Color--from Azure to Zinc Pink." It's a tan ground with multicolored...folded-over cards, or windows with shades, or books that are kind of fanned open, or color chips (it's meant to be mysterious) in a 4x3 grid with the title and the author name (mine) between each row.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 1d

Nodded so hard in agreement that I almost hurt myself.

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 3d

(I promise that my latest mentions of Plato, Pliny, and P45 are different from my earlier mentions of Plato, Pliny, and P45.)

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 3d

Well, I definitely have a type (of index).

Part of the index for Word by Word, my first book. The terms indexed are "Plato, 27," "Pliny the Elder, 176," "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconisos, 101."

Screenshot of the index for my latest book, "True Color." The excerpt reads:
Plato, 15
Pliny the Elder, 26, 26n
Plochere, Gladys, 209
Plochere, Gustav, 209
Plochere, Michelle, 209n
Plochere Color System, 209, 241
"pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis," 149

I promise that all references to Plato, Pliny, and P45 in _this_ book are different from the same references to Plato, Pliny, and P45 in the _other_ book.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 4d

omg, Iva, stop spying on me!

From the directions for how to make turkey stock from Iva's cookbook: "Strain the stock through a sieve or colander into another pot--oh my god, don't absentmindedly pour it down the sink--and portion it out into smaller containers to cool."

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 7d

Grateful for the opportunity to grow myaamia kociihsaki, one of my people's traditional foods.

A handful of dried beans that are dark purple on one end and speckle to a grayish white.

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Reposted by Kory Stamper

Paper Airplane magazine @paperairplane.pub · 8d

I just nominated Paper Airplane’s lead article, “The Shape of Color” by @korystamper.bsky.social, for next year’s Best American Science & Nature Writing! Here’s a preview.

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Reposted by Kory Stamper

Paper Airplane magazine @paperairplane.pub · 8d

We're so close—help us get over the finish line!

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) @refugees.org · 8d

Support refugees. Get a magazine.

Nick Norlen’s Paper Airplane is raising $10K for USCRI—and we’re just $2,500 away.

Donate now and get the debut issue FREE: PaperAirplane.pub

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 9d

I know the world is falling apart and we are angst-driven ants biding our time as we race toward the inexorable crush of the universe's collapse, but doesn't this make you chortle just a little?

A small section of the index for True Color, from the end of A. It reads:
atoms, 54, 102
"aubergine," 46
"auburn," 224
Australians, 46

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 9d

I'm reviewing the index for "True Color" now, and I just want to heap laurels on the indexer who read this <checks jacket copy> "kaleidoscopic journey" and noted every. single. color. name. mentioned. In a book about defining color names. The index is 6600 words long. A marvel.

a man in a captain america costume stands in front of a rock

Alt: Captain America in...I don't know. The OG Captain America film? Winter Soldier? Not sure! Haven't seen the movies, yes I am a terrible person, I've been busy! Anyway: Chris Evans' Captain America, in the ruins of war, turning and saluting the viewer, weary yet heartfelt.

media.tenor.com

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 9d

I hate this and everything on your behalf.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 12d

My top general retreated to her crate and is now snoring loudly! Mutiny!

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 12d

I, too, have summoned all my top generals on short notice to deliver a short speech on the warrior ethos.

A brown hound dog lying on her side, her head as far away from my blather about warfighters and military drive and shit as she can get. (I am obviously not lecturing my dog on military excellence because I have a real job with real duties, Mister Secretary.)

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 12d

My mouth literally (sense 1) dropped open when I saw the news. By 2013, when C12 was due and I was answering impatient customer emails asking when it would hit the stores, the official line was "online is more up-to-date!" I think we assumed a print C12 was never happening--delighted to be wrong!

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 14d

It is agonizing, but slow and steady does win this goddamned race.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 16d

Look, moms, the choice is simple. You can have moderate and safe pain relief during a 10-month long bodily rebellion; an infant who is protected from sometimes fatal, totally preventable diseases; or a boring kid who won't grow up to do amazing things like write dictionaries. Choose wisely!

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 16d

BREAKING: President Trump promotes unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without new evidence.

Trump promotes unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without new evidence

President Donald Trump is using the platform of the presidency to promote unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without giving new evidence.

bit.ly

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 17d

Nooooooooo

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 18d

My first wheel was one of the upright/castle style wheels, and I love them, too. Tidy!

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 18d

Thank you! It's a Norm Hall I lucked into a few years ago. Spins like a dream.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 18d

It's spinning season, motherfuckers.

A picture of a spinning wheel with some wool being spun on the bobbin, and Sadie dog sleeping behind the wheel because it is the most soothing sound, for reals.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 20d

a riff on "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle with the caterpillar in the middle of the picture. Above it reads "Reject tasks"; below it reads "embrace cocoon."

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 20d

Today's mantra brought to you by the letter W! W is for "workload," "work-life balance," and "weary"! Double-yooooou! <cheers>

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 20d

Today's mantra:

A screenshot from UNHhhh (a youtube show featuring two drag queens) that shows a close-up of an Australian Shepherd in a pink wig, and around the dog's head are the words "You shouldn't put on wigs that don't belong to you," and these are truly words to live by.

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 22d

Vraiment! (And now I'm wondering if the French "puce" and the English "puce" are related, and how....)

Reposted by Kory Stamper

Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 23d

Reasons to read/not read my new book:

Pros:
-You'll finally figure out what "puce" is
-The phrase "cattier than a hot tin roof" is used in reference to opponent color theory
-Pliny the Elder joke
-Weird history & shit

Cons:
-Very little cussing
-You might cry at this one spot?
-History & shit

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Kory Stamper @korystamper.bsky.social · 23d

Next book is just going to have to be full of fuckwords to make up for it.