Gold foil illustration of stars

About the Author

John Koenig is a video maker, voice actor, graphic designer, and writer. Born in Idaho and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, he created The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows in 2009, first as a blog before expanding the project to YouTube. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter.

"It’s undeniably thrilling to find words for our strangest feelings…Koenig casts light into lonely corners of human experience…An enchanting book."

—The Washington Post

La Gaudière

Anchorage

a person's arm extended over river rapids

Drisson

Nachlophobia

Solysium

Lisolia

a bookcase containing objects

Merrenness

Pâro

Daguerreologue

Daguer-reologue

a man sitting in blurred silhouette at a desk