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

Lackout

Cover image for the Lackout word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Daguerreologue

Daguer-reologue

a man sitting in blurred silhouette at a desk

Etterath

a graduation cap and gown on a chair

Mal De Coucou

a blurry image of several men

Typifice

Cover image for the Typifice word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Wollah

a person with shapes raining on them

Archimony

a person looking at broken furniture

Anderance

Cover image for the Anderance word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Angosis

a table full of food