The New York Commuter's Glossary

The New York Commuter's Glossary is a collection of words and phrases--neologisms, mashups, made-up terms--that defines the life of the train commuter into, out of, and around New York City, from the tense fight for leg room with the rider facing you ("kneegotiations"), to the frightening feeling of waking up on the train and bolting for the door, certain that the present stop is your own ("tramnesia"), to the husband and wife pairs that ride together each day ("train couplings") to the almost always available row of seats near the toilet (the "stenchbench", of course). The words and definitions are vibrantly illustrated by acclaimed artist Joseph Walden to fully depict the maddening life of a commuter, and the heart--and humor--buried in the humdrum act of riding the rails with a few thousand strangers each day.

The New York Commuter's Glossary is a collection of words and phrases--neologisms, mashups, made-up terms--that defines the life of the train commuter into, out of, and around New York City, from the tense fight for leg room with the rider facing you ("kneegotiations"), to the frightening feeling of waking up on the train and bolting for the door, certain that the present stop is your own ("tramnesia"), to the husband and wife pairs that ride together each day ("train couplings") to the almost always available row of seats near the toilet (the "stenchbench", of course). The words and definitions are vibrantly illustrated by acclaimed artist Joseph Walden to fully depict the maddening life of a commuter, and the heart--and humor--buried in the humdrum act of riding the rails with a few thousand strangers each day.

Michael Malone's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, New York Magazine, Westchester Magazine and ESPN.com, among others. He writes the weekly "Notes From the Tasting Room" column for the local Captain Lawrence brewery, and his short story is slated to run in the 2012 Westchester Review. He lives in Westchester County with his family, and rides the train to/from Manhattan each weekday.