This book investigates the linguistic phenomenon of common, everyday experiences that lack a specific name, proposing a lexicon of invented words to fill these gaps. Rich Hall, a comedian and writer, utilizes his background in observational humor to categorize these nameless occurrences. He presents a framework where the absurdity of modern life is addressed through the creation of 'sniglets,' or neologisms designed to describe specific, relatable irritations or oddities.

Readers frequently note the lighthearted and satirical nature of the prose, which is intended for entertainment rather than academic reference. Experts highlight this as a foundational text in the 1980s pop-culture trend of invented vocabulary.