Looking for *THE* awesome American English dictionary

Every dictionary publisher claims to be the best dictionary. I'm looking for the awesome American English dictionary. I have bad suspicions about the Oxford (even the Oxford American) dictionary since the British abandoned the standard English language years ago. All the American publishers, to my observation. claim to be Webster somethingorother. Which is the most authoritative? New World? American Heritage? Etc. I've been relying on wikis recently but I have no faith in any publication.

One thing I would like to see is an emphasis on the etymology of words (http://www.etymonline.com/). Where can I find a book like that? I imagine a book about regular three-ring binder size in height and width, but about six to ten inches deep. More important than the physical dimensions is the quality and quantity of its content.
It is impossible to to an Amazon or Google search when I don't know for what I'm searching.
Ideas please.
It is for a birthday present (his birthday was today) for an old friend of mine. If I can arrive at a title, I could go to one of the online booksellers and have the book delivered to his house.

Many thanks to all. . .
Rich Hollenbeck