The Mother Tongue

While Bryson can be bitter and cynical, this book is not one of that sad set.
Browse this in otherwise wasted moments, be awed at the depth of research he has done into the way words have been diverted and perverted over time.

English is a tough language to master. There are so many exceptions to the rules that it is a wonder so many people can ever become fluent in it. But the complexities of the language almost make it so wonderful: it is a language of incredible diversity that is able to evolve and adapt to changing situations. It is great for wordplay and it is great for literature.
Bryson's book illustrates the wonders of this language and discusses English's history and the quirks it developed along the way. Why do we pronounce colonel with an "r"? Or use a "w" in one? Such items are discussed within?
This is a language appreciation book. It is filled with fun facts. If I rate it at four stars, it is not because of the material, but because of how it is presented. There is some redunancy in the book, almost as if each chapter was written independently and then tied together later; there are also times when he refers to an upcoming chapter when really he means a previous one. Finally, although this is a matter of personal taste, I prefer my citations in footnotes, not in the text itself.
Despite these problems, I do recommend this book to almost anyone who can read English. It is a great way to make any English reader appreciate his or her language.

Well written as usual. Perhaps a bit too academic for some tastes. Reads more like a textbook. Quite interesting for anyone who wishes to know more about the origins and evolution of the English language.

Absolutely wonderful and a must for anyone at all interested in words and language history. Fascinating to think that so much of what we say, especially old adages are from medieval times. Also how English absorbs every word that strikes our fancy. I have read it twice!

I am always eager to learn more about the English language, its rules, its usage, its history, so I definitely wanted to read Bryson's take on the subject. This book is more academic and less humorous than most of his books, and I have read many of them. However, as always, his book contains an amazing amount of information and was quite interesting.

I have never thought that a book about English - the subject so remote from me - can be so interesting. And yet, this one is! The brilliant book! The best book about history of English I've ever read!
Highly recommended!

Bill Bryson is a delightful writer who makes even somewhat tedious data entertaining. I had a quibble here and there with some of his assertions, but, overall, found the book informative & enjoyable.

A great author outdoes himself with incredible research and hilarious story telling. Any book by Bill Bryson is worthy of reading, but to maintain the reader's interest in the complications of a language is tough. But Mr. Bryson is up to the task- with a bullet!

A bit dense and probably more readable if you are a linguists fan, which I am. I'm currently studying another language, and this book is surprising helpful in understanding the interconnectedness of languages.

Bill Bryson did an amazing job of making the history of the English language interesting and understandable. His humor is wonderful! i truly enjoyed this book and if youhave enjoyed any of his other books, you will love this one!

I wish this would have been printed after the start of the internet age as I would be really very curious about what the author has to say about that but otherwise a good book. Interesting and thought-provoking.

If you have any interest whatsoever in the English language, you will love this book. And it is by Bill Bryson, one of the funniest writers around. I have read this book 3 times over the years & will read it again. It is that good.

This book, like all Bill Bryson books, is filled with lots of interesting facts, and lots of fun, too. He always makes learning fun and effortless. His gentle humor and mastery of the subject makes for a great read, and a ether appreciation of the English language.