The Mother Tongue
English and How It Got That Way
Ranked #1 in Language, Ranked #2 in Etymology — see more rankings.
With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries. less
Want to learn the key points of "The Mother Tongue" in 21 minutes?
Get a full book summary of The Mother Tongue by signing up for Shortform.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being 100% comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you don't spend your time wondering what the author's point is.
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Rankings by Category
The Mother Tongue is ranked in the following categories:
- #23 in Editing
- #27 in English Grammar
- #33 in Factual
- #3 in Linguistics
Similar Books
If you like The Mother Tongue, check out these similar top-rated books:
