“One of those life-changing reads that makes you see—or, in this case, hear—the whole world differently.” —Megan Angelo, author of Followers“At times chilling, often funny, and always perceptive and cogent, Cultish is a bracing reminder that the scariest thing about cults is that you don't realize you're in one till it's too late.”—Refinery29.comThe New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Magical Overthinking and Wordslut analyzes the social science of cult influence: how “cultish” groups, from Jonestown and Scientologists to SoulCycle and social media gurus, use language as the ultimate form of power.What makes “cults” so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join—and more importantly, stay in—extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has . . .Our culture tends to provide pretty flimsy answers to questions of cult influence, mostly having to do with vague talk of “brainwashing.” But the true answer has nothing to do with freaky mind-control wizardry or Kool-Aid. In Cultish, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear—and are influenced by—every single day.  Through juicy storytelling and cutting original research, Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities “cultish,” revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. Incisive and darkly funny, this enrapturing take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of “cultish” everywhere. Read more

The ultimate rapid language-learning guide! For those who’ve despaired of ever learning a foreign language, here, finally, is a book that will make the words stick.At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently.  He didn’t learn them in school -- who does? -- rather, he learned them in the past few years, working on his own and practicing on the subway, using simple techniques and free online resources. In Fluent Forever Wyner reveals what he’s discovered.   The greatest challenge to learning a foreign language is the challenge of memory; there are just too many words and too many rules. For every new word we learn, we seem to forget two old ones, and as a result, fluency can seem out of reach. Fluent Forever tackles this challenge head-on. With empathy for the language-challenged and abundant humor, Wyner deconstructs the learning process, revealing how to build a foreign language in your mind from the ground up.  Starting with pronunciation, you’ll learn how to rewire your ears and turn foreign sounds into familiar sounds. You'll retrain your tongue to produce those sounds accurately, using tricks from opera singers and actors. Next, you'll begin to tackle words, and connect sounds and spellings to imagery, rather than translations, which will enable you to think in a foreign language.  And with the help of sophisticated spaced-repetition techniques, you'll be able to memorize hundreds of words a month in minutes every day. Soon, you'll gain the ability to learn grammar and more difficult abstract words--without the tedious drills and exercises of language classes and grammar books.  This is brain hacking at its most exciting, taking what we know about neuroscience and linguistics and using it to create the most efficient and enjoyable way to learn a foreign language in the spare minutes of your day. Read more

The enthralling story of how today's largest language family, spoken by nearly half the world's population, descended from one ancient dialect.Daughter. Duhitár-. Dustr. Dukte. Listen to these English, Sanskrit, Armenian and Lithuanian words, all meaning the same thing, and you hear echoes of one of history's most unlikely journeys. All four languages-along with hundreds of others, from French and Gaelic, to Persian and Polish-trace their origins to an ancient tongue spoken as the last ice age receded. This language, which we call Proto-Indo-European, was born between Europe and Asia and exploded out of its cradle, fragmenting as it spread east and west. Its last speaker died thousands of years ago, yet Proto-Indo-European lives on in its myriad linguistic offspring and in some of our best loved works of literature, including Dante's Inferno and the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings and the love poetry of Rumi. How did this happen?Acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney set out to answer that question, retracing the Indo-European odyssey across continents and millennia. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the silk roads and the Hindu Kush. We retrace the epic journeys of nomads and monks, warriors and kings – the ancient peoples who carried these languages far and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the scientists on a thrilling mission to retrieve the lost languages and their speakers: the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists who have reconstructed that ancient diaspora. What they have learned has profound implications for our modern world, because people and their languages are on the move again. Proto is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words. Read more

With his trademark humor and flair, bestselling linguist John McWhorter busts the myths and shares the history of the most controversial language topic of our times: pronounsThe nature of language is to shift and evolve—but every so often, a new usage creates a whole lot of consternation. These days, pronouns are throwing curveballs, and it matters, because pronoun habits die hard. If you need a refresher from eighth-grade English: Pronouns are short, used endlessly, and serve to point and direct, to orient us as to what is meant about who. Him, not her. Me, not you. Pronouns get a heavy workout, and as such, they become part of our hardwiring. To mess with our pronouns is to mess with us.    But many of today’s hot-button controversies are nonsense. The singular they has been with us since the 1400s and appears in Shakespeare’s works. In fact, many of the supposedly iron-clad rules of grammar are up for debate (Billy and me went to the store is perfectly logical!), and with tasty trivia, unexpected twists, and the weird quirks of early and contemporary English, John McWhorter guides readers on a journey of how our whole collection of these little words emerged and has changed over time. Read more

Do You Want To Learn How To Speak Conversational Spanish Like a M.F.?Of course, no one really wants to learn how to speak Spanish like a M.F.LOL :-) I’m sure that what you really want to learn is how to speak and understand conversational Spanish like a native Spanish speaker.But I thought why not have a little fun and have a play on words when naming this “system”. According to the UrbanDictionary.com "like a M.F." is used to indicate an unusually high degree of intensity. For example:Have you looked outside? It's raining like a M.F.So using UrbanDictionary.com’s definition, this system will enable you to speak and understand real, authentic, conversational Spanish like a M.F. (pun intended) :-)To make sure you accomplish your Spanish speaking goals, this system consists of 3-Books-In-1:Book #1: Learn How To Speak Conversational Spanish Like a MF 2.0Book #2: Learn How To Speak Conversational Spanish Like a MF 1.0Just in case you really want to speak Spanish like a M.F., I’ve included one book just for that:Book #3: Learn Spanish Curse Words and Vulgar ExpressionsBooks 1 and 2 from this system are all you need to learn how to speak conversational Spanish with total confidence. Without having to relocate to Latin America for months or even years. And without having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars taking private Spanish lessons.With this system, you’ll master pronunciation of the Spanish language. Almost to the point where your accent will have native Spanish speakers mistaken you for being a native speaker too. You’ll also be able to comprehend spoken-Spanish better than you ever dreamed possible. Whether you’re speaking to a taxi driver in Medellin, Colombia or a shop owner in Mexico City or some of the locals in the Dominican Republic. In fact, whether you go to Latin America or even Spain, you'll be able to fully comprehend and engage in a deep, profound Spanish conversation – with total confidence. Just take a peek at what I have in store for you:(IMPORTANT NOTE: The following description applies to the audio program only. The ebook version is actually a transcript of the 3-books-in-1. I urge you to get the accompanying audiobook – either at Amazon or Audible. Because the most efficient and most effective way to learn a language is with audio – and not just text.)22 hours of authentic Latin American Spanish audio lessonsBooks 1 & 2 consist of 36 audio lessonsA ton of bonus audio lessons to further help you speak Spanish like a nativeSystem that will allow you to master conjugating Spanish verbsPDF transcripts to all lessonsOnly native Spanish-speaking voice actors to make sure you develop an authentic Spanish accent and the pronunciation of a nativeBonus LIVE, INTERACTIVE webinar taught by a Spanish instructor from ColombiaBONUS videobook of the entire Book #1And most importantly, a fun and engaging learning method that will have you looking forward to practicing - and the more you practice, the more you learn.Even if you've purchased another learning-Spanish program . . . Even if you purchased every learning-Spanish program and used every learning-Spanish mobile app under the sun and took countless one-on-one private Spanish classes. . .You’ll discover this is the one system which will allow you to finally accomplish your goal of speaking real conversational Spanish with total confidence.To learn how to speak and understand real conversational Spanish with a high degree of skill and intensity – like that of a native speaker . . . In other words . . . To learn how to speak and understand real conversational Spanish like a M.F. this is what you need to do now . . .Scroll to the top of this page and click the buy now button. Read more

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A New York Times bestseller One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power--and why we love them so much.Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech--the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier. Read more

Generations of students have learned Latin with this classic introductory textbook that remainsthe most highly regarded and bestselling single-volume of its kind.Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition retains its signature core of authentic Latin readings—curated from the works of Cicero, Vergil, and other major Roman authors of classical literature, drama, and poetry, as well as inscriptions, artifacts, and even authentic graffiti—that demonstrate the ancient Romans’ everyday use of Latin: Latin as a living language. With expanded English-Latin/Latin-English vocabulary sections, tightly retooled comprehension and discussion questions, self-tutorial exercises, translation tips, etymological aids, maps, and dozens of photos and illustrations that capture aspects of classical culture and mythology, Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition is the essential resource for students beginning their journey into the heart of the classical world. Read more

The author & copy editor sheds more insights on the English language in this book on rights and wrongs—and why not wrong doesn’t necessarily mean right.“Some will call Walsh a demigod of usage. Others will call him a demagogue. I call him, oxymoronically, our most amiable curmudgeon of style.”—Charles Harrington Elster, author of The Accidents of Style and Verbal AdvantageAre you a language snob? Could you care less? Literally? Welcome to the club! But beware: You probably don’t know as much as you think you do. And the people who know the most are the least likely to share your pet peeves. Think it’s wrong to say “I could care less” when you mean “I couldn’t care less”? To say “literally” when you mean figuratively”? Wrong, the experts will tell you. And they’re right, in a way. In his long-awaited follow-up to Lapsing Into a Comma and The Elephants of Style, Bill Walsh argues with the sticklers and the apologists and sometimes himself on the various fronts in the language wars—and whether they amount to warfare at all or just a big misunderstanding.Part usage manual, part confessional, and part manifesto, Yes, I Could Care Less bounces from sadomasochism to weather geekery, from Top Chef to Mondy Python, from the chile of New Mexico to the daiquiris of Las Vegas, with Walsh’s distinctive take on the way we write and talk.Yes, I Could Care Less is a lively and often personal look at one man’s continuing journey through the obstacle course that some refer to, far too simply, as “grammar.”“How can you not love a language maven who admits up front…that he’s nuts?… Oh, and did I mention that's he's funny? Armed gunmen, he tells us, are “the worst kind.” And you probably think you know what domestic beer is. But as the author can tell you, it's in the eye of the bartender.”—Patricia T. O’Conner, author of Woe Is I  Read more

A “monumental” account of the rise and fall of languages, with “many fresh insights, useful historical anecdotes, and charming linguistic oddities” (Chicago Tribune).   Nicholas Ostler's Empires of the Word is the first history of the world’s great tongues, gloriously celebrating the wonder of words that bind communities together and make possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it. From the uncanny resilience of Chinese through twenty centuries of invasions to the engaging self-regard of Greek to the struggles that gave birth to the languages of modern Europe, these epic achievements and more are brilliantly explored, as are the fascinating failures of once “universal” languages. A splendid, authoritative, and remarkable work, it demonstrates how the language history of the world eloquently reveals the real character of our planet’s diverse peoples and prepares us for a linguistic future full of surprises.   “Readers learn how languages ancient and modern spread and how they dwindle. . . . Few books bring more intellectual excitement to the study of language.” —Booklist (starred review)    “Sparkles with arcane knowledge, shrewd perceptions, and fresh ideas…The sheer sweep of his analysis is breathtaking.” —Times Literary Supplement   “Ambitious and accessible . . . Ostler stresses the role of culture, commerce and conquest in the rise and fall of languages, whether Spanish, Portuguese and French in the Americas or Dutch in Asia and Africa.” —Publishers Weekly   “A marvelous book.” —National Review Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Powerful LanguageIf you’ve ever fumbled while trying to use a big word* to impress a crowd, you know what it’s like to* be poorly spoken. The fear of mispronouncing or misusing complex words is real and leaves many of us consigned to the lower levels* of the English Language.The secret to eloquence, however, lies in simplicity—the ability to use ordinary words in extraordinary ways.The Well-Spoken Thesaurus is your guide to eloquence, replacing the ordinary with the extraordinary. While a common thesaurus provides only synonyms as mere word-for-word equivalents, The Well-Spoken Thesaurus is filled with* dynamic reinventions of standard words and phrases.*lofty word, pretentious word*know what it is to*lower reaches, lower echelons*awash in, instilled with, dense with, rich in Read more

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The renowned philosopher and political theorist presents a summation of his influential work in this series of Columbia University lectures.   A pioneer in the fields of modern linguistics and cognitive science, Noam Chomsky is also one of the most avidly read political theorist of our time. In this series of lectures, Chomsky presents more than half a century of philosophical reflection on all three of these areas. In precise yet accessible language, Chomsky elaborates on the scientific study of language, sketching how his own work has implications for the origins of language, the close relations that language bears to thought, its eventual biological basis. He expounds and criticizes many alternative theories, such as those that emphasize the social, the communicative, and the referential aspects of language. He also investigates the apparent scope and limits of human cognitive capacities.    Moving from language and mind to society and politics, Chomsky concludes with a philosophical defense of a position he describes as "libertarian socialism," tracing its links to anarchism and the ideas of John Dewey, and even briefly to the ideas of Karl Marx and John Stuart Mill. Demonstrating its conceptual growth out of our historical past, he also shows its urgent relation to our present moment. Read more

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Written by David Hornsby, who is a current Linguistics lecturer and researcher at theUniversity of Kent, Linguistics - The Essentials is designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. It covers the key areas that students are expected to be confident in, outlining the basics in clear jargon-free English, and then providing added value features like summaries of key books, and even lists of questions you might be asked in your seminar or exam.The book uses a structure that mirrors many university courses on linguistics - withseparate chapters focusing on linguistic thought, syntax, sound systems, morphology,semantics, pragmatics, language acquisition, and much more. Read more

A kinder, funner usage guide to the ever-changing English language and a useful tool for both the grammar stickler and the more colloquial user of English, from linguist and veteran professor Anne Curzan “I was bowled over, page after page, by the author’s fine ear for our language and her openhearted erudition. I learned a lot, and I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more.”—Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author of Dreyer’s EnglishOur use of language naturally evolves and is a living, breathing thing that reflects who we are. Says Who? offers clear, nuanced guidance that goes beyond “right” and “wrong” to empower us to make informed language choices. Never snooty or scoldy (yes, that’s a “real” word!), this book explains where the grammar rules we learned in school actually come from and reveals the forces that drive dictionary editors to label certain words as slang or unacceptable.Linguist and veteran English professor Anne Curzan equips readers with the tools they need to adeptly manage (a split infinitive?! You betcha!) formal and informal writing and speaking. After all, we don’t want to be caught wearing our linguistic pajamas to a job interview any more than we want to show up for a backyard barbecue in a verbal tux, asking, “To whom shall I pass the ketchup?” Curzan helps us use our new knowledge about the developing nature of language and grammar rules to become caretakers of language rather than gatekeepers of it. Applying entertaining examples from literature, newspapers, television, and more, Curzan welcomes usage novices and encourages the language police to lower their pens, showing us how we can care about language precision, clarity, and inclusion all at the same time.With lively humor and humanity, Says Who? is a pragmatic and accessible key that reveals how our choices about language usage can be a powerful force for equity and personal expression. For proud grammar sticklers and self-conscious writers alike, Curzan makes nerding out about language fun. Read more

Why does everything sound better if it's said in French? That fascination is at the heart of The Story of French, the first history of one of the most beautiful languages in the world that was, at one time, the pre-eminent language of literature, science and diplomacy. In a captivating narrative that spans the ages, from Charlemagne to Cirque du Soleil, Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow unravel the mysteries of a language that has maintained its global influence despite the rise of English. As in any good story, The Story of French has spectacular failures, unexpected successes and bears traces of some of history's greatest figures: the tenacity of William the Conqueror, the staunchness of Cardinal Richelieu, and the endurance of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Through this colorful history, Nadeau and Barlow illustrate how French acquired its own peculiar culture, revealing how the culture of the language spread among francophones the world over and yet remains curiously centered in Paris. In fact, French is not only thriving—it still has a surprisingly strong influence on other languages. As lively as it is fascinating, The Story of French challenges long held assumptions about French and shows why it is still the world's other global language. Read more

The world’s foremost expert on the English language takes us on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the history of our vernacular through the ages.In The Story of English in 100 Words, an entertaining history of the world’s most ubiquitous language, David Crystal draws on one hundred words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word—“roe”—was written down on the femur of a roe deer in the fifth century. Featuring ancient words (“loaf”), cutting edge terms that reflect our world (“twittersphere”), indispensable words that shape our tongue (“and,” “what”), fanciful words (“fopdoodle”) and even obscene expressions (the “c word”), David Crystal takes readers on a tour of the winding byways of our language via the rude, the obscure and the downright surprising.“From pre-eminent British linguist Crystal . . . comes this delightful history of the words we use (and some we’ve forgotten) and how we came to use them. . . . Crystal’s enthusiasm for—and wealth of knowledge about—the ever-evolving English language makes this a must-read for word lovers.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Read more