-
A World Without 'Whom'
- The Evolution of Language in the BuzzFeed Age
- Narrated by: Christine Marshall
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $19.18
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
A World Without 'Whom' is Eats, Shoots & Leaves for the Internet age, and Emmy Favilla is the go-to expert of Internet-speak.
As language evolves faster than ever before, what is the future of 'correct' style? With wry cleverness and an uncanny intuition for the possibilities of Internet-age expressiveness, Favilla argues that rather than try to preserve the sanctity of the written language as laid out by Strunk and White, we should be concerned with the larger issues of clarity, flexibility, playfulness and political awareness.
Her approach to the new rules - as practical as they are fun - will fascinate and delight believers and naysayers alike. This engaging, provocative book about how language changes is as full of humour and charm as it is full of useful advice and is essential for anyone invested in the future of words and writing.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Linchpin
- Are You Indispensable?
- By: Seth Godin
- Narrated by: Seth Godin
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there’s a third team, the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there’s no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.
-
-
I was expecting more
- By Steve High on 04-06-10
By: Seth Godin
-
Away with Words
- How You Can Learn Any Language and Cultivate an Idiomatic Mindset
- By: Ryan Doherty
- Narrated by: Angus Freathy
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language learning is seen as something incredibly difficult, and most speakers of English are brought up with the idea that we English speakers just aren't good at learning languages. But what if this isn't the true story? What if you could easily learn a new language and have fun doing it? In this book, I pull back the curtain to reveal the mindset and methodology of a polyglot. This book will dispel the myths, lay the foundations of the correct mindset for success, and inspire you to commit to learning that language you've always wanted to master.
-
-
A book I definitely needed
- By Braxton S. on 07-30-22
By: Ryan Doherty
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
-
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
- By: Mignon Fogarty
- Narrated by: Mignon Fogarty
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammar—but she's also determined to make the process as painless as possible. One year ago, she created a weekly podcast to tackle some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. More than seven million episodes have now been downloaded, and Mignon has dispensed grammar tips on Oprah and appeared on the pages of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
-
-
Worthwhile But Not in Audio Form
- By Patricia B Tripoli on 09-25-10
By: Mignon Fogarty
-
The Mother Tongue
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
More satire than history
- By Barbara Kindle Customer on 12-18-15
By: Bill Bryson
-
You Can't Joke About That
- Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together
- By: Kat Timpf
- Narrated by: Kat Timpf
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In You Can’t Joke About That, Kat Timpf shows why much of the way we talk about sensitive subjects is wrong. We’ve created all the wrong rules. We push ourselves into unnecessary conflicts when we should feel like we’re all in this together. When someone says “you can’t joke about that,” what they really mean is “this is a subject that makes people sad or angry.”
-
-
Love Kat.. Great perspective, and I laughed "too"!
- By johnatakis on 04-19-23
By: Kat Timpf
-
Linchpin
- Are You Indispensable?
- By: Seth Godin
- Narrated by: Seth Godin
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there’s a third team, the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there’s no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.
-
-
I was expecting more
- By Steve High on 04-06-10
By: Seth Godin
-
Away with Words
- How You Can Learn Any Language and Cultivate an Idiomatic Mindset
- By: Ryan Doherty
- Narrated by: Angus Freathy
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language learning is seen as something incredibly difficult, and most speakers of English are brought up with the idea that we English speakers just aren't good at learning languages. But what if this isn't the true story? What if you could easily learn a new language and have fun doing it? In this book, I pull back the curtain to reveal the mindset and methodology of a polyglot. This book will dispel the myths, lay the foundations of the correct mindset for success, and inspire you to commit to learning that language you've always wanted to master.
-
-
A book I definitely needed
- By Braxton S. on 07-30-22
By: Ryan Doherty
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
-
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
- By: Mignon Fogarty
- Narrated by: Mignon Fogarty
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammar—but she's also determined to make the process as painless as possible. One year ago, she created a weekly podcast to tackle some of the most common mistakes people make while communicating. More than seven million episodes have now been downloaded, and Mignon has dispensed grammar tips on Oprah and appeared on the pages of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
-
-
Worthwhile But Not in Audio Form
- By Patricia B Tripoli on 09-25-10
By: Mignon Fogarty
-
The Mother Tongue
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
More satire than history
- By Barbara Kindle Customer on 12-18-15
By: Bill Bryson
-
You Can't Joke About That
- Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together
- By: Kat Timpf
- Narrated by: Kat Timpf
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In You Can’t Joke About That, Kat Timpf shows why much of the way we talk about sensitive subjects is wrong. We’ve created all the wrong rules. We push ourselves into unnecessary conflicts when we should feel like we’re all in this together. When someone says “you can’t joke about that,” what they really mean is “this is a subject that makes people sad or angry.”
-
-
Love Kat.. Great perspective, and I laughed "too"!
- By johnatakis on 04-19-23
By: Kat Timpf
-
Long Story Short
- The Only Storytelling Guide You'll Ever Need
- By: Margot Leitman
- Narrated by: Margot Leitman
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Did you ever wish you could tell a story that leaves others spellbound? Storytelling teacher and champion Margot Leitman will show you how! With a fun, irreverent, and infographic approach, this guide breaks a story into concrete components with ways to improve content, structure, emotional impact, and delivery through personal anecdotes, relatable examples, and practical exercises.
-
-
Draw in your audience by telling stories
- By A. Yoshida on 10-27-16
By: Margot Leitman
-
Do You Talk Funny?
- 7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker
- By: David Nihill
- Narrated by: David Nihill
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Public speaking can be terrifying. For David Nihill, the idea of standing in front of an audience was scarier than cliff jumping into a thorny pit of spiders and mothers-in-law. Without a parachute or advanced weaponry. Something had to change.
In what doesn't sound like the best plan ever, David decided to overcome his fears by pretending to be a comedian called "Irish Dave" for one full year, crashing as many comedy clubs, festivals, and shows as possible.
-
-
A Textbook for a Take Action Program
- By Brian Ball on 03-07-16
By: David Nihill
-
Just Write!
- A Calming, Realistic, and Optimistic Approach to Writing Your First Book
- By: Lauren Bingham
- Narrated by: Lynnda Nelson
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you simply want to jot down family folklore to share with future generations or wish to try your hand at writing a best-selling novel, Just Write! provides gentle yet realistic guidance for those who want to write their first book. With her humorous—yet realistic—explanations of the writing process, Lauren Bingham is here to help you make your first book become a reality. You’ll receive the encouragement you’ve been craving, as well as the empathy a new writer needs.
-
-
Amazing Listen
- By Giana on 07-19-22
By: Lauren Bingham
-
English Grammar Rules You Must Know
- Writing and Speaking 101 for Beginners, Daily English for Friendly Conversation & Business Applications, Understanding Grammar to Avoid Errors That Make You Look Dumb!
- By: Lissie Bradach
- Narrated by: Hedy Parks
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
English Grammar Rules You Must Know is the only book you will ever need to learn about the English language. You will learn all about nouns and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, punctuation, synonyms and antonyms, and more, in addition to writing paragraphs and composing essays across various contexts - from casual settings to professional environments. So, take note of this book, as it is the only one you will ever need to answer all your questions about the English language and grammar. Buy this book now, and get started on your new path to mastering the English language.
-
-
Helps tremendously with my writing
- By Louis Thorpe on 02-03-21
By: Lissie Bradach
-
Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
-
-
Review By a Fan
- By Margaret on 09-25-16
By: John McWhorter
-
Consider the Lobster (A Story from Consider the Lobster)
- And Other Essays
- By: David Foster Wallace
- Narrated by: David Foster Wallace, Robert Petkoff
- Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike's deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person? David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures.
-
-
How this differs from the other version
- By Jonathan Penley on 12-26-17
-
Learn French: A Fast and Easy Guide for Beginners to Learn Conversational French
- By: Oliver Robichaud
- Narrated by: Angus Freathy
- Length: 1 hr and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you looking for the best way to learn French? Well, look no further. This book is, simply put, the best on the market for learning French. Why do I say that? Because this book does what language books should do - teach you the mechanics of the language, not a bunch of tourist trap phrases that you'll forget the second you leave the country. Nor does it make the critical mistake of going into far too much detail and boring you half to death spending a lot of time going on about three different kinds of articles.
-
-
informative
- By Kindle Customer on 10-19-22
By: Oliver Robichaud
-
The Sense of Style
- The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century
- By: Steven Pinker
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Sense of Style, the best-selling linguist and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker answers these questions and more. Rethinking the usage guide for the 21st century, Pinker doesn’t carp about the decline of language or recycle pet peeves from the rulebooks of a century ago. Instead, he applies insights from the sciences of language and mind to the challenge of crafting clear, coherent, and stylish prose.
-
-
A great book, done a great injustice by the audio
- By M. Kunze on 10-17-14
By: Steven Pinker
-
Wordslut
- A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language
- By: Amanda Montell
- Narrated by: Amanda Montell
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us, written with humor and playfulness that challenges words and phrases and how we use them. Montell effortlessly moves between history and popular culture to explore these questions and more. Wordslut gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light into the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.
-
-
Loved this book
- By chris boutte on 06-24-21
By: Amanda Montell
-
The Art of Speeches and Presentations
- The Secrets of Making People Remember What You Say
- By: Philip Collins
- Narrated by: Nigel Carrington
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you like it or loathe it, public speaking is something many of us have to do. Be it presentations to colleagues or speeches to a room full of near-strangers, we all want to shine…or at least get through it with our dignity intact. Luckily Philip Collins, former Chief Speech Writer to Tony Blair, knows exactly what’s needed to give a storming speech. The secret, according to Philip, is content. Too many of us focus on how we’re presenting, and don’t spend enough time thinking about what we’re presenting. The secret to memorable, polished speeches is to think more about the material you’re sharing.
-
-
Thoroughly Enjoyable and Educational Romp
- By Marcus Chacos on 01-08-22
By: Philip Collins
-
Learn French & Learn Spanish: 2 Books in 1! A Fast and Easy Guide for Beginners
- By: Oliver Robichaud, Juan Diago
- Narrated by: john fiore
- Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you looking for the best way to learn French? Well, look no further. This book is, simply put, the best on the market for learning French. Why do I say that? Because this book does what language books should do - teach you the mechanics of the language, not a bunch of tourist trap phrases that you'll forget the second you leave the country. Then, learn Spanish. By the end of the book, you'll be understanding of many of the core concepts of basic conversational Spanish, too.
-
-
Learn 2 langues and injoy it
- By Kindle Customer - Chayabd on 11-20-21
By: Oliver Robichaud, and others
-
Word by Word
- The Secret Life of Dictionaries
- By: Kory Stamper
- Narrated by: Kory Stamper
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing them is in fact as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography - from the agonizing decisions about what and how to define to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language.
-
-
Kory should narrate more Audible books!
- By Friendly on 04-24-17
By: Kory Stamper
Related to this topic
-
The Glamour of Grammar
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Early in the history of English, glamour and grammar were the same word, linked to enchantment and magical spells. Now grammar brings to mind language bullies and bored-out-of-their-skulls students. Roy Peter Clark, one of America’s most influential writing teachers, wants to change that by putting the glamour back into grammar.
-
-
Wasteful
- By ABID on 12-05-13
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
How to Write Short
- Word Craft for Fast Times
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to Write Short , Roy Peter Clark turns his attention to the art of painting a thousand pictures with just a few words. Short forms of writing have always existed - from ship logs and telegrams to prayers and haikus. But in this ever-changing Internet age, short-form writing has become an essential skill. Clark covers how to write effective and powerful titles, headlines, essays, sales pitches, Tweets, letters, and even self-descriptions for online dating services.
-
-
Ironically long
- By Amazon Customer on 03-14-16
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
The Prodigal Tongue
- The Love-Hate Relationship Between American and British English
- By: Lynne Murphy
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"If Shakespeare were alive today, he'd sound like an American." "English accents are the sexiest." "Americans have ruined the English language." "Technology means everyone will have to speak the same English." Such claims about the English language are often repeated but rarely examined. Professor Lynne Murphy is on the linguistic front line. In The Prodigal Tongue she explores the fiction and reality of the special relationship between British and American English.
-
-
TOO MUCH BITTERNESS
- By Tina on 08-27-20
By: Lynne Murphy
-
Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
-
-
Review By a Fan
- By Margaret on 09-25-16
By: John McWhorter
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
-
The Story of English in 100 Words
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on 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 was written down in the fifth century ("roe", in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting edge ("twittersphere") and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and", "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language.
-
-
Random but entertaining
- By Sean on 04-01-13
By: David Crystal
-
The Glamour of Grammar
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Early in the history of English, glamour and grammar were the same word, linked to enchantment and magical spells. Now grammar brings to mind language bullies and bored-out-of-their-skulls students. Roy Peter Clark, one of America’s most influential writing teachers, wants to change that by putting the glamour back into grammar.
-
-
Wasteful
- By ABID on 12-05-13
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
How to Write Short
- Word Craft for Fast Times
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to Write Short , Roy Peter Clark turns his attention to the art of painting a thousand pictures with just a few words. Short forms of writing have always existed - from ship logs and telegrams to prayers and haikus. But in this ever-changing Internet age, short-form writing has become an essential skill. Clark covers how to write effective and powerful titles, headlines, essays, sales pitches, Tweets, letters, and even self-descriptions for online dating services.
-
-
Ironically long
- By Amazon Customer on 03-14-16
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
The Prodigal Tongue
- The Love-Hate Relationship Between American and British English
- By: Lynne Murphy
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"If Shakespeare were alive today, he'd sound like an American." "English accents are the sexiest." "Americans have ruined the English language." "Technology means everyone will have to speak the same English." Such claims about the English language are often repeated but rarely examined. Professor Lynne Murphy is on the linguistic front line. In The Prodigal Tongue she explores the fiction and reality of the special relationship between British and American English.
-
-
TOO MUCH BITTERNESS
- By Tina on 08-27-20
By: Lynne Murphy
-
Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
-
-
Review By a Fan
- By Margaret on 09-25-16
By: John McWhorter
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
-
The Story of English in 100 Words
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on 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 was written down in the fifth century ("roe", in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting edge ("twittersphere") and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and", "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language.
-
-
Random but entertaining
- By Sean on 04-01-13
By: David Crystal
-
The Mother Tongue
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
More satire than history
- By Barbara Kindle Customer on 12-18-15
By: Bill Bryson
-
The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead
- Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life
- By: Charles Murray
- Narrated by: Charles Murray
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling social historian Charles Murray has written a delightfully fussy - and entertaining - book on the hidden rules of the road in the workplace - and in life - from the standpoint of an admonishing, but encouraging, workplace grouch and taskmaster. Why the curmudgeon? The fact is that most older, more senior people in the workplace are closet curmudgeons. In today's politically correct world, they may hide their displeasure over your misuse of grammar or your overly familiar use of their first name without an express invitation. But don't be fooled by their pleasant demeanor....
-
-
Good Book: From one curmudgeon to another
- By DaWoolf on 05-22-14
By: Charles Murray
-
The Memoir Project
- A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life
- By: Marion Roach Smith
- Narrated by: Marion Roach Smith
- Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether or not one has lived an exceptional or dramatic life, we inherently understand that writing memoir—whether it’s a book, blog, or just a letter to a child - is the single greatest portal to self-examination. Stop treading water in writing exercises or hiding behind “writer’s block” and learn how to write with intent. Marion Roach Smith’s disarmingly frank but wildly fun tactics offer you simple and effective guidelines that work. Your legacy beings now.
-
-
amazing what you can learn from brevity
- By Schwartz-Burrill on 09-15-11
-
The Secret Life of Pronouns
- What Our Words Say About Us
- By: James W. Pennebaker
- Narrated by: Robert Fass
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We spend our lives communicating. In the last 50 years, we've zoomed through radically different forms of communication, from typewriters to tablet computers, text messages to tweets. We generate more and more words with each passing day. Hiding in that deluge of language are amazing insights into who we are, how we think, and what we feel.
-
-
Sticks and Stones and Words Can Really Help You
- By Lynn on 09-24-12
-
Dave Barry in Cyberspace
- By: Dave Barry
- Narrated by: Shadoe Stevens
- Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Dave Barry goes mano a mano with the Information Superhighway, it's guaranteed to be a rip-roaring adventure. This self-proclaimed computer geek and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist starts with the motto, "Never read the instructions," and slides from there into the world of hardware, software, Windows 95, and the critical issue of RAM ("the bottom line is, if you're a guy, you cannot have enough RAM").
-
-
Disappointing and Dated
- By Alan Rither on 09-13-04
By: Dave Barry
-
A Little History of the World
- By: E. H. Gombrich
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
E. H. Gombrich's world history, an international best seller now available in English for the first time, is a text dominated not by dates and facts but by the sweep of experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity's achievements, and an acute witness to its frailties.
-
-
an enlightening book; very well read
- By A.B.Oxford on 06-03-06
By: E. H. Gombrich
-
The Art of Language Invention
- From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves, the Words Behind World-Building
- By: David J. Peterson
- Narrated by: David J. Peterson
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From master language creator David J. Peterson comes a creative guide to language construction for sci-fi and fantasy fans, writers, game creators, and language lovers. Peterson offers a captivating overview of language creation, covering its history from Tolkien's creations and Klingon to today's thriving global community of conlangers.
-
-
Great resource, but not conducive to audiobook
- By Ashley T. on 04-18-16
-
The Impact Equation
- Are You Making Things Happen or Just Making Noise?
- By: Chris Brogan, Julien Smith
- Narrated by: Chris Brogan, Julien Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three short years ago, when Chris Brogan and Julien Smith wrote their best seller, Trust Agents, being interesting and human on the Web was enough to build a significant audience. But now, everybody has a platform. The problem is that most of them are just making noise. In The Impact Equation, Brogan and Smith show that to make people truly care about what you have to say - you need more than just a good idea, trust among your audience, or a certain number of followers.
-
-
Almost as good as Contagious
- By Bruce on 05-15-13
By: Chris Brogan, and others
-
You've Got 8 Seconds
- Communication Secrets for a Distracted World
- By: Paul Hellman
- Narrated by: Paul Hellman
- Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every day at work, people do three things: talk, listen, and pretend to listen. That's not surprising when you consider that the average attention span has dropped to 8 seconds. To break through, says high-stakes communications expert Paul Hellman, you need to focus on your audience, be slightly different, and deliver with finesse.
-
-
I gave him 7200 seconds!
- By Hyytekk on 08-02-19
By: Paul Hellman
-
Draft No. 4
- On the Writing Process
- By: John McPhee
- Narrated by: John McPhee
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Draft No. 4 is an elucidation of the writer's craft by a master practitioner. In a series of playful but expertly wrought essays, John McPhee shares insights he's gathered over his career and refined during his long-running course at Princeton University, where he has launched some of the most esteemed writers of several generations. McPhee offers a definitive guide to the crucial decisions regarding structure, diction, and tone that shape nonfiction pieces and presents extracts from some of his best-loved work, subjecting them to wry scrutiny.
-
-
McPhee is the Craft
- By Darwin8u on 09-19-17
By: John McPhee
-
Feminist Fight Club
- An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace
- By: Jessica Bennett
- Narrated by: Jessica Bennett, Bahni Turpin
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Part manual, part manifesto, a humorous yet incisive guide to navigating subtle sexism at work - a Lean In for the Buzzfeed generation that provides real-life career advice and humorous reinforcement for a new generation of professional women. Hard hitting and entertaining, Feminist Fight Club blends personal stories with research, statistics, and no-bullsh*t expert advice.
-
-
Awful in so many ways
- By disudds on 01-21-17
By: Jessica Bennett
-
Technically Wrong
- Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech
- By: Sara Wachter-Boettcher
- Narrated by: Andrea Emmes
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buying groceries, tracking our health, finding a date: whatever we want to do, odds are that we can now do it online. But few of us ask how all these digital products are designed, or why. It's time we change that. Many of the services we rely on are full of oversights, biases, and downright ethical nightmares. Chatbots that harass women. Signup forms that fail anyone who's not straight. Social media sites that send peppy messages about dead relatives. Algorithms that put more black people behind bars.
-
-
Pretty good but not complete
- By Casey on 10-29-17