The best 37 Language books

The Language Instinct (1994) provides an in-depth look into the origins and intricacies of language, offering both a crash course in linguistics and linguistic anthropology along the way. By examining our knack for language, the book makes the case that the propensity for language learning is actually hardwired into our brains.

• Anyone interested in linguistics
• People who want to know why Noam Chomsky is so famous
• Anyone who has ever been taken aback by how quickly their children learned to speak

Fluent Forever unlocks the secrets of how to get the most out of your memory, so you can learn languages faster than you ever thought possible. It teaches you how your memory works and the precise techniques you can use to remember more words, more accurately, in a way that’s efficient and fun.

• Anyone learning a language
• Anyone who wants to improve their memory

10 Days to Faster Reading (2001) sets out to help you get through your ever-growing pile of must-read books. By breaking down the mindsets and bad habits that inhibit effective reading and replacing them with highly efficient reading techniques, you’ll be reading faster and retaining more than ever before.

• Anyone who wants to read faster and remember more of what they read
• Educators looking for new reading strategies for students
• College students and bibliophiles

Through the Language Glass (2010) explores the many ways in which language both reflects and influences our culture. By exploring the different ways that languages deal with space, gender and color, the book demonstrates just how fundamentally the language you speak alters your perception of the world.

• People interested in language and how it affects us
• Anyone interested in how the brain works
• Linguistics students

The Secret Life of Pronouns (2011) shines a light on the everyday language that we seldom pay attention to, revealing the ways in which it serves as a window into our personality and our social connections.

• Linguists, psychologists and grammar nerds from all disciplines
• Anyone interested in what language can reveal about others and ourselves

The Sense of Style (2014) offers a refreshing and relevant guide to writing potent, readable texts of all kinds. Instead of extolling the same confusing and sometimes counter-intuitive rules found in traditional style guides, The Sense of Style offers simple tricks and heuristics guaranteed to improve your writing.

• Lovers of the English language
• Professional or amateur writers
• People interested in linguistics

I Can Hear You Whisper (2014) is about human communication, and the phenomenon and culture of deafness. Hearing is a complex process that doesn’t function the same way for everyone, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing have developed alternative methods of communication, around which a special culture has grown. These blinks give an overview of that culture and show that it’s just as rich as any other.

• Anyone interested in the science or culture of deafness
• Sociology or medical students

Words That Work (2007) is a guide to getting your point across more efficiently and effectively. These blinks explain the power of language and how it can help you in any number of situations, from business to political discussions to getting out of a traffic ticket.

• Anyone who wants to communicate more effectively
• Academics interested in the hidden power of language

In What Makes Us Human (2007), a group of experts shares ideas on this centuries-long question. These blinks plumb the depths of the mystery of our species, to discover why humans alone cook food to eat, think creatively and understand cause and effect.

• Scientists, philosophers and theologists
• People who want to explore questions about human life

Words Like Loaded Pistols (2012) is a guide to identifying rhetoric and using it to your advantage. These blinks use historical, contemporary and everyday examples to show how rhetoric is a part of everything we do, which is why it’s such an essential topic to examine.

• Anyone who wants to better understand the science behind political jargon
• Students and professionals striving to become better public speakers and writers

Thirty Million Words (2015) explains the importance of language in a child’s early development and long-term success. These blinks outline the optimal early language environment for a child and highlight the ways parents can help their children during these critical years.

• New parents
• Psychologists and educators
• People who want to learn a new language.

Don’t Sleep There Are Snakes (2008) tell us about the unique culture and language of the Pirahã, an indigenous people of the Amazonian jungle who don’t use numbers, have names for colors or bother with small talk. They also laugh and smile more than most other cultures. These blinks explain what languages can tell us about the human experience and, moreover, why we shouldn’t forget how many other cultures and languages besides our own exist around the world.

• Language enthusiasts looking to learn more
• Anyone who thinks all languages are more or less the same
• Citizens of the world looking to gain fresh perspectives on other cultures

The Mother Tongue (1990) provides a unique and personal look at the history of the English language. You’ll learn how, thanks to its flexibility and adaptability, English has endured and flourished, despite centuries of invasions, uprisings and censorship.

• Historians
• Linguists
• Word lovers

Holy Sh*t (2013) is a journey through the history of swearing. Starting in ancient Rome and coming up to the present day, these blinks delve into the cultures of different periods to highlight the rich evolution of swear words and obscenities throughout history.

• Language lovers
• Historians, anthropologists and students of cultural studies
• People who want to broaden their swearing vocabulary

Do I Make Myself Clear? (2017) offers a much-needed look at why clear and concise messages are, now more than ever, so important. There is an overwhelming abundance of content these days, and yet finding the truth has never been more difficult. Politicians and marketing executives use deliberately misleading words that obscure the truth and leave us confused and distrustful. Other times, bad writing simply leaves us scratching our heads. If we hope to better understand the facts, we need more people who can deliver clear and meaningful writing.

• Aspiring writers
• Students hoping to craft better papers
• Readers tired of bad writing

Making a Point (2015) is all about punctuation, the little marks that tie written language together. These blinks explain what function punctuation serves, why it can become a heated topic of discussion and how writers have used it creatively for years.

• Anyone who writes
• Students of language or literature
• Grammar nerds

Language Intelligence (2012) focuses on an aspect of language that is often overlooked or dismissed: the art of rhetoric. From the King James Bible to Shakespeare, from modern-day political campaigns to the lyrics of pop songs, rhetoric is a widely used tool – one that we all should learn to use and understand. After all, in words there is power and strength.

This is a Blinkist staff pick

“These blinks take you through history and around the world in search of answers to the age-old question of how the languages we speak affect the way we think and act. Really fascinating stuff!”

– Erik, Editorial Production Manager at Blinkist

• Linguists and grammarians
• Politicians and marketing experts
• Poets and singers

The Stuff Of Thought (2007) offers an in-depth look at language and, more specifically, what it can tell us about human nature and the complexities of the human mind. These blinks touch on everything from our ability to unconsciously detect subtle grammatical patterns to the linguistic rules surrounding politeness.

• Readers interested in the complexity of language
• Psychologists and language therapists
• Students of linguistics and literature

Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime (2014) is a guide to asking questions that will elicit the responses you seek. The authors draw on decades of experience to show that everyone – from teachers to journalists to doctors – can benefit from asking the right questions in the right way.

• Journalists, lawyers or anyone whose job involves asking a lot of questions
• People interested in the sociology of language
• Those wishing to improve their conversational techniques

Word by Word (2017) is about an object, and its associated profession, for which people rarely spare a thought: dictionaries and the honorable occupation of lexicography. Kory Stamper introduces the fascinating world of word classification through her own experience at Merriam-Webster, showing what dictionaries can do and, just as importantly, what they don’t.

• Language enthusiasts and linguistics nerds
• Lovers of English literature
• Anyone hoping to get a new perspective on underappreciated professions

In The Third Chimpanzee (1991), Jared Diamond explores the evolution of Homo sapiens, which started out like any other animal and gradually became a unique creature capable of producing speech, making art and inventing technology. The book reveals some extraordinary insights about the nature of human beings.

• Students of history and anthropology
• People interested in human evolution
• Readers querying the essence of humankind

Writing That Works (1981) is the definitive guide to business writing. These blinks are full of advice on how to write clear, compelling and succinct business communications, covering everything from quarterly reports to presentations, emails and even resumes.

• Marketers and advertisers at all levels
• Students of business, marketing and advertising
• Entrepreneurs looking for tips on effective business writing

Words on the Move (2016) is a whistle-stop tour through the history of the English language, from its Anglo-Saxon roots to global lingua franca. Packed with illuminating insights into the evolution of words and meaning, John McWhorter’s entertaining look at language dispels plenty of myths along the way. He argues that emoticons and the new use of “like” aren’t a threat to our language, but quite the opposite – they’re the latest chapters in a story of endless evolution.

• Language learners and enthusiasts
• Anyone who’s wondered where words come from
• History buffs

China in Ten Words (2012) explores the way modern China talks about itself and probes what that tells us about its past, present and likely future. Honing in on ten common concepts, author Yu Huan tells the story of a nation that has seemingly changed beyond recognition, yet in many ways remains closer to its revolutionary origins than one might believe.

• Students of the history of Communist China
• Linguists curious about how language shapes cultural concepts
• Those who are fascinated by the modern “Chinese Miracle”

How Language Works (2005) unlocks the secrets of how and why we communicate. Language is one of the defining characteristics that makes humans human. But because it’s such a fundamental concept, we rarely take the time to think about where it comes from or how it evolves. These blinks examine the historical and personal origins of language and the many different ways it affects our daily lives.

• Language lovers curious to learn how language works
• Those who appreciate the vast diversity of languages in the world
• People concerned about endangered or extinct languages

It’s common knowledge that the internet has profoundly changed society, and Because Internet (2019) looks at one specific and significant change: how online culture has transformed the English language. These blinks show how the web has created new linguistic rules, remixed old ones and democratized writing itself. Along with these shifts, prepare to explore the memes, emoji and demographic makeup of the internet.  

• Language nerds fascinated by recent changes in English
• Inflexible grammarians clinging on to past practices
• Parents consistently baffled by their children’s text messages

Persuasive Copywriting (2019) is a valuable guide to the world of copywriting, with tips on how to get the attention and keep the interest of customers, as well as generate those all-important sales for your client. Author Andy Maslen takes time-tested techniques that have proven reliable for generations and shows how these are being successfully applied in an online world that’s increasingly focused on content marketing.

• New and experienced copywriters
• Marketing and sales professionals
• Writers eager to engage readers

How You Say It (2020) examines the role that speech plays in structuring society. Through research and intelligent analysis, it shows how our accents, word choices, and other linguistic quirks become part of our identity and change how we see others.

• Social scientists wanting to learn more about language
• Big talkers curious about the hidden meaning of their accents
• Anyone interested in unpacking their unconscious biases

Transcendence (2020) is a wide-ranging overview of humanity’s history, from its beginnings on the savannas of Africa to the globe-spanning civilization of today. This multifaceted exploration shows how fire, language, beauty, and time came to define our species.

• History buffs seeking a deep look at the past
• Armchair anthropologists curious about the origins of human society
• Anyone interested in what makes humans human

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) is a singular and ground-breaking work of modern philosophy that attempts to illuminate the relationship between logic, language, and reality.

• Big thinkers curious about contemporary philosophy
• Language lovers interested in the relationship between language and reality
• Anyone interested in the major thinkers of modernity

What Kind of Creatures Are We? (2015) takes you on an exhilarating journey into the depths of human consciousness, revealing how language shapes thought and defines our species. Through clear, precise explanations of groundbreaking research in linguistics and cognitive science, you'll discover why your mind can effortlessly create infinite meanings from finite elements – a unique capability that emerged suddenly in human history. 

• Linguistics students and professors seeking deeper insights into language evolution
• Philosophy enthusiasts interested in consciousness and human nature
• Fans of science curious about cognitive development and brain function

The Magic of Code (2025) argues that code functions as the fundamental building block of our digital world, with the power to create virtual worlds, connect people globally, and serve as a gateway to understanding connections among diverse fields like language, mythology, and human thought patterns. 

• Curious non-techies ready to discover the hidden magic shaping their reality
• Burnt-out programmers who need to reignite their love of code
• Artists who want to unlock a new creative medium

"The Elements of Style" is a classic guide to writing well. Written by William Strunk Jr. and later revised by E.B. White, it offers timeless advice on grammar, style, and composition. A must-read for anyone looking to improve their writing skills and communicate more effectively.

• Individuals looking to improve their writing skills
• Students seeking guidance on grammar and composition
• Professionals who want to communicate clearly and effectively

"Train Go Sorry" is a memoir by Leah Hager Cohen that delves into the world of the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City. Through personal anecdotes and interviews, Cohen explores the challenges and triumphs of the deaf community, shedding light on the complexities of communication and the importance of understanding and acceptance. It offers a unique perspective on deaf culture and the power of language.

• People interested in the experiences of the deaf community
• Individuals curious about the challenges faced by deaf students in mainstream education
• Readers who appreciate personal narratives that shed light on the power of communication and understanding

Focus on Grammar 2 with Myenglishlab by Irene Schoenberg is a comprehensive English grammar book designed to help intermediate students improve their language skills. It covers essential grammar topics such as verb tenses, modals, conditionals, and more. With clear explanations, engaging exercises, and access to online resources, this book is a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their English proficiency.

• English language learners who want to improve their grammar skills

• Students preparing for standardized English language exams such as TOEFL or IELTS

• Teachers looking for a comprehensive and structured approach to teaching grammar

Top Notch 1 3/E Student Book by Joan Saslow is a comprehensive English language course designed to help beginner students build their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. With engaging topics and activities, this book provides a solid foundation for English language learners and prepares them for real-life communication in various social and academic situations.

• English language learners who want to improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills

• Students who prefer a communicative approach to language learning

• Instructors looking for a comprehensive and engaging curriculum for their ESL/EFL classes

Woe Is I by Patricia T. O'Conner is a witty and informative guide to grammar and language usage. Through humorous examples and easy-to-understand explanations, the book helps readers navigate common language pitfalls and improve their writing skills. It's a must-read for anyone looking to brush up on their grammar in a fun and engaging way.

• Anyone looking to improve their grammar and language skills

• Students or professionals who want to communicate more effectively

• People who enjoy learning in a lighthearted and entertaining way