The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature

heavy going but if you are interested in the development of language and wish to have an alternative to the chomsky theory then this book is interesting and absorbing.

Steven Pinker's enthusiasm about language comes through everywhere in this book - which is a good thing, because the subject matter itself is dense and complex. This combination results in a curious reading experience: Pinker's lively style, many anecdotes and extreme lucidity pull you forward in the text, but the difficulty of the questions he raises could stump you for some time. He explores many linguistic theories in such depth that readers without a particular interest in the field may, frankly, get lost or find the book too abstract, despite Pinker's numerous attempts to ground his discussions in reality. Therefore, while this is a fine book, getAbstract recommends it primarily to patient readers who have a strong interest in language and philosophy. Bring along an open mind and a sense of humor, since Pinker explores language practices - such as obscenities and insults - that may provoke emotional responses.

Steven Pinker's enthusiasm about language comes through everywhere in this book - which is a good thing, because the subject matter itself is dense and complex. This combination results in a curious reading experience: Pinker's lively style, many anecdotes and extreme lucidity pull you forward in the text, but the difficulty of the questions he raises could stump you for some time. He explores many linguistic theories in such depth that readers without a particular interest in the field may, frankly, get lost or find the book too abstract, despite Pinker's numerous attempts to ground his discussions in reality. Therefore, while this is a fine book, getAbstract recommends it primarily to patient readers who have a strong interest in language and philosophy. Bring along an open mind and a sense of humor, since Pinker explores language practices - such as obscenities and insults - that may provoke emotional responses.

I mostly enjoyed the book. The criticism are that is was long winded more of an over technical look a JR. High grammar. It seems like the same point was made over and over again. So much could have been summarized and those lists of words and phrases could have been put into appendices.

I did like the gee wiz comments on language such as how English as all languages are arbitrary. I just didn't see a connection with cognition and language. Most of that was from a philosophical point of view discussing Hume and Kant which I found interesting.

The book has a great deal of entertaining uses of language but I didn't seem to get how language and thought are connected. I thought the explanation of how we learn a language was interesting looking at children but it seems there was a lack of discussion of how adults learn a second language which I have done and I understand the process. A great deal could have been added on how we learn second languages because I can say that speaking two languages is something worth looking at and explaining.

"The Stuff of Thought", by Steven Pinker, really is an excellent book. Okay...so why then only three stars? Primarily because the cover, as well as the marketing for of this book, fails to include the following warning: "For the Serious Linguist and Student of American English Grammar Only." I love books on the history, the roots, and sheer insanity of the English language, especially American English, and couldn't wait to get my hands on Pinker's book. However, not long after I enthusiastically stretched out in anticipation with my cup of coffee and began to read "The Stuff of Thought", I found myself immersed in post traumatic recall of high school English composition, which I nearly flunked. If you cannot remember the subtle distinctions associated with the various tenses of verbs, the rules governing the use of participles, and the academic differences between "its" and "it's", then you're much better off sticking with Bill Bryson's uproariously funny "Made in America: an informal history of the English language in the United States." But, if you are my high school English composition instructor or are getting your doctorate in neurolinguistic programming, then by all means read "The Stuff of Thought", after which you can record here what you thought.