In Review

04 December 2008 05:08 BST

The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker

Penguin Books, 512pp, out June 5th.

In a nutshell...

An exploration of why language has evolved the way it has and what it insights this offers on human nature.

What's it all about?

Psychology, philosophy, linguistics, current affairs and comedy all jostle for space in this book as it seeks to explore how and why humans communicate in the way we do. It is a frank and funny discussion of the metaphors and misunderstandings human speech uses.

Who's it by?

Professor Steven Pinker of Harvard University's Department of Psychology. He has written many well-received books prior to this one and is known for combining humour with serious thought in an accessible and popular way. He is currently touring the UK and giving a few speeches so it might be a good time to get a copy signed.

As an example...

"The ubiquity and power of swearing suggests that taboo words may tap into deep and ancient parts of the emotional brain."

What the others say

Pinker is a "word fetishist" according to the New York Times. "One minute, he's explaining the ascent of man; the next, he's fondling irregular verbs the way other people savour stamps or Civil War memorabilia."

So is it any good?

Every summer a flood of beach books are released into the market, paperbacks designed to be no-brainers, easily read by the pool in the sun. The Stuff of Thought is not one of them. It is funny, thoughtful and compelling but far from an easy read.

The book combines philosophy, psychology and linguistics to explore the way in which human language has evolved, why it has developed this way and how it has shaped our development. Professor Pinker even brings in elements of evolutionary biology in his exploration of language as a window into human nature. However, he also fills his discussion with humour, analogy and a certain dry wit to ensure the reader does not feel overwhelmed; his Harvard students are a lucky bunch.

The subject matter is also incredibly interesting. Why is it that we resort to sex, god and excrement when we swear? How is it that humans are often incapable of asking outright for what they want – whether it is seduction or for someone to pass the mustard? What do language quirks tell us about who we are? While he may not provide complete answers to life, the universe and everything, Pinker does offer some great insights.

However, pop-psychology as it may be, this book is undeniably more academic musings than a light-hearted jaunt through semantics and will take dedication to enjoy. For the average Joe or Josephine, the metaphor-metaphor, the logic of politeness and the theory of psychology of causality called constant conjunction may take a little while to sink in. However, after careful study, the reader starts to feel that they are in a secret club; they understand more about the language we all use than most people. It can genuinely be a bit thrilling to hear language in action and understand more clearly why it things have been said that way.

People who enjoy feeling informed and even occasionally smug will like this book but I do recommend they keep some light-hearted fiction to hand for occasional relief from their studies.

8/10

Felicity King-Evans