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The Last Word: Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue
A collection of delicious morsels that celebrate the richness, ridiculousness and resilience of language.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Ben Macintyre
41 books4,156 followersBen Macintyre is a writer-at-large for The Times (U.K.) and the bestselling author of The Spy and the Traitor, A Spy Among Friends, Double Cross, Operation Mincemeat, Agent Zigzag, and Rogue Heroes, among other books. Macintyre has also written and presented BBC documentaries of his work.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 27, 2013
The Last Word, subtitled ‘Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue’, is a collection from the writings of Ben MacIntyre, a columnist writing about books for The Times.
If you’ve ever pondered the mysteries of military euphemisms, considered the last words of heroes, wondered at the geek-speak of the computer nerd, laughed at inadvertently skewed translations or been curious about almost anything else to do with words, there’s something here for you.
The author has collected, listened to, been sent by readers, and purloined from reviewers many examples of neologisms, epitaphs, mistranslations, vanished words, malapropisms and many other interesting, amusing or downright odd usages of the words we use (or not) in everyday language.
Split into short sections, so that the book can be picked up for even a couple of minutes at a time, the material is varied in content but not in quality. All of the 300 pages are presented in a style easy to read, well-written, and generally tinged with humour. There are a few exceptions, when serious issues are up for discussion. The odd personal anecdote sneaks in amongst the more general observations and tales and brings a more intimate feel to the book.
I was entertained, educated, startled, intrigued, surprised, moved, and made to laugh out loud as I read the different pieces. If you have any interest in language at all, and, as a reader and/or writer, you clearly must have, you’ll find this a worthwhile addition to your library. Not only do I heartily recommend the book, I place it on that short and vital list of those volumes I’d save from the burning house or take with me to that famous desert island.
If you’ve ever pondered the mysteries of military euphemisms, considered the last words of heroes, wondered at the geek-speak of the computer nerd, laughed at inadvertently skewed translations or been curious about almost anything else to do with words, there’s something here for you.
The author has collected, listened to, been sent by readers, and purloined from reviewers many examples of neologisms, epitaphs, mistranslations, vanished words, malapropisms and many other interesting, amusing or downright odd usages of the words we use (or not) in everyday language.
Split into short sections, so that the book can be picked up for even a couple of minutes at a time, the material is varied in content but not in quality. All of the 300 pages are presented in a style easy to read, well-written, and generally tinged with humour. There are a few exceptions, when serious issues are up for discussion. The odd personal anecdote sneaks in amongst the more general observations and tales and brings a more intimate feel to the book.
I was entertained, educated, startled, intrigued, surprised, moved, and made to laugh out loud as I read the different pieces. If you have any interest in language at all, and, as a reader and/or writer, you clearly must have, you’ll find this a worthwhile addition to your library. Not only do I heartily recommend the book, I place it on that short and vital list of those volumes I’d save from the burning house or take with me to that famous desert island.
April 15, 2014
If you love the bendy, wriggly, twisty entity that is the English language, then this book is a must read for you.
The book started life as a newspaper column and Ben Macintyre writes enthusiastically about all facets of the English language and its usages.
It's a real gem for anyone who reviews books, be it professionally, or on Good Reads, Amazon, or via blogs. Ben has a wonderful tongue-in-cheek article on the meaning of various phrases used in reviews. It is laugh out loud funny.
There is also an interesting article on book blurbs and how they come about. I won't spoil it, but I will say I was shocked at what I learned, and I will be looking at the blurbs on books with a fairly jaundiced eye in the future.
Ben Macintyre also turns his attention on the various dialects, pidgins and creoles of English, giving anyone who has not experienced this area of the language a new and interesting language experience.
I recommend "The Last Word: Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue" to anyone who reviews books, loves books, and, like myself, has an ongoing love affair with the English language.
The book started life as a newspaper column and Ben Macintyre writes enthusiastically about all facets of the English language and its usages.
It's a real gem for anyone who reviews books, be it professionally, or on Good Reads, Amazon, or via blogs. Ben has a wonderful tongue-in-cheek article on the meaning of various phrases used in reviews. It is laugh out loud funny.
There is also an interesting article on book blurbs and how they come about. I won't spoil it, but I will say I was shocked at what I learned, and I will be looking at the blurbs on books with a fairly jaundiced eye in the future.
Ben Macintyre also turns his attention on the various dialects, pidgins and creoles of English, giving anyone who has not experienced this area of the language a new and interesting language experience.
I recommend "The Last Word: Tales from the Tip of the Mother Tongue" to anyone who reviews books, loves books, and, like myself, has an ongoing love affair with the English language.
December 3, 2014
Mr McIntyre is particularly known for his engrossing tales of real-life spies and adventurers and their nearly-unbelievable exploits (Josiah Harlan, Eddie Chapman and the likes) but here he brings his considerable story-telling skills to a fashion a series of delightful vignettes on the English language in all its glory and resilience, myriad authors and the honourable profession of reading. Wonderful and insightful book fro anyone interested in these subjects...
December 31, 2018
I enjoyed a lot of this, but sadly about three quarters of the way through I started willing it to be over. It seemed to become less about language and also became fairly repetitive.
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February 27, 2022A collection of newspaper columns on language and literature
October 5, 2015
Entertainingly explores themes in and around language. All kinds of interesting tangents - I particularly enjoyed the chapter on communicating with apes.
Unfortunately, as these collected columns books often do, it tries to cram in too much. Some chapters are very brief and don't sit well in a book, with thin or sweeping evidence that comes across as flippant. Just when you think the discussion's developing into something interesting, along comes yet another puntastic ending and it's over. Somebody should have edited out the repetition of examples and anecdotes within a few pages - and material that was dated and irrelevant the day after it appeared in the paper (George Bush or Gordon Brown said something "this week".
Hit and miss then, but don't worry if the current chapter doesn't grab you - there'll be another one along in a moment.
Unfortunately, as these collected columns books often do, it tries to cram in too much. Some chapters are very brief and don't sit well in a book, with thin or sweeping evidence that comes across as flippant. Just when you think the discussion's developing into something interesting, along comes yet another puntastic ending and it's over. Somebody should have edited out the repetition of examples and anecdotes within a few pages - and material that was dated and irrelevant the day after it appeared in the paper (George Bush or Gordon Brown said something "this week".
Hit and miss then, but don't worry if the current chapter doesn't grab you - there'll be another one along in a moment.
September 29, 2016
A somewhat unique book where the Author goes into features of English as well as historical backgrounds of words and phrases. The chapters are series of short essays which are disconnected from the previous chapters but an overall connect with the language remains.
20 percent of the articles are outstanding for which the book deserves the 4 stars. 60 percent are interesting and readable while 20 percent make one nod off.
Overall an enjoyable read with a nice turn for the words and a gentle sense of humour
20 percent of the articles are outstanding for which the book deserves the 4 stars. 60 percent are interesting and readable while 20 percent make one nod off.
Overall an enjoyable read with a nice turn for the words and a gentle sense of humour
January 26, 2015
A fascinating collection of bits and pieces about words and language. It's a collection of newspaper articles and although there is sometimes a bit of overlap, it's all interesting stuff. Read it, dip into it, there's sure to be something that grabs your attention - after all, we're all bookworms here...
September 12, 2013
I took me quite some time to finish this book, and now that I am finished I find myself at odds with it. I have to admit some parts of the book is witty and a delight to the lover of linguistics. Yet others I found repetitive and quite tedious.
January 27, 2013
It was a rather unusual read, fun and laughter from the first page to the last, but I suffered a drought of interest towards the end when the short stories became somewhat political. Nonetheless, the book was a fresh breath of air from the other common literary works.
March 10, 2013
Like pub fodder? This is fucking dinner party fodder, m8. Show those Guardian reading scumbots who's an etymological boss. You are. Hail Satan.
January 9, 2016
Fascinating read!
October 11, 2016
I didn't realise this was a newspaper column. it would have been better to read that way I think, aslo some of it is starting to date...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews