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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Interesting but not too heavy, and McCulloch has a fun tone.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Get your hands on this book and read it straight away!! An incredible record of language change and emerging patterns in the language we use as a result of the internet and other influences. Particular highlights are chapters 2 (language and society), 5 (emojis and other internet gestures) and 8 (a new metaphor). This book was highly entertaining and informative as McCullough presents her expertise in a digestible and fun way whilst demonstrating a phenomenally well researched book. I absolutely loved it!
“Rather than thinking of books as a way of embalming language, of rendering it fixed and dead for eternity (or at least of trapping and caging it so it doesn’t move around quite so much), we can think of them as maps and guidebooks to help people navigate language’s living, moving splendour.”
FINALLY FINISHED
This took me so long to get through, and it's not like it was boring. I saw several friends say that the audio was killer, so maybe that was my problem. I just couldn't imagine trying to listen to something that is inherently visual. But the author grew this book out of a popular podcast of hers, so I guess it works somehow?
Anyways, quite fascinating stuff. I found myself laughing and nodding along as she explains generational differences in how people phrase things online. I also liked learning about much older trends that people have of shaping language and memes to fit their own culture's needs.
This took me so long to get through, and it's not like it was boring. I saw several friends say that the audio was killer, so maybe that was my problem. I just couldn't imagine trying to listen to something that is inherently visual. But the author grew this book out of a popular podcast of hers, so I guess it works somehow?
Anyways, quite fascinating stuff. I found myself laughing and nodding along as she explains generational differences in how people phrase things online. I also liked learning about much older trends that people have of shaping language and memes to fit their own culture's needs.
informative
slow-paced
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I really liked this one conceptually and I think the writing was very approachable for all people. I don't think you have to have a lot of prior linguistic or computer science knowledge to get into this book, which is great. I will say, the main downside that I had with this book was that for some reason my eyes definitely glazed over at certain points, and there were times when I would put the book down and just not pick it back up for the rest of the day (odd for me because I usually purposefully make time to read at multiple times during the day, even if it's just for a few minutes). I really had to push myself to keep reading and dedicate time to it and even create a small reward system (i.e. if I get to X page, I will take a break and do some crafting). I think I maybe should have read another book concurrently and let myself take my time, only reading smaller chunks per day, but then I often fall susceptible to just never picking a book up again (see Game of Thrones, One More Thing, How Long Til Black Future Month).
Anyway, this was good and I think people interested in how we use language on the internet will learn something like I did. We're at an extremely interesting point in this history of the internet where there has been a ton of change in what we do on the internet but there are still people around who are ~relatively~ young who remember the earliest days. I think this book does a good job of laying out all of the different generations so far. And her topics are interesting and relatable to internet users of different levels.
Anyway, this was good and I think people interested in how we use language on the internet will learn something like I did. We're at an extremely interesting point in this history of the internet where there has been a ton of change in what we do on the internet but there are still people around who are ~relatively~ young who remember the earliest days. I think this book does a good job of laying out all of the different generations so far. And her topics are interesting and relatable to internet users of different levels.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
informative
reflective
Balanced, insightful, measured and very informative, this book delivered. A well laid out and well-argued overview of internet communication