If you're intrigued by the mechanics of human speech and thought, Pinker's "The Language Instinct" could be a revelation. It positions language as an innate human ability, intertwined with our very biology. It’s a deep dive into linguistics made accessible, offering eye-opening perspectives on how we concoct words and sentences. It's not just academic; it’s a conversation starter – think of it as intellectual sustenance for both the curious mind and the casual reader.

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• William James Book Award (1994)

Simply by making noises with our mouths, we can reliably cause precise new combinations of ideas to arise in each other's minds. The ability comes so naturally that we are apt to forget what a miracle it is. Pursuing the ideas of Darwin and Chomsky, Steven Pinker offers a look at why we use language and where this ability comes from. Rather than being an acquired cultural artefact, it is vigorously argued that language is a biological adaptation to communicate information and as such is a system of great richness and beauty. Using examples of the way language is used in daily life from the mouths of children to the pontifications of politicians, Pinker explores this system and our instinct to use it.

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