The Power of Babel by John McWhorter

7.5 out of 10

Analogous to biological evolution (with a few caveats) languages change, split into subvarieties, hybridize, revivify, evolve functionless features, become "genetically" altered and go extinct.  The topic merits enthusiasm and McWholter is a meritorious linguist.  The epilogical critique of Proto-World Ur-language reconstruction is sound, but throughout the book data-driven insights are a bit lacking.