Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Language / Linguistics / History / Writing Systems

Book Review:
Ever wondered why A is the first letter or where the quirky shapes of our alphabet came from? David Sacks' ''The Alphabet'' is a wonderfully interesting and deeply informative book that answers these questions and so much more. With a clever, simple idea, Sacks takes us through the alphabet one letter at a time, tracing each one's 4,000-year journey from ancient pictogram to modern character. He uncovers a wealth of fascinating stories—how A became a symbol of quality, how Z became linked to Hip Hop, and why J and V were the last to join the club. The Guardian called it ''a wonderfully interesting book,'' and it's easy to see why. It's both instructive and amusing, a perfect read for anyone who loves language and wants to understand the history behind the very building blocks of our written world. A delightful journey through time and culture.