I loved this book! As someone who has always enjoyed etymology, specifically of the english language, i was excited to see a new book on the topic. Useless etymology is a bit chaotic in its layout, but i also like that about it. It’s definitely one of those books that you don’t binge read but pick up and read a few pages. A great coffee table read. Overall would definitely recommend to those who like etymology or just random facts on general.

Corgi means "dwarf dog" in Welsh. If you find that fun and interesting (you really should), then do I have a book for you! Useless Etymology by Jess Zafarris is probably useless only in the sense that it won't save your life (probably). However, if you are looking to blow people's minds (or at least make them roll their eyes) then this is a stupendous book.

Do you want to know what the #$%& a grawlix is? Well, I just told you.

Zafarris breaks down tons of common and amazingly esoteric words to tell you where they come from, what they meant, and what they mean now. She sprinkles in a few jokes and some sample sentences to keep things naughty (which used to mean something very different!).

I'm not going to belabor the point. If you like words, you will like this. Yes, it can get slightly repetitive if you zoom through like I did. Highly recommend taking this one a chapter at a time to maximize your amazement.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by NetGalley and John Murray Press.)

I was just talking with someone about how people don't just sit around reading dictionaries and encyclopedias anymore because we can just look things up now. I used to keep world record, trivia and other reference books in the living room so we could grab them and learn odd things for fun.
This book is called Useless Etymology but I beg to differ. Will I use it for work or to fix my car, probably not, but the way it's set up, there's just so much learning happening. There's a topic and instead of just an answer, there are whole discussions about it. This would be great for home or classrooms but it could be fun as a group or family activity, so people could think about their own experiences with these words.
I'm a librarian and a language nerd, but this is so much fun.

If you’re a word nerd or simply someone fascinated by the quirks of the English language, this book is a real treat. It dives into the complex history of English with clarity, wit, and a deep appreciation for etymology. Unlike many language books I’ve read, this one stands out for how it groups words by category, making it easy to explore specific themes and trace patterns across different origins.

The author’s passion for linguistics shines through every page, and there’s a great balance between well-known facts and delightful surprises. From Greek and Latin roots to the evolution through Old and Middle English, the book does a fantastic job of connecting the dots between ancient tongues and modern vocabulary.

While the tone was slightly different from what I expected based on the cover, the content more than made up for it. This is a book that works well both as a reference and a casual read - you can jump in anywhere and walk away with a new insight or two. It’s accessible enough for beginners but packed with enough depth to satisfy seasoned language lovers. A wonderful educational resource and a fun addition to any linguaphile’s bookshelf.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is a great etymology books for all types of readers, including those new to linguistics. There are some very fun facts and lots of interesting information in the book. It was a different style of writing than I anticipated based on the cover, so it’s something I would recommend pulling information from as needed. It’s a great educational tool and I think it would likely spark interest in young learners.

A great book for word nerds and anyone who loves learning! Covers why English is such a complex language. I’ve read many books on language, but this one was unique—and hardly useless! Loved how the chapters grouped different categories of words.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a fun piece of work this book is! It’s always a delight to read a book that is clearly so dedicated to the concepts that it is explaining. I do love a good word origin, so I found a lot of value in this book as a whole.

While there were some aspects that I was already familiar with, there were definitely facts that I wasn’t aware of, and they’ve made a lovely addition to my verbal arsenal. I think there’s so many interesting things to be learnt from words and language and how we use and treat it, and this book absolutely reflects that.

I was particularly fond of the explanations that were put into the Greek and Latin origins and their connection to Old and Middle English. Seeing how we bridged the gap between our languages over history is absolutely fascinating, and so valuable to understand where we get our words from (as a whole).

Highly recommend this one to any word nerds seeking to understand more about the world around them!

I was very excited about the idea of this book. I’m a person who really enjoys random or “useless “ facts. Unfortunately, this book was a big miss for me. Initially, I thought perhaps the layout was weird in the kindle app, but after reading other reviews, I see that’s not the case. There were parts that felt like I was reading a research paper. The seems to be no rhyme or reason to the flow of information. It just feels very poorly organized. I do have ADHD, so this is possibly a ‘me’ problem. I feel like it would be much better received if it was formatted differently.

Pretty fun and informative. A great read for those of you who are interested on some not so useless ( VERY INTERESTING) etymology :)

A fun book about various words and were they come from. The author uses a lot of humor so the text does not feel to dense but it goes over quite a lot so I suggest taking your time with it and popping in and out of the read so you can retain the information.

As said in other reviews I didn't always understand why we were jumping from one word to another and it lacked logical structure in some parts. But that's truly the only criticism I can give.

A super fun read if you are a nerd about words and writ8ng. And especially interesting when English is not your first langage.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book

This book was a fascinating introduction to the world of etymology, with a highlight being the factoids peppered throughout. I've seen hundreds of viral posts describing the mythical origins or "meanings" behind words; while these may have been great conversation starters, Useless Etymology debunked several of them while exploring the actual chronological beginnings and adaptations behind these words (for example, SOS). Diving into the etymology of these words was as much a lesson on the culture/society that birthed them, and the book presented a unique viewpoint on the history of English-speaking cultures. I especially enjoyed the sections on folk etymology and acronymic words. On the flip side, however, the book could sometimes be a bit dense, making it difficult to read in one sitting. As someone who was dipping my toes into etymological waters for the first time, there were parts of the book that felt a bit "technically heavy." I would still recommend Useless Etymology to anyone interested in words and the stories behind those words.

This is a delightful collection of word facts. It's as entertaining as it is informative. I don't know if a book such as this would interest everyone. But for those of us who do appreciate it, it's well worth the read.

My favorite quote is:
"One surprising thing about the study of language and linguistics:The more you learn, the less pedantic you become and the more you revel in the glorious, rip-roaring chaos of iterative creativity."
Which is something I learned after studying grammar in college. Words are always changing in meaning, spelling, general use, etc. It will be interesting to see how language changes in the next 10 years.

I think this book is perfect for anyone who wants to understand etymology and/or the wacky world of words.

Thank you Netgalley, John Murray Press, and Jess Zafarris for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really fun info packed book. It's the kind of book I'd keep in the kitchen to read a few pages here and there while waiting for something to finish cooking. It's easy to pick up and put down.

I loved learning all the little bits of history about the words we use, and it can also help you figure out words in the future when you run across ones you don't know too. It's a great skill, and can even help translate words in other languages too.

I think this could be a really fun gift, especially for a writer friend.

Honestly, this was so interesting!
If you are someone who gets giddy over trivia, language oddities, or saying "did you know..." more than is socially acceptable, this is definitely your kind of book.

The structure took a little adjusting at first, as it doesn't follow a traditional narrative flow, but once I got the feel for it, I was hooked. The entries are full of delightful little revelations. It's the kind of book you could binge in one sitting or snack on between reads.

Etymology, but even more entertaining. Let me know your thoughts about "sinister" or "thesaurus" after lol.

Thank you to Net Galley and The Author for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily with my honest opinion.

As a Literacy teacher, I love etymology and word origins. This book is fun, approachable, and informative.

It was out of pure chance seeing this book that I decided to read it, and I am very happy that I did.

I do think this would be better in a physical copy and occasional I’d find myself losing track on the e-pages.
But overall a insightful and informative book.
If you like etymology, this is worth the read.

I love this book.

I love words and their definitions and how those definitions almost always evolve into something new. I love finding the generational relationships between words.

If you’re anything like me you too will love this book. It’s both humorous and fascinating.

A witty, conversational meander into the history of words, perfect for anyone who wonders why English is so complicated a language. Zafarris is your guide through complexities that spiral from singular roots to the numerous linguistic offspring used in our everyday vocabulary. In short, a lot of word based fun.

A really really fascinating read. I find the whole world of language and linguistics extremely interesting and this is the kind of book that I can get absorbed in. For the less nerdy people out there this is the definition of a "coffee table book". The perfect kind of book to have lying around in your living room where you can pick it up, flip to a random page and delve into something. Before you know it you will have devoured half the book!

A really interesting and informative read and very well written too. It remains engaging throughout and doesn't fall into the trap of becoming too dry and uninteresting.

I think this may be my favorite book on word/language origins that I have read. It is informative and written in a style that is easy to follow and get immersed in. I received this ARC as an e-book but will definitely be buying a physical copy when it is released so that I can re-read it over and over. I loved finding out the origins of everyday words and also the background the author gives about how the English language came to be developed over the centuries. Every time I see a pinecone now I am tempted to call it a pineapple. If you love learning about anything to do with language I highly recommend this book!