Keywords to War: Reviving Language in an Age of Terror

by Mary Zournazi

Book by Zournazi, Mary

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2008

Reviews

[Sam Berner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books on matters as important as the co-opting of everyday speech to demonise and get away with murder should not be written badly. With this book, I was never sure whether the text was some sort of musing on the situation, a call to action, or a poorely structured etymology. Referencing being almost non-existent, it was also hard to figure out where personal opinion, unverified assumptions, and creative license ended, and facts began. Two stars on account of incoherence and lack of academic rigour (disappointing from an academic).

[Jj Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly, the book isn't for everyone; but if you are interested in etymology and/or how word usage has/not changed especially in our culture of constant war/terror--you would love it. Each chapter is a word and the text isn't TOO academic.