“Such an imaginative and scholarly work.” SIR ANTHONY SELDON

“Lucid, wide-ranging and accessible.” TERRY EAGLETON

“Bravo! A compelling read.” YOKO ONO LENNON

到底是什么让人类跟动物之间有区别？为什么我们是唯一需要穿衣服、开车、上网、去火星的物种？这一切的一切都可以追踪到一个重要的区别：我们有语言能力。但人类好像也不太直到我们是如何发展到这个地步的！作者在书中提出一个简单却惊人的答案：人类的语言能力是我们进化史里的引爆点。当人类能够透过语言互相分享自己的想法以及主意，这让我们能够链接我们的大脑，分享我们的智慧。本书追踪这个历史，从猎人采集者到现代的都市语言，语言能够让我们了解过去，以及继续变化我们的未来。

从语言的起源到语言所为我们设置的陷阱—不论史文化、宗教或身份上—这本书告诉我们语言的力量以及影响。这是一本快节奏、诙谐和见多识广的书，以风格、洞察力和幽默吸引读者。

“Truly one of the most intelligent books I have read in a long time. Far better than Sapiens.” Matt Ridley

“Stands with Steven Pinker and James Lovelock as a ‘must read’ for our times.” John Gribbin

"This book should be widely read!" James Lovelock

"A literate and stylish writer." Richard Dawkins

"I think you're right." Steven Pinker

“Subtle, erudite and profoundly thought-provoking.” NICHOLAS CRANE

“Crisp and clear – I agree with your hypothesis.” DESMOND MORRIS

“I highly recommend it.” HARPER REED

关于作者：

Simon Prentis has spent a lifetime working with other cultures and languages in over fifty countries. A veteran translator and interpreter of Japanese, his clients have ranged from national and academic institutions to cultural icons like Paul McCartney, Stanley Kubrick, Frank Zappa and Yoko Ono. A graduate of Oxford University, and a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting since 1990, he has worked extensively with the broadcast media, given expert testimony in high-profile intellectual property disputes, translated four books and reams of technical documents, and presented papers on translation and interpreting at international conferences. This is his first book.