Language In Thought And Action by SI Hayakawa and Alan R. Hayakawa
01/08/2003 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 

pub: Harcourt, Brace. 196 page enlarged paperback. Price: $16.00 (US). ISBN: 0-15-648240-1.

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You know how it is. You scan through a bibliography, recognise a name and then check to see if the book itself is still available.

Point in hand is me doing that to the Frank Herbert biography last month and spotting this Hayakawa book and finding it still available, albeit in the USA.

Saying that, if you want to buy this book in the UK, it can be bought for the equivalent money through any bookshop outlet. So why is this book important enough to be here other than the late Frank Herbert and me having similar tastes? Applied General Semantics.

You see me use these words occasionally in my editorials. If you think or heard that Alfred Korzybski's 'Science And Sanity' heavy going then this book will be much easier to digest. It explains levels of abstraction and the use of words to put a message across.

Important things to have some knowledge of for any writer amongst other things. With over a million copies sold, it can't just be writers buying this book.

Although SI Hayakawa died some eleven years ago, his son has ensured that reference examples are up-to-date so you have some, albeit American, reference comparisons to ensure you understand what is being discussed.

If you want your knowledge of words and how to apply them to be improved then this book is really worth your while seeking out, either buying or getting a library to locate a copy.

A most engrossing read and I'm not saying that just cos I understand the subject.

GF Willmetts