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Book Review of A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order

A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order
englishmaven avatar reviewed on + 31 more book reviews


A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order by Judith Flanders is a rich cultural and linguistic history of the centuries-long history of the alphabet's evolution. Fittingly, Flanders structures the chapters alphabetically beginning with "A is for Antiquity". Flanders begins her thoroughly researched narrative from the classical world to the 21st century. Through her investigation, Flanders uncovers the alphabet's evolution and its impact on society. She reveals how it has been used to organize knowledge and how it has shaped the way we think and communicate. In the end, Flanders demonstrates how powerful the alphabet is in our everyday lives. I did not give it five stars because I found it erudite.