This book shares the story of how language develops. 
 
Here is a review by Clifton fadiman, Book-of-the-Month Club News
"Your reviewer believes this tio be the best book of its kind available in English, an almost faultless popularization of a permanently fascinating subject. There is hardly any subdivision of his enormous field that Dr. Pei does not expose with charm, clarity, and non-dogmatic good humor...It is difficult to imagine anyone who will not find something of interest in this book. It sharpens one's sense of one's own control over language; and it is full of fresh and often surprising information about the words we use. Enjoyable merely to browse through, it is also valuable as a work of reference."