A bona fide publishing phenomenon, Lynne Trussas now classic #1
"New York Times" bestseller "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" makes its
paperback debut after selling over 3 million copies worldwide in
hardcover.
We all know the basics of punctuation. Or do we? A look at most
neighborhood signage tells a different story. Through sloppy usage
and low standards on the Internet, in e-mail, and now text
messages, we have made proper punctuation an endangered
species.
In "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," former editor Truss dares to
say, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that
it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the
wonderful and necessary things they are. This is a book for people
who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. From the
invention of the question mark in the time of Charlemagne to George
Orwell shunning the semicolon, this lively history makes a powerful
case for the preservation of a system of printing conventions that
is much too subtle to be mucked about with. BACKCOVER: Praise for
Lynne Truss and "Eats, Shoots & Leaves":
"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" amakes correct usage so cool that you
have to admire Ms. Truss.a
aJanet Maslin, "The New York Times"
aWitty, smart, passionate.a
a"Los Angeles Times Book Review," Best Books Of 2004:
Nonfiction
aWho knew grammar could be so much fun?a
a"Newsweek"
aWitty and instructive. . . . Truss is an entertaining, well-read
scold in a culture that could use more scolding.a
a"USA Today" aTruss is William Safire crossed with John Cleeseas
Basil Fawlty.a
a"Entertainment Weekly"
aLynne Truss has done the English-speaking world a huge
service.a
a"The Christian Science Monitor"
aThis book changed my life in small, perfect ways like learning
how to make better coffee or fold an omelet. Itas the perfect gift
for anyone who cares about grammar and a gentle introduction for
those who donat care enough.a
a"The Boston Sunday Globe"
aLynne Truss makes [punctuation] a joy to contemplate.a
a"Elle"
aIf Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic Iad nominate her for
sainthood.a aFrank McCourt, author of "Angelaas Ashes"
aTrussas scholarship is impressive and never dry.a
aEdmund Morris, "The New York Times Book Review"
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Review This Product
The Endangered System
Mon, 25 May 2015 | Review
by: Phillip T.
PUNCTUATION: THE ENDANGERED SYSTEM
An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers
A great piece of humour and yet with a serious aim, this little book has become a runaway bestseller overnight and rightly so. As Lynne Truss has explained, there are many people who have little idea of the basics of punctuation today. This does not surprise us in the slightest.
As examiners, we have found scant regard continues to be paid to full stops, commas and question marks. However, by far the number one serial offender is the missing apostrophe. The story of the panda eating in a restaurant, then shoots the restaurant up and departs is an amusing story with an important message. The placing of punctuation in the wrong place can completely alter the message being conveyed… at some cost.
“A revolution in punctuation”, this book has been dedicated to the memory of the striking Bolshevik printers in St Petersburg who, in 1905, demanded to be paid the same rate for punctuation marks as for letters, and thereby directly precipitated the first Russian Revolution.
We have come a long way in over 100 years and the main casualty has been the written word. The ‘shorthand’ we have encountered in the last six years using the internet is enough to convince us that this book should be compulsory reading in schools hence a schools edition in 2006 with illustrations.
Besides, this book is a good read and very funny in places. To sell 50,000 copies in just over a week on release is a great achievement! It is true to say that the book makes a powerful case for the preservation of the system of what is interestingly described as ‘printing conventions’. However, this is not a book for pedants but for everyone, including members of the Bar who write lengthy Opinions and the judges who read them. It has never surprised us how cross the Judiciary become when they see sloppy legal paperwork. We expect it from solicitors but we must maintain a very high standard at the Bar, even with the infernal internet and toxic text messages.
Well done, Lynne for reminding us of our legal roots. ‘Sticklers unite’ she says, ‘you have nothing to lose but your sense of proportion – and arguably you didn’t have much of that to begin with’. Do look at the end of the book for a fine bibliography – all the usual suspects are there including one Bill Bryson and his ‘Troublesome Words’, and the excellent Philip Howard’s ‘The State of the Language: English observed.’
“Eats, Shoots and Leaves” remains a 21st century book to treasure for what could become an endangered system.
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