What a fun linguistic read! I have been waiting for something to make me feel excited, like when I studied linguistics in university~ This book was full of fun "factoids" and stories. The book flowed, and the author knew how to blend in fact with fun, and the transitions were not harsh as I knew other nonfiction linguistic books to be. If you want to learn and have fun, this read is for you!

This book is a linguistic delight. If you love words and reading, you’ll enjoy every page of this remarkable tome. Jess Zafaris has created a wholly engaging lexicon that will keep the reader not only entertained, but informed. I was fascinated early on to learn that the origin of ‘factoid’ is attributed to Norman Mailer, in reference to many articles about Marilyn Monroe. This is a book that deserves to be well thumbed ( I shall be buying a hard copy on publication as it’s a must for my bookshelf). I’ve learned a great deal about the roots of many words and it makes you think about everything you hear and read. It’s inspirational if you enjoy crosswords as it opens the mind to different meanings, often helpful in solving clues. I have always liked words, per se. As a child, I loved the word baobab because it was such a strange mix of vowels and a single consonant. That curiosity about words has never left me and this book, for me, is a dream. I love the oxymoronic title! Clever. There’s an extensive bibliography with food for further reading and possibly an index. There’s a header but no content for this section in the proof copy. I Love, love love it and I urge you to dip in.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This enjoyable book does what it says in the subtitle. It explains how some English words gradually changed meaning, why there are sometimes baffling spellings for some words, has chapters on amusing words in various categories, and more. I liked this book, but I think I would've liked it more in physical book form instead of as an e-book read on my phone. This is because, while each chapter can stand alone, the book as a whole didn't really flow for me (I don't know if it was even supposed to) and it would have been more enjoyable to pick up the book, open it at random, and read a chapter or two as the mood struck. Indeed, the author mentions doing just that in her introduction. Still, as an essay collection or set of articles, it's an interesting and worthwhile read. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Very interesting and entertaining. I think it would be better as a physical book than the ebook I read, as it would make a nice gift or bathroom book, got a bit samey trying to read it for any real amount of time. Very much a few minutes at a time kinda book.

I was fortunate enough to read this book as an ARC and while I learned alot and had a good time. I do believe this book is a bit long. It is well researched and the authors love foe etymology shines through clearly.

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me early access.

(This review will also appear on my storygraph)

This is not a book to read all in one go. It is a book which is great fun to dip into, to read during the adverts and to read a chapter before going to sleep. The book is written in a light-hearted and amusing way, which certainly increases the pleasure of reading it.
A certain amount is reasonably obvious. Lots of English words come from Latin and Greek, and many of them reached English via French. On the other hand, a lot of words came via German. As I speak Dutch, that aspect was more interesting. The Dutch word for happy and the English word for frog have the same root in Middle Dutch, meaning jump for joy!
This review was based on an advance review copy of the book kindly provided by the publisher in return for an honest review via NetGalley.

Utterly enjoyable from start to finish. I didn’t expect the book to be this good when I picked it up. I’m not a linguistics enthusiast, but I do enjoy learning. I liked that the author included plenty of interesting tidbits without making things tedious for the reader. Bonus points for accessibility and humor. I’m definitely picking up a copy of her previous books.

Got the eARC from NetGalley. Thanks to NetGalley, Jess Zafarris and John Murray Press.

Useless Etymology is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of historical, linguistic, and contextual descriptions of words that you may or may not ever need to know. For word nerds, it’s a treat.

While you don’t need any special knowledge coming into this book, I expect you’ll enjoy it a bit more if you have a background in Latin, Greek, Old English, or French. I have a degree in Linguistics and studied classical Latin for 5 years (in addition to my knowledge of Spanish & English). With that in mind, I found different parts of this book exciting or tedious and everything in between.

The chapters are broken down into themed groupings, but I couldn’t necessarily catch any coherent flow between the chapters. There are SO MANY word breakdowns, and you’re constantly hopping from one tidbit to another. At times, this structure made it difficult to stay focused on the book.

However, I did really enjoy the natural tone and acknowledgement of the ways in which identity, power, and language intersect (i.e., classism, sexism, racism, & colonization). I most enjoyed the sections on words related to the sea, space, months, and language. Plus, I don’t think I’m ever going to get over the Grelling–Nelson paradox.

3.5/5⭐️

A fun and informative read! It’s always a great thing when good information is presented well and with a great sense of humor.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This was such a fun read and I learned lots while reading this. If you are interested in etymology in the slightest, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book!

Very fun read! I love word trivia, and this book is jam packed with it, and written in a very inviting and almost conversational style. Even though I am in no way an academic, I still ate this up. Even the introduction was fun.

Something I found very appealing about this book is that not only did it have explanations of how words developed and are used, but it included many interesting examples. It includes the words that were previously used in place of the current word, which are sometimes so different it is amazing they came to be used for the same thing, and in some cases, completely replaced the original term.

Some of the humor in the book is truly nerdy - maybe overly so. It makes the book feel like it is written for a much younger audience (maybe it is? I didn't actually check the age range before diving in).

One of my favorite sections is "More on the prefix ob" since several ob- words have good memories attached. Obnoxious, obfuscate (in high school, my best friend particularly loved this word), obliterate, oblige, and obambulation are a fun grouping.

Overall, this is probably not a book I would have read without this opportunity from NetGalley, but if I'd seen it in a library or bookstore I may have paused and flipped through for some brief enjoyment. But if word trivia and words in general are a particular interest of someone you love, this would make a fun gift.

Publishing date: 09.10.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I have become a huge word and language nerd recently, and this put more fuel in the fire. This was a great read and I learned lots of new things (and words).

Easily digestible, highly informative, and very fun. Love how the author writes this in such a casual manner.

Highly recommend, 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity. At first glance the cover is stunning. Its one of those covers that draws you in. Definitely not useless though. Reading about different words and where they come from made for an interesting read so if i have to some up this book it would be interesting but different.

There are a lot of books that give interesting etymological tidbits out there, and unfortunately this one was just ok for me. The organization was frustrating and felt random, and the linguistic explanations given for different concepts were too superficial. I think it would be more successful if it either elided these altogether or really considered the structure of the content to better delve into those concepts. For example, back formation and backronyms might logically be presented together rather than several chapters apart.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book</i>

**Review of *Useless Etymology*: A Delightfully Nerdy Deep Dive Into the Words We Thought We Knew**

*Useless Etymology* is an irresistible read for word lovers, trivia enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever paused mid-sentence to wonder, “Wait… why do we say it like that?” Packed with engaging anecdotes and unexpected linguistic twists, this book transforms the English language from a daily tool into a fascinating puzzle with global roots and centuries of history.

What truly sets this book apart is its brilliant structure. The information flows effortlessly, jumping between eras, cultures, and concepts without ever losing the thread. Whether you’re curious about why “sinister” means “left-handed” or why English feels like it’s hoarding synonyms, each section answers big questions in satisfying, bite-sized bursts. It’s a book that doesn’t demand to be read in a single sitting—you can drop in for a page or two, learn something utterly delightful, and return later without skipping a beat.

The author’s knack for storytelling elevates even the most obscure facts. Anecdotes about Shakespeare’s alleged wordsmithing or the real meaning behind “thesaurus” aren’t just informative—they’re genuinely fun. And despite the playful tone, the scholarship is solid: the book doesn’t dumb down its content, it just makes the history of language feel accessible and entertaining.

*Useless Etymology* is the kind of book that makes you want to share what you've learned with the next person you talk to—because once you’ve read that an “astronaut” is literally a “star sailor,” how could you not?

This book made my little nerd brain so happy. I LOVE etymology and make it fun and potentially useless?! Who doesn’t love fun facts?! It’s me, I love fun facts and trivia. It’s well paced and I found it fascinating.

Useless Etymology by Jess Zafarris
Rating: 4/5

As someone who constantly wonders why things are called what they're called, Useless Etymology was like a treasure hunt for my inner word nerd. Jess Zafarris dives into the quirky, unexpected, and sometimes downright hilarious origins of words we use every day—but rarely stop to question.

I loved how accessible and witty the writing was. Each chapter felt like a casual chat with a clever friend who’s full of random but fascinating facts. It’s not just about language—it’s about culture, history, and the strange logic that shapes the way we communicate.

This book didn’t just scratch an itch; it gave me new ways to look at familiar things. I now find myself blurting out etymological trivia in everyday conversations (and maybe annoying a few people along the way).

If you’ve ever caught yourself asking, “Why do we call it a deadline?” or “What does the word ‘sincere’ even mean?”—this one’s for you.

As someone who enjoys linguistics and the history behind words, Useless Etymology was a super engaging read. It’s full of facts and clever explanations that made me appreciate just how weird (and fascinating) English really is. I loved the informal tone — it felt like chatting with someone who’s genuinely excited about language.
While the structure jumped around a bit, it didn’t take away from how interesting and accessible the book was. It’s perfect for anyone curious about where words come from, without needing a background in linguistics.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC! And for trying to bring mr down to read non-fiction books

If you, like me, enjoy reading about words and grammar, this is a useful etymology book! The tone is engaging, the explanations are clear, and the fun facts are plentiful. The words discussed didn't follow a specific structure per se; they flowed and meandered as the author moved from concept to concept. This made for a captivating read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can see myself returning to it for the trivia and tidbits.

Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The way Useless Etymology is structured and the overall tone feels like a curse and blessing simultaneously. On one hand, it's very conversational and casual. It's the friend who likes yapping and info dumping and you're just nodding and along for the ride. Pretty delightful in that sense. On the other.... idk. It's not organized in a way that feels like I'm going to remember anything without dedicating another reread or two to it. I also found the quill and inkwell that appeared throughout the book to be quite distracting and unappealing. For me, it detracted from the content rather than adding anything of value.

I did see that there's an "index" at the end of the book but it's blank??? I'm wondering if that means when Useless Etymology is published we'll be able to easily search for the words we want? If so, that'll definitely bump up my rating.

Bottom line: makes for a decent coffee table book despite the (imo) messiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!