Enjoyable but a bit short and rushed in places.

Some of the sections were very entertaining and informative but quite often the book felt rushed in places and padded out in others.

The narrator has a great voice.

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Susie reads some words

I love Susie Dent. But really this is a book about a variety of groups of people who have a specific bunch of words or phrases they use and she just reads them out. If you want a few hours listening to a bullet list of basic words and descriptions then great, but I was hoping for more. Susie has obviously done a lot of research but ultimately what you get is a dictionary split into themes, with basic definitions read to you. Fairly dull.

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a great book!

brilliantly written anthroplogic study of england language! well narrated and lovingly put together.my first book of Suzie I've read and wondered why I havent read it sooner

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Sadly not as interesting as hoped.

The English language is a very rich field to explore andMs Dent has chosen well in tribes. Full of interesting facts and fictions told with some humour and light touches.
However, she can get a bit monotonous, reading too quickly, that you suddenly realise the topic has changed.
I would recommend Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue for another amusing look at our language.

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A flirt through social and professional groups

This book is a whistle stop tour around certain words and phrases which can often be heard around us but which as an outsider may not be understood. Part of this book is about attempting to eradicate those negative feelings of being an outsider and to allow us to feel more inclusive, like we are part of these select communities. This book allows glimpses into the hallowed inner sanctum of the modern tribe and how they have allowed themselves to be formed and defined through their use of language.

I found this to be a fun and informative book which could be dipped in and out of at the reader’s leisure. As an audiobook this removes from the listener their responsibility to give their full undivided attention to the book and story. Instead it allows the listener to listen while they are doing other activities and to come back for repeat listenings in which new information could be learned.

The only criticism I would have about this book is that while the words and phrases are explained and translated there was often little information about the origins of the words and phrases. Nor was it fully explained why this particular tribe may be using these words. Some were self-explanatory and may have not deserved full explanations but with some words and phrases I was left wanting more information.

However, I enjoyed the book and I also enjoyed Susie Dent voice over the audiobook. I felt this through her various asides within the reading gave the audiobook extra substance, in addition I found her enthusiasm and obvious love of words to be contagious. I would recommend this audiobook to others however I feel it is more likely to appeal to those with an already established interest within words who may feel the book wanting due to the lack of depth.

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3 people found this helpful

Dent's Modern Tribes

This book by Susie Dent is just Absolutely Fabulous hearing. I regular go and watch countdown being filmed so I have become very good friends with Susie dent. Who told me all about this book throughout the process? And I must say it has lived up to the hype. I would recommend H and every person to download this book if you are interested in learning more about. Language from around the country. Well done Susie. It is an amazing book.

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1 person found this helpful