Enough Is Enuf - by Gabe Henry (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A brief and humorous 500-year language history of the Simplified Spelling Movement from advocates like Ben Franklin, C. S. Lewis, and Mark Twain to texts and Twitter.

Why does the G in George sound different from the G in gorge? Why does C begin both case and cease? And why is it funny when a philologist faints, but not polight to laf about it? Anyone who has ever had the misfortune to write in English has, at one time or another, struggled with its inconsistent English orthography.

So why do we continue to use it? If our system of writing words is so tragically inconsistent, why haven't we standardized it with a new phonetic alphabet, brought it into line? How many brave linguists have ever had the courage to state, in a declaration of phonetic revolt: "Enough is enuf"?

The answer: many. In the comic annals of linguistic history, legions of rebel wordsmiths have died on the hill of spelling reform, risking their reputations to bring English into the realm of the rational. This essential guide to language and linguistics is about them: Mark Twain, Ben Franklin, Eliza Burnz, C. S. Lewis, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Darwin, and the innumerable others on both sides of the Atlantic who, for a time in their life, became fanatically occupied with writing thru instead of through, tho for though, laf for laugh, beleev for believe, and dawter for daughter (and tried futilely to get everyone around them to do it too).

Henry takes his humorous and informative chronicle right up to today as the language seems to naturally be simplifying to fit the needs of our changing world thanks to technology--from texting to Twitter and emojis, the Simplified Spelling Movement may finally be having its day.

This laugh-out-loud journey through our language's chaotic past reveals the forgotten rebels, presidential decrees, and comic failures behind the spelling we use today.

• Rebel Wordsmiths: Meet the passionate, and often eccentric, advocates for change, from founding father Benjamin Franklin to literary giants like Mark Twain and George Bernard Shaw.
• Presidential Meddling: Discover the untold story of how President Theodore Roosevelt tried to force simplified spelling on the U.S. government--and how the press and Congress fought back.
• The Birth of the Dictionary: Uncover the obsessive quest of Noah Webster to create a uniquely American dictionary, smuggling his own simplified spellings into its pages.
• From Texting to Twitter: Connect the dots from centuries-old reform movements to the shorthand of texting and emojis, and find out why the Simplified Spelling Movement may finally be winning.

Review Quotes

"A witty work of linguistic history." - Washington Post

"Reed it and lurn a thing or too." - New York magazine

"Amusing and enlightening...Henry's book gave me a new perspective, cheering for the simplification crowd." - The Guardian

"Gabe Henry has taken what sounds at first blush like a dry subject--English spelling--and written an incredibly fun, charming, hilarious book. And bonus: It made me feel better about getting bounced out of my school spelling bee before reaching the semi-finals. Vindication at last!" - Emily Flake, staff cartoonist for The New Yorker

"A well-researched and entertaining work that will likely become a new favorite among linguists." - Kirkus Reviews

"...[An] amusing overview of historical attempts to bring order to the madness... It's a delight." - Publishers Weekly

"In a tour-de-force that spans from Noah Webster to Mark Twain to Froot Loops to Twitter, Henry unpacks the mysteries of why English is such a joy to read and speak...but such a nightmare to spell. Enough is Enuf is a brilliant, thoughtful, often hilarious, and always highly entertaining masterclass on the nuances and pitfalls of our language. This book is required reading for anyone who loves--or hates--English spelling." - Jonathan Metzl, author of Dying of Whiteness and What We've Become

"Henry comically shows laugh out loud scenarios... an educational resource to see how complicated the English language is and how difficult it is to change it to make it any better. Those of us who do crossword puzzles will enjoy." - Midwest Book Review

"...[A] rich and complex history. It is full of sometimes brilliant, often eccentric, yet ultimately well-intentioned people. And though few are aware of this history, it teaches some important lessons about the nature of language, the technologies we've created to capture it, and the passion people hold for how they chose to share their voices with others across time." - Big Think

"...A rich and engaging history of the attempts, from the 16th century to the present day, to bring written English into line with the way we speak. There's an enjoyable wryness to the way Henry presents his linguistic idealists, headstrong in the face of public indifference or ridicule. [Henry] has a nose for the memorable detail." - New York Times Book Review

"In a tour-de-force that spans from Noah Webster to Mark Twain to Froot Loops to Twitter, Henry unpacks the mysteries of why English is such a joy to read and speak...but such a nightmare to spell. Enough is Enuf is a brilliant, thoughtful, often hilarious, and always highly entertaining masterclass on the nuances and pitfalls of our language. This book is required reading for anyone who loves--or hates--English spelling." - Lithub

"This buk iz jenuine fun." - Maria Bamford, New York Times bestselling author of Sure, I'll Join Your Cult and creator of Netflix's Lady Dynamite.

"Is English spelling a problem? (*Enthusiastic head nodding*) Shud wee doo suhmthing uhbawt it? (*Slowly backs away*) Henry gives us a hilarious history of this oft-repeated cycle of human striving and disappointment. He reveals a surprising cast of characters ranging from the unknown to the very well known, and from sincere and thoughtful to utterly deluded." - Arika Okrent, author of Highly Irregular and In the Land of Invented Languages

"Gabe Henry is a witty and wise tour guide for this exploration of orthography." - Peter Sokolowski, Editor-at-Large for Merriam-Webster

"Henry's clever commentary transforms this story of language into pure comedic gold. Enough is Enuf is a must-read for anyone who's ever marveled at the oddities of English. This is a word nerd's dream come true." - Ophira Eisenberg, host of NPR's Ask Me Another and iHeartRadio's Parenting is a Joke

"...[A] smart, lighthearted chronicle of the simplified spelling. It's fitting that our guide through this history is a humorist." - Wall Street Journal