Movers & Shakers

This is one of the most interesting books I have seen this year. It is a chronology of words that have shaped our age since 1900. An overriding impression is that most words and expressions were coming earlier than one thought. For instance, old-age pension, contact lens, spaceship and commuter were all coined before 1900. The book is divided into decades of where new words are listed alphabetically with the date and occasion of their first appearance. The word airliner was coined in 1908, and referred originally to an airship; it also won out against the word aero-liner. Naturally, technology, commerce and social trends are well represented. A comprehensive index enables an easy search. Another wonderful book to give as a present.