This book discusses the many differences between languages and how they impact how people interpret the world around them. Focusing predominately on the Indigenous languages of the Amazonian area, Everett describes the linguistic differences in aspects like grammar, time interpretation, direction interpretation, and sound. He then goes on to describe each of these differences and how they influence how people think about the world around them.

This is an important resource for anyone working with language learners, as it shows just how complex languages really are. It shows how sometimes, miscommunications with someone who speaks a different language can be caused by completely different ways of viewing the world. It also shows how each of these differences are unique and valuable perspectives to add to the global understanding of how language and culture interact and shape one another. I would be remiss to not point out the translation error when discussing familial relationship terms in Mandarin, but this book does so much more when looking at it from the bigger picture. By examining how language and culture interact, the reader can gain a bigger appreciation for linguistic differences and the challenges someone faces when they learn a language.

I have also posted this review to my Goodreads page and my LibraryThing page.

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