The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us
American American-Statesman #1 Bestseller"Penetrating …lively and accessible …Paying closer attention to function words [Pennebaker] advises, can help us understand the social relations that those words reflect. Unfortunately, we might not be able to pay proper attention until we’re all equipped with automatic word counters. Until that day, we have Pennebaker as an indefatigable guide to the little words that he boldly calls ‘keys to the soul.’"—New York Times Book Review"Anyone who reads his book will become much more conscious about how he or she uses words when talking to friends, when talking to the public, or when writing for the public … Pennebaker’s new book is fascinating and fun."—Austin American-Statesman"Provocative … eye-opening …The Secret Life of Pronounsis studded with muse-worthy examples of language’s hidden power."—Dallas Morning News"Ingenious"—Slate"Interesting and provocative … A good nonfiction book often feels like a new lens prescription: You marvel at suddenly being able to see what was always there. On this countThe Secret Life of Pronounssucceeds. You find yourself paying a greater degree of attention to even the least-regarded words of daily interaction … It is an apt reminder that we express ourselves in more ways than we know."—Wall Street Journal"[An] intriguing treatise…accessible, entertaining…Pennebaker's take on the unexpected importance of throw-away words isthe kind of fun pop linguistics readers devour."—Publishers Weekly"An extraordinary look at ordinary words."—Booklist“The author successfully demonstrates that seemingly innocuous function words—I, me, you, he, can, for, it, of, this—play a crucial role in understanding identity, detecting emotions and realizing intention; they also provide important clues about social and cultural cohesion … Convincing and compelling…Essential reading for psychotherapists and readers interested in the connection between language and human behavior, emotion and perception.”—Kirkus"Is it possible for a psychologist to hear just a few words from you and immediately know what makes you tick?  Could this psychologist use cutting-edge science to detect your inner desires from subtle patterns in your use of language—beyond anything you were conscious of saying?  The answer to both questions is Yes.  James Pennebaker is this psychologist and you really ought to read his remarkable book."—Daniel Wegner, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, author ofThe Illusion of Conscious Will"In this entertaining and sharply illuminating book, James Pennebaker shows that the words you use in everyday talk reveal surprising insights into personality, social relationships, status, leadership, sex, and human nature. I suspect that Pennebaker could decode the pronouns and the functions of words I write now to describe him in such a way as to reveal deep secrets about me! But I will write them anyway, and here they are: He is one of the smartest, funniest, and most creative psychologists you will ever meet."—Dan P. McAdams, Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, author ofGeorge W. Bush and the Redemptive Dream: A Psychological Portrait