Description: "A comprehensive and thought-provoking investigation into one of the most polarizing words in the English language"--
Brief description:
Megan C. Reynolds is an editor at Dwell magazine, and previously worked at the now defunct Jezebel and The Billfold. She's written for Buzzfeed, the New York Times, Elle, Gawker, Bustle, Vulture, and other outlets. Megan was also the co-host of the short-lived, celebrity-gossip focused podcast Dirtcast. She lives in New York City.
Review Quotes:
"Valuable books have been written about 'ain't, ' 'okay, ' 'bullshit, ' and, as the title of Jesse Sheidlower's classic puts it, 'the F-word.' We can add to that list Megan Reynold's Like, a witty, informative, and thankfully non-judgmental deep dive into that beleaguered but extremely useful word." - Ben Yagoda, author of How to Not Write Bad
"Reynolds smartly and lightheartedly shares various scenarios in which she feels using the word 'like' in conversation offers an advantage. ... Convincing evidence for offering 'like' another chance in the American English vernacular." - Kirkus Reviews
"Like is a fun and fascinating book that will leave its readers with delight, curiosity, and hope. Anyone who has ever been criticized for using this word, or has censured it themselves, needs not only read Megan Reynolds's work but shout it from the rooftops." - Amanda Montell, New York Times-bestselling author of The Age of Magical Overthinking and Cultish
"Reynolds effectively mounts her larger argument: that people should embrace language's changes rather than becoming cranky grammatical nitpickers exuding 'hall monitor energy.' It's a passionate ... love letter to linguistic evolution." - Publishers Weekly
"Full of interesting details, humorous asides, and vindication for all the readers who ever had a teacher put hatch marks on the board every time a student uttered 'like' in class, Like is a cathartic, enjoyable, and accessible read. ... Like is more than an exploration of grammar and usage. It's, like, a love letter to the way teenage girls shape the English language." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)