Elaine ChaikaCritiques

As a person who is fascinated by language and the nuances related to our communications - Dr. Chaika's book is a must-read. Her chapters on bilingualism are particularly relevant to today's debate on bilingual education and immigration. She makes an excellent argument as to why we do need a common language to unify our country while stressing the idea that diversity is indeed not only desirable but necessary. One of my favorite aspects of her book are the exercises that she provides at the end of each chapter. As a former teacher, I can absolutely see this text being utilized in a high school classroom with lots of exciting possibilities.

Updated considerably later, but still relevant, but not as comprehensive as the later editions.

Although this was written by invitation of the publisher for all therapists, it can also be read for general interest in how we can scientifically analyze what people mean by what they say. Unlike analytical fantasies like Freud or Jung who base their interpretations in terms of their personal ideas of the mind, and who have never researched the accuracy of their notions, this book is based upon recent investigations of how people actually engage in discourse and what strategies they use to imply, hint, and even to hide their actual intent. Like all my writing, this is jargon-free, clearly written, and is understandable, as well as interesting even to people with no background in linguistics or psychiatry