One of the best books I have ever read on the Hebrew language. This book is a great tool for understanding the mechanics of the language as well as its history. Each chapter is a new insight into words and roots in a way that easily read and understood. Highly recommended.

Time was, many thousands of years ago, when Hebrew, it its most ancient form, did not have more than two or three hundred words. But since that long, long ago time, Hebrew has grown mightily, to become one of the great modern languages of the world. The story of its growth from a mere handful of words to its present rich estate is colorful and dramatic. It has never before been told. In HOW THE HEBREW LANGUAGE GREW the story of the growth of the Hebrew language is written with clarity, charm and distinction.

All the greatness, the magic, and the splendor of the Hebrew people and their ethical genius is reflected in the words they used in telling the story of their lives and their deeds: to tell how they believed man ought to walk in love and fear of the one invisible God.

As a text for the study of Hebrew, "How the Hebrew Language Grew" is unexcelled. Almost any and every question that can occur to an intelligent student about the Hebrew language - its growth, development or structure - is raised and answered here. It is answered so clearly and simply that a child can understand it, and yet on so high a level that adults too will be fascinated.

A reviewer
I actually read the earlier hardbound edition of this book -- not the current paperback edition -- but I assume it's the same book. I read this book after hating Hebrew school for many years, and it made me LOVE Hebrew! I wish I had been given it to read during all those years of dry, boring stuff I had to study about Hebrew! The book is easy and fun to read, and it really was the turning point for me, because after this book I WANTED to learn Hebrew really well -- and I did. [This review is for an older paperback edition]

Leonard R Budney from Springdale, PA USA
How the Hebrew Language Grew'' is absolutely fascinating. It will teach you a lot about Hebrew--but also about how linguists think, especially semitic linguists. Horowitz explains the major ways that new words are invented, with lots of examples from Hebrew down through the ages.

Yet Horowitz is never dull or scholarly. He never gets bogged down in details, and explains everything in clear, simple language. Linguistics can be a dull subject, but Horowitz makes it come alive.

Maybe that's because linguistics isn't really what Horowitz cares about. He is really a Hebrew teacher, and he wants you to actually learn some Hebrew as you go along. By telling you how different words were invented, he helps you remember them. Even better, he helps you figure out new words that came about in the same way. If you're interested in learning Hebrew, then ``How the Hebrew Language Grew'' will be a real vocabulary builder!

I do have two warnings for you, although I loved the book. First, Horowitz assumes that you understand some very basic Hebrew. I didn't, when I read it, and still thoroughly enjoyed it. But you will get more out of the book if you at least know the alphabet, and can read it phonetically. If you can understand simple sentences, that's even better.

Second, if you are trying to learn Hebrew then this book will make you work a little. You CAN just read it through--it is fascinating--but to make it stick, you'll need to chew on it pretty carefully. Each chapter does have some questions at the end to help you study. I ignored them the first time through, many years ago, but now I'm using it almost like a textbook.

You'll definitely keep coming back! This is NOT a ``read once, throw away'' kind of book!

andy todes from Haddonfield, NJ United States
no other book unlocks the mystery, beauty, logic and wisdom of the hebrew language like this one.

An Amazon.com Customer
Horowitz take us to a trip into the language land. With anacdotes, and funny stories we meet the hebrew - and languages - origins.

excellent book!