Crazy English

Why people recommend it

Crazy English by Richard Lederer is a well-known exploration of the bizarre, contradictory, and humorous aspects of the English language. On the podcast How I Write, released on June 4, 2025, Steven Pinker mentioned the book while appearing as a guest to discuss the rules of writing. During the episode, Pinker brought up the volume as a delightful work that highlights numerous quirks, oddities, and errors inherent in the English language. He noted that the author had written a number of equally entertaining books exploring similar themes, placing this particular title among a collection of engaging linguistic studies. Pinker used the reference to illustrate the more eccentric sides of verbal communication, pointing out how the language often defies strict logic and standard rules. For readers fascinated by puns, oxymorons, and the strange rules that govern daily speech, the book serves as a lighthearted guide through the labyrinth of human expression. The podcast appearance brought renewed attention to the author's ability to make the study of language both accessible and thoroughly amusing for a general audience.