Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States

From the publisher: "Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame . . . and exactly why Mr. Yankee Doodle called his befeathered cap 'Macaroni.'"