Over thirty years ago I was introduced to the writings of Mario Pei, a man of breadth in the area of languages, their historical relationships, and their interrelationships. I found the first book I read by Pei both fascinating and easy-to-read.That is why, when I found out a family member might be interested in linguistics, I began searching for some of Pei's books online. His engaging style and familiarity with so many languages makes him a great source.