Reviews

New York Times

“A dictionary wrapped in some serious dialectology inside a gift book trailing a serious whiff of Relevance.”

Lansing City Pulse

“A delightful romp through the dialects and vocabulary of the region.”

Inside Hook

“In his delightful new book, Edward McClelland argues that the dialect of the Midwest is one of the country’s most linguistically significant … [How To Speak Midwestern is] a long-overdue study of the middle-American vernacular, and how that vernacular informs our identity. At its heaviest, the book is a socio-economic treatise worthy of a university library; at its lightest, it’s a regionally specific Urban Dictionary.”

Star Tribune

“There is scholarship [in How To Speak Midwestern], a deep understanding of grammar and ethnic history, as he traces certain speech patterns down to a single city. But McClelland, a Michigan native, also has a voice, opinions and a few punchlines.”

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

“McClelland leavens his writing with pop-culture references … and touches of humor.”

Chicagoist

“How To Speak Midwestern is a fascinating read, whether you hail from WOWOland, the UP, Cereal City, or Baja Minnesota.”

Washington Post

“An amusing glossary to the lingo of the [Midwest’s] more industrial states.”

Third Coast Review

“McClelland shows us that by embracing our local phrases and accents (and even being able to poke a little fun at them), we cultivate the uniqueness of our cities, grow closer to our communities, and define our cultural identities.”