Machine generated contents note: -- 1. Introduction: Speaking of the Generations -- 2. The Republican Generation - (born 1742-1766) -- 3. The Compromise Generation - (born 1767-1791) -- 4. The Transcendental Generation - (born 1792-1821) -- 5. The Gilded Generation - (born 1822-1842) -- 6. The Progressive Generation - (born 1843-1859) -- 7. The Missionary Generation - (born 1860-1882) -- 8. The Lost Generation - (born 1883-1900) -- 9. The G.I. Generation - (born 1901-1924) -- 10. The Silent Generation - (born 1925-1942) -- 11. The Boom Generation - (born 1943-1960) -- 12. The Thirteenth Generation, or Generation X - (born 1961-1981) -- 13. The Millennial Generation, or Generation Y - (born 1982-2004) -- 14. The Homeland Generation - (born 2005-current).

Successful word-coinages--those that stay in currency for a good long time--tend to conceal their beginnings. We take them at face value and rarely when and where they were first minted. Engaging, illuminating, and authoritative, Ralph Keyes's The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden gems. He also finds some fascinating patterns, such as that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by design. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, originally intended to troll or taunt. Knickers, for example, resulted from a hoax; big bang from an insult. Casual wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few resulted from happy accidents, such as typos, mistranslations, and mishearing (bigly and buttonhole), or from being taken entirely out of context (robotics). Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just scholars and writers but cartoonists, columnists, children's book authors. Wimp originated with a book series, as did goop, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Coinages are often contested, controversy swirling around such terms as gonzo, mojo, and booty call. Keyes considers all contenders, while also leading us through the fray between new word partisans, and those who resist them strenuously. He concludes with advice about how to make your own successful coinage. The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word mavens but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone who loves the immersive power of language.

Digital technology has profoundly transformed almost all aspects of musical culture. This book explains how and why.