Speaking of Chinese

Although a bit dated in its attitudes toward the PRC, the book is a good introduction to the Chinese language for people who are curious but untrained. If you have studied Chinese, as I have, you probably know most of this already or have come across the information elsewhere. (I did learn a few things I wasn't aware of before or had forgotten, so it was still worth the read for me.)

ETA: I see there are newer editions of this book. The one I read is one I've owned for decades, published in 1978, so it's possible that some of the material has been updated for later editions.