Books like Words from the Myths by Isaac Asimov

Neil Gaiman retells the classic Norse myths, bringing the gods Odin, Thor, and Loki, as well as the nine worlds and the apocalyptic Ragnarok, to life with his characteristic wit and vivid prose.

An illustrated companion that recounts the adventures of famous Greek heroes in a lively style familiar to Percy Jackson readers.

Joseph Campbell explores mythology as the world’s song, discussing its relevance for modern life, faith, and culture with interviewer Bill Moyers in this engaging dialogue.

McWhorter traces the surprising and random evolution of English, from Celtic and Welsh roots through Viking raids and the Norman Conquest to modern slang, revealing how history and foreign contact shaped our tongue.

The Complete World of Greek Mythology

Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. In this trim volume of linguistic history, respected scholar John McWhorter focuses on underappreciated influences on the peculiar development of the English language: For instance, many of the English's strange grammar ticks can be traced to Celtic and Welch origins, which makes sense given the languages' longtime geographic proximity. Another important factor involves the Vikings. When the Scandinavian sailors came over to the Isles, they took up English as a second language, pruning it of many of its convolutions -- it was, after all, a functional tongue for them. This resulted in English evolving as a grammatically far simpler language than other Germanic languages. In the process of this fascinating historical excavation, McWhorter debunks many contemporary grammatical conventions, doing all this in a style that makes for an informative but unusually enjoyable read. - Publisher.

A concise survey of English word formation, focusing on Greek and Latin roots, with explanations of meanings and usage.