The Roots We Share by Susie Dent

The Roots We Share

100 Words That Bring US Together

Susie Dent

Penguin UK · Print & ebook · November 25, 2025

Susie Dent, bestselling author, broadcaster and word expert, is on a mission to find 100 words and phrases that bring people together.

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Who it’s for
A cheerful tour through words that name the ties we share.
Themes
Human connection, Harmony and unity, Friendship and community
Genres
Words & Language, Vocabulary & Spelling, Values & Virtues

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About this book

Susie Dent, bestselling author, broadcaster and word expert, is on a mission to find 100 words and phrases that bring people together. There are times when the world feels more divided than ever. But it is important to remember the things that unite rather than divide us. Susie has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases - old, new, and long-forgotten - that celebrate harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the world.

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Whether you want to conjobble (chat with a friend over some food), to be goodwilly (kind, generous, and cheerful), to atone for a mistake (become 'at' 'one' with someone again) or simply head off on a coddiwomple (a journey with no destination), this joyous collection of words celebrates the things in life that bind us together, from friendship, love and peace, to community, music and even the stars. These are the roots we share.

Words That Connect

A cheerful tour through words that name the ties we share.

Come here for

  • Rare and familiar words with a generous, convivial streak
  • Curious turns of phrase for friendship, kindness, and connection

Expect

  • One hundred words and phrases, old, new, and long-forgotten
  • Warm attention to everyday bonds, from friendship to community

Where it sits

Words & Language51%
Vocabulary & Spelling43%
Values & Virtues38%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Words & Language
  • Vocabulary & Spelling
  • Dictionaries
Authors
Susie Dent
Publisher
Penguin UK
Published
November 25, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Human connection · Harmony and unity · Friendship and community
Reading lane
Words & Language