The Grammar of Happiness • 2012

Category: People

A language that can be spoken, hummed, or whistled? A language with no unique words for colour or numbers? Linguistics professor Daniel Everett claims that the unique language of the Piraha people of the Amazon is exactly that. More than 30 years ago, he travelled as a missionary into the Amazon rainforest to teach the tribe, but they ended up teaching him. Their way of life and unique form of communication have profoundly changed Everett, and inspired a theory that could undermine the most powerful theory (or theorist) of linguistics.

Make a donation

Buy a brother a hot coffee? Or a cold beer?

Hope you're finding these documentaries fascinating and eye-opening. It's just me, working hard behind the scenes to bring you this enriching content.

Running and maintaining a website like this takes time and resources. That's why I'm reaching out to you. If you appreciate what I do and would like to support my efforts, would you consider "buying me a coffee"?

Donation addresses

BTC: bc1q8ldskxh4x9qnddhcrgcun8rtvddeldm2a07r2v

ETH: 0x5CCAAA1afc5c5D814129d99277dDb5A979672116

With your donation through , you can show your appreciation and help me keep this project going. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a significant impact. It goes directly towards covering server costs.

You might also like

The true story of Santa Claus

The true story of Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a global icon. But where did this friendly old man in a red suit who brings gifts for children actually come from? How could Santa become a central figure of our consumer society?

2021 • People

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind

This intimate portrait examines one of the world's most beloved and inventive comedians. Told largely through Robin's own voice and using a wealth of never-before-seen archive, the film takes us through his extraordinary life and career and reveals the spark of madness that drove him.

2018 • People

Blood Filled Streets

Blood Filled Streets

Johnny Torrio and Al Capone have become two of the biggest kingpins in Chicago, and they're about to become even bigger. But then there is a confrontation with the Irish. Torrio is jailed after O'Banion betrays him. But revenge is not long in coming. Peace ends in Chicago when Torrio and Capone seek revenge against the Irish gangs. Dean O'Banion is murdered and gang warfare escalates in Chicago. Bucking pressure, Johnny Torrio and Al Capone have moved their operations to the neighboring city of Cicero. Al Capone takes over the business - and his rise to the "King of Chicago" begins. The "Beer Wars" put Capone on top.

S1E3 • The Making of the Mob: Chicago • 2016 • People

Episode IV

Phil Jackson's unique philosophy and demeanor take the Bulls to the next level. The team finally gets past Detroit and earns a shot at an NBA title.

4/10 • The Last Dance • 2020 • People

How to understand power

How to understand power

Every day, we move and operate within systems of power that other people have constructed. But we’re often uncomfortable talking about power. Why? Eric Liu describes the six sources of power and explains how understanding them is key to being an effective citizen.

TED-Ed • People

Last Breath

Follows the story of a diver trapped on the bottom of the North Sea. At the time of the accident, Chris Lemons was relatively new to saturation diving. It was an exciting time in his life: he was engaged to be married and building a dream house in the highlands with his fiancee. After a system failure on the dive support vessel, Chris becomes stranded on the seabed with five minutes of oxygen, but no chance of rescue for more than thirty minutes. What unfolds next is a frantic rush against the clock to regain control of the ship and find the lost diver. The original participants deliver emotional first-hand accounts of an incident which has reshaped their lives forever.

2019 • People