Books at the Institute: "Proto" by Laura Spinney

Books at the Institute presents an evening with Laura Spinney, best-selling science journalist, novelist, and non-fiction writer, as she discusses her new book Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global in conversation with Maria Sonevytsky.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

General admission: $20 / UIA Friends: $15 / UIA Members: $10.

Proto explores the fascinating story of Proto-Indo-European, the ancient ancestor of languages now spoken by nearly half of humanity. It investigates how this language, born in the steppe region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, spread across the world through the migration of ancient peoples like nomads and warriors. Combining historical linguistics with recent findings in archaeology and genetics, the book offers a deep look into how this “proto tongue” influenced culture, literature, and the course of human history.

Book signing and light reception to follow.

Copies of Proto will be available for purchase at the Ukrainian Institute of America the evening of the event.

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