Bawdy Language: Everything You Always Wanted To Do But Were Afraid To Say [Paperback]

Lawrence Paros (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2003

A reference book like no other, it features a wide ranging survey of taboo language, both sex and toilet talk, to help you express the inexpressible. No mere catalogue of phrases, however, it's several books in one -a history of sex, a personal body manual, a social commentary, and a tasteful but biting editorial statement against the forces of restraint and convention —a delightful mix of Eric Partridge, Lenny Bruce, and Monty Python.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A delightful, witty, and intelligent excursion through the underside of the English language. -- Julius Lester, Author, Professor

A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste. If you love words and erotica, read this punographic masterpiece. -- Richard Lederer, Wordsmith, Author, "The Cunning Linguist"

Terrific, entertaining, well researched, and just plain fuckin' good. -- George Carlin, Comedian, Provacateur

About the Author

Lawrence Paros is a master teacher whose work in alternative education has received national recognition; an amateur neuroscientist who has helped design and market a unique device for the treatment of stress, and a professional writer, and self-described authority on language. His published works include numerous articles and a book on education, two earlier books on language, "The Great American Cliché" (Workman) and "The Erotic Tongue" (Madrona and Holt), and "Smashcaps," a children's book (Avon). He is also a former op-ed page columnist for the Seattle Post Intelligencer and commentator on KUOW-FM, the NPR affiliate in Seattle.

His website, "A Word with You", has garnered numerous awards and attracted more then a half million visitors since its inception. It has also inspired two self-published volumes ("A Word with You America"), one version of which is soon to be published in China. He is currently working on his magnum opus on education, "The Once and Future School: The Story of the Y.S.H.S."

An accomplished public speaker, Paros has had extensive teaching and lecturing experience; in the course of promoting his earlier works, he has been interviewed on dozens of TV shows and over 100 radio stations.

A cantankerous sexagenarian (what else?), he lives quietly on the periphery of Seattle Washington with his two cats and a teenage son to whom he is an endless source of embarrassment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Kvetch Press (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967200539
• ISBN-13: 978-0967200538
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,781,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Cliches

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING! May cause riotous laughter and shortness of breath!, August 20, 2003

By 

John R. Minarcik - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bawdy Language: Everything You Always Wanted To Do But Were Afraid To Say (Hardcover)

I would be VERY careful about reading this book in a public place. I was paging through the marginal trivia and quotes when I first got this book while I was waiting for my friend at Starbucks.

I soon realized that most of the people were looking at me like I was a lunatic because I was gasping and laughing so hard and did not realize it. At one point, an elderly lady asked me if I was OK, or if she should call somebody.

Needless to say I was quite embarrassed after the fact. I then went home and continued to read privately and did not cause such a public scene.

The book's most outstanding achievement is that it TASTEFULLY dissects the most vulgar words in our language. If you ever wanted to know ANYTHING about the origins of any "bad" word, you can get the answer here, professionally, tastefully, and riotously. Not recommended for cardiac patients.

John R. Minarcik, MD

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Surprising Find, July 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bawdy Language: Everything You Always Wanted To Do But Were Afraid To Say (Hardcover)

I opened this book somewhat reluctantly because of my presumed feminine "delicacy," but my interest was so quickly engaged that I simply had to read every page.

The subtitle is apt - not only is it about everything I was afraid to say, it's about things I didn't even know I could say, and I'm no innocent! Who knew this subject could be encyclopedic in scope - it's quite a scholarly work.

It's written so wittily and gracefully that I didn't utter a single squeamish "eeeww." The subject is rendered fit for polite conversation - an amazing feat. It's full of great puns and superb turns of phrase. The illustrations are classic and though naughty, quite artistic, Aubrey Beardsley's being my favorite. The sidebar quotes are wonderful finds from people modern and classical.

All in all, my reaction was Wow! This should be a hot seller!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of great stuff here!, June 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bawdy Language: Everything You Always Wanted To Do But Were Afraid To Say (Hardcover)

The first thing to mention about *Bawdy Language* is the massive amount of information Paros has brought together. I've been a fan of both language studies and erotica for years, and every page has at least a few tidbits about erotic language, history or folklore that are new to me.

*Bawdy Language* is a reference book in format, but jazzed up with a lot amusing marginalia (song lyrics; literary quotations) and jokey subtitles ("Itching For It;" "Any Number Can Play.") Too much contemporary writing on language, to me, has an irritatingly naive, gee-whiz quality. This book-- despite the joking and a plethora of puns-- is nothing like that. Even where the background of a word, for instance, is somewhat familiar, Paros makes it meaty with dates and exact references.

This book would be a terrific resource for a sex writer-- or, I suppose, for someone preparing for an X-rated game of Jeopardy. For the average reader, *Bawdy Language* will be great fun to have around and dip into, a chapter or a section at a time. Whether you want to look up a survey of words (literary, euphemistic, slang) for a strategic body part, or find out how prostitutes in ancient Athens advertised (with nails on the soles of their shoes arranged to spell out "follow me" in their footprints) you'll find it set out concisely and non-judgmentally. You may well find things that shock you, but that's part of the strength of the book. Although Paros presents the information very artfully, he doesn't censor or apologize for it. He lets you have it (so to speak) without a lot of delicate mediation.