Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex [Hardcover]

Ellen Sussman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2008

A playful take on bedroom talk—a smart, funny encyclopedia with entries written by notable contemporary writers.
This witty reference steps in where time-honored discussions of the birds and the bees typically fall short. All of the 100-some entries are formally defined and further explained through reflective and ribald definitions, essays, and stories by some of today’s most exciting writers. Everything from celibacy to promiscuity, hand jobs to sex toys is tackled by everyone’s favorite writers including Steve Almond, Patricia Marx, Phillip Lopate, and Antonya Nelson. From sexual relationships (monogamy, one-night stand, ménage à trois) to sexual positions (doggie style, 69), from age-old practices (prostitution) to contemporary twists (cybersex), this alphabetical encyclopedia includes everything you need to know about the language of love and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author Sussman compiled this quasi-reference book as a corrective for not getting the "facts of life" talk that her brother received. The result is an often riveting, and occasionally shocking, essay collection that does much more than define 94 sex-related terms. With close to 100 writers (including Thomas Beller, Antonya Nelson, Pagan Kennedy, Jonathan Ames and poet Stephen Dunn), there's a huge range of styles and sensibilities. The pseudonymous writer tackling "adultery" admits to cheating on his girlfriend with his wife: "six months in and who's to tell whom you're horny for anymore?" Meredith Maran's essay on "bisexuality" has a surprise ending for all involved: Maran reveals her bisexuality to her husband at the very moment she first recognizes it herself. Some essays are romantic; Victoria Redel's impressionistic entry for kissing begins with the delicious line, "The first surprise of your mouth and mine." Some are goofy-Bret Anthony Johnston revives the old what's-your-porn-star-name parlor game-and some are actually fiction-like Lucy Ferriss's brief one-act play script, "Mile High Club"-but most are surprisingly straightforward and entirely unconcerned with shock value, even regarding the terms too dirty to print here.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Reading Dirty Words cover to cover isn't so much an exploration of sexual tastes and boundaries as it is a celebration of our splendid imagination and capacity for tolerance. Refer to it for the things you don't know (cicibeo) and for the things you think you know (tantric), then keep it on the top shelf. One day it'll come in handy for a talk on the birds, the bees ... and bestiality.”   —npr.org

“A book that will broaden and enrich your sexual vocabulary and cultural literacy indelibly.  Some entries are comical, others poignant, many confessional, others academic. But each is unique and exceedingly well written, with more than a few gorgeous gems of short, sensuous prose scattered throughout.  All of the entries in Dirty Words have something to offer, in their earnest efforts to illuminate our occasionally clumsy, but always very human, acts of love.”   —Metro Santa Cruz

“This catalog of the carnal is such wicked fun to read: Like its subject material, it's sexy, silly, and full of savory surprises.”  —Elle

“Ellen Sussman has compiled the outrageous book we all wish we could’ve snuck into our school bookbags.”  —Penthouse

“An often riveting, and occasionally shocking, essay collection that does much more than define 94 sex-related terms... surprisingly straightforward and entirely unconcerned with shock value.”   —Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; 1st edition (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596914742
• ISBN-13: 978-1596914742
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #833,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ellen Sussman's New York Times bestselling novel, FRENCH LESSONS, was published by Ballantine in July, 2011. It also hit the Indie Bound Best Seller List, The San Francisco Chronicle best seller list and NPR's list. She is the author of the novel, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, a San Francisco Chronicle Best-Seller. It has been translated into six languages. She is also the editor of two anthologies, DIRTY WORDS: A LITERARY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEX and BAD GIRLS: 26 WRITERS MISBEHAVE, which was a New York Times Editors Choice and a San Francisco Chronicle Best-Seller. She has taught at Pepperdine, UCLA and Rutgers University. She now teaches through Stanford Continuing Studies and in private classes. Her website is www.ellensussman.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Your Mother Didn't Know Enough About to Tell You!, June 12, 2008

By 

Margaret - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex (Hardcover)

I'll confess to blushing more than once while reading this engaging encyclopedia of all the things my mother didn't want me to know - and no doubt many she doesn't know herself. I surely learned a few new terms here! The sexy was the least surprising, though. These short pieces by an amazing gathering of writers are alternately funny, sweet, and enlightening - and often even poetic! But definitely sexy, too!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dirty Words, July 5, 2008

By 

Rebecca Groves "little librarian" (WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex (Hardcover)

Wow, this book is interesting, full of the unexpected and a great read! For the mature audience, this book is a good conversation piece and anything but dull!! Enjoy!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really entertaining read..., June 24, 2008

By 

Pinkie (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex (Hardcover)

I've been very entertained by reading about each word, the other synonyms for said word, and what the individual essayists have to say about each word. A lot of fun.