There's something special about a lexicon in which more than half the entries begin with the same letter. The F-Word earned its title the hard way: editor Jesse Sheidlower and the staff of Random House combed vast numbers of books, magazines, films, and other works for references to the most beloved, least printable word in the English language and all its variations. There's some great reading here among the hundreds of citations, from the colorful dialogue of Gore Vidal to the military's creative use of intensifiers to boost morale. Of special interest are the acronyms and abbreviations incorporating the Word; after reading the entry for "BUFF," you might think twice before complimenting your gym-going friends. The care and attention each entry receives makes The F-Word a pleasure to use or browse, whether looking up an obscure phrase from an Iceberg Slim book or finding new insults for your next flame war. Ross MacDonald's illustrations are cute and funny (but not pornographic) and help to defuse some of the tension that might result from exposure to undiluted profanity. The F-Word throws much-needed light on one of the most-used English words; if you want to learn to swear correctly, RTFM--Read the [ahem] Manual. --Rob Lightner
From the Inside Flap
G: Usually considered vulgar. X-rated. Censored. Bleep. Not for polite company. Due to adult language, viewer and parental discretion advised. Wash your mouth out with soap. Good boys and girls don't use that kind of language. Obscene. Immoral. Immodest. And indecent.
IS THIS ALL YOU THINK ABOUT THE F-WORD? HERE'S THE FULL STORY!
Has any other single word ever sparked so much creativity, and captured so many imaginations? The F-Word contains page after page of actual, uncensored examples of the word in all its varied and robust use, from its first appearance in English in the fifteenth century to its use in the Starr Report.
This second edition includes many new words and phrases, F-words from Britain, Ireland, and Australia, and hundreds of new examples of usage. Words, explanatio
From the Back Cover
"It's fanf--kingtastic." --Time Out New York
" . . .a great service for the English language." --Seattle Weekly
"Hard to read without smiling." --Minneapolis Star Tribune
About the Author
Jesse Sheidlower was educated in linguistics at the University of Chicago and Trinity College, Cambridge University. He has written about language for Harper's, The Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, and others, and is a sought-after authority for journalists around the country.
