SKU: 19276735537

In Praise of Profanity

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In Praise of ProfanityWhen President Obama signed the affordable health care act in 2009, the Vice President was overheard to utter an enthusiastic "This is a big f****** deal " A town in Massachusetts levies $20 fines on swearing in public. Nothing is as paradoxical as our attitude toward swearing and "bad language" how can we judge profanity so harshly in principle, yet use it so frequently in practice? Though profanity is more acceptable today than ever, it is still

When President Obama signed the affordable health care act in 2009, the Vice President was overheard to utter an enthusiastic "This is a big f****** deal " A town in Massachusetts levies $20 fines on swearing in public. Nothing is as paradoxical as our attitude toward swearing and "bad language" how can we judge profanity so harshly in principle, yet use it so frequently in practice? Though profanity is more acceptable today than ever, it is still labeled as rude, or at best tolerable only under specific circumstances. Cursing, many argue, signals an absence of character, or poor parenting, and is something to avoid at all costs. Yet plenty of us are unconcerned about the dangers of profanity; bad words are commonly used in mainstream music, Academy Award-winning films, books, and newspapers. And of course, regular people use them in conversation every day.

In In Praise of Profanity, Michael Adams offers a provocative, unapologetic defense of profanity, arguing that we've oversimplified profanity by labeling it as taboo. Profanity is valuable, even essential, both as a vehicle of communication and an element of style. As much as we may deplore it in some contexts, we should celebrate it in others. Adams skillfully weaves together linguistic and psychological analyses of why we swear-for emotional release, as a way to promote group solidarity, or to create intimate relationships -- with colorful examples of profanity in literature, TV, film, and music, such as The Sopranos, James Kelman's How Late It Was, How Late, or the songs of Nellie McKay. This breezy, jargon-free book will challenge readers to reconsider the way they think about swearing.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 08/01/2016
ISBN: 9780199337583
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.90w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Library Journal 05/15/2016 pg. 78
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2016
Shelf Awareness 07/29/2016
Choice 12/01/2016
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SKU: 19276735537

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kathleen Picard
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Made to last, great quality
Color: Black, Size: Standard
Bought this for my 20 yr old son for Christmas & he loves it! The quality and design is great. It’s a thinner wallet that fonts in his pocket and very durable for the cost , this wallet will definitely last him along time .Perfect for a young adult .
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Belleville, US
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Michael
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Great wallet
I already had one of these. Well, I lost my wallet and ordered another one as soon as I realized it was gone forever I ordered another because this is a great wallet. Slim, light, simple, and i love the green color
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Kei
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice and plain
Color: Raven Crosshatch, Size: Standard
Great wallet, not flashy. No plastic screens inside, no coin pouch. Just a plain wallet that holds cards and cash. Standard size, fits in my pocket well. I cannot comment on the RFID, but my works badge does scan through the wallet.
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Lena Cos
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product
Color: Black Tonal, Size: Standard
Great basic wallet for my husband. This was a replacement for another Herschel Wallet he had for 10 years that was finally on it's last leg. Definitely durable and classic
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Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2025

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