Swearing is a complex social signal that is laden with emotional and cultural significance. Languages are dominated by either religious swearing, copulatory swearing or excretory swearing. Byrne explains all the ways in which swearing is good for us, from pain relief to team bonding, and reveals what cursing chimpanzees can tell us about the origin of dirty words.Swear words are (a) words people use when they are highly emotional and (b) words that refer to something taboo. The next time someone tells you off for swearing, give them a copy of this book.
Andrew Anthony * Observer *Ī lively examination of a neglected subject. reminds you of the mysterious pleasure of using words that are not meant to be said. James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *Įntertaining and informative. Swearing Is Good For You is a lively defence of its subject. Lorraine Candy * The Sunday Times Style *īyrne is a science writer with a PhD in robotics and a gleefully robust attitude to language. This excellent book backs up my long-held theory that people who swear are generally less uptight or anxious than those who don't.I think the most joyous bit about this book is learning that swearing is a powerful and acceptable weapon in a woman's armoury, a strong signal that we don't have to adhere to old-fashioned, traditional views of what is "ladylike", a phrase I often hear when swearing is discussed in mixed-gender debates.
Hephzibah Anderson * The Mail on Sunday * India Knight * The Sunday Times *Ī chatty, humorously informative narrative that rummages through the science of bad language, grabbing at sociology, psychology, neuroscience and anthropology. Swearing has been the subject of considerable scientific analysis, it turns out, which Byrne's bookĭeftly reviews.Swearing is stinky cheese and malbec in a world of cleanĮating. Mary Norris, bestselling author of Between You & MeĪn impressive catalogue of research showing how effing and blinding helps us deal with pain, bond with others, is associated with intelligence and makes us more inclined to trust each other. A good book about bad language by a trash-talking woman? Sign me up! Swearing Is Good for You makes science feel downright celebratory.
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