Nine Nasty Words
English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever
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Narrated by:
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John McWhorter
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By:
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John McWhorter
About this listen
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power - and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech - the urgency with which we say "f--k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.
©2020 John McWhorter (P)2020 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Rollicking, salty, learned, and intensely informative, John McWhorter's Nine Nasty Words is a grand tour through the history of the profanities we (sometimes) abhor and (sometimes) revel in (and sometimes both), peppered with cameos by everyone from Geoffrey Chaucer and Cole Porter to Tallulah Bankhead and the too-little-known singer-songwriter Lucille Bogan, still making people blush 70-odd years after her death, God bless her. I laughed frequently and learned plenty." (Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times best-selling author of Dreyer's English)
"Nine Nasty Words is a deeply intelligent celebration of language that teaches us how to see English in high definition and love it as it really is, right now and in its myriad incarnations to come." (The New York Times)
"Shakespeare’s Caliban spoke for the human race when he said 'You taught me language, and my profit on’t is, I know how to curse.' Taboo language combines our touchiest social emotions with the poetic and metaphorical powers of language, and no one can explain these more clearly and compellingly than John McWhorter." (Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature)
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- Narrated by: Inga Muscio
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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In this fully revised anniversary edition of the classic testament to women's empowerment, Muscio explores with candidness and humor such traditional feminist issues as birth control, sexuality, jealousy between women, and prostitution with a fresh attitude for a new generation of women. Sending out a call for every woman to be the "Cuntlovin' Ruler of Her Sexual Universe", Muscio stands convention on its head by embracing the provocative and celebrating womanhood.
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Best book ever
- By Paula Daniels on 07-28-19
By: Inga Muscio
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The Story of English in 100 Words
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences, and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century ("roe", in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting edge ("twittersphere") and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and", "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language.
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Random but entertaining
- By Sean on 04-01-13
By: David Crystal
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Jewish Comedy
- A Serious History
- By: Jeremy Dauber
- Narrated by: Jeremy Dauber
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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In a major work of scholarship both erudite and very funny, Jeremy Dauber traces the origins of Jewish comedy and its development from Biblical times to the age of Twitter. Organizing his book thematically into what he calls the seven strands of Jewish comedy - including the satirical, the witty, and the vulgar - Dauber explores the ways Jewish comedy has dealt with persecution, assimilation, and diaspora through the ages. He explains the rise and fall of popular comic archetypes such as the Jewish mother, the JAP, and the schlemiel and schlimazel.
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Not funny
- By supermantwo on 08-31-20
By: Jeremy Dauber
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Dirty Daddy
- The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian
- By: Bob Saget
- Narrated by: Bob Saget
- Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Millions of viewers know and love Bob Saget from his role as the sweetly neurotic father on the smash hit Full House, and as the charming wisecracking host of America's Funniest Home Videos. And then there are the legions of fans who can't get enough of his scatological, out-of-his-mind stand-up routines, comedy specials, and outrageously profane performances in such shows as HBO's Entourage and the hit documentary The Aristocrats.
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Meh to the 2nd Power
- By Hilary on 06-30-14
By: Bob Saget
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The Glamour of Grammar
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Early in the history of English, glamour and grammar were the same word, linked to enchantment and magical spells. Now grammar brings to mind language bullies and bored-out-of-their-skulls students. Roy Peter Clark, one of America’s most influential writing teachers, wants to change that by putting the glamour back into grammar.
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Wasteful
- By ABID on 12-05-13
By: Roy Peter Clark
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Gumption
- Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers
- By: Nick Offerman
- Narrated by: Nick Offerman
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The star of Parks and Recreation and author of the New York Times best seller Paddle Your Own Canoe returns with a second book that humorously highlights 21 figures from our nation’s history, from her inception to present day - Nick’s personal pantheon of “great Americans". After the great success of his autobiography, Paddle Your Own Canoe, Offerman now focuses on the lives of those who inspired him. From George Washington to Willie Nelson, he describes 21 heroic figures and why they inspire in him such great meaning.
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Swagger and mirth
- By Tamara Shope on 09-14-15
By: Nick Offerman
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Black Is the New White
- By: Paul Mooney, Dave Chappelle - foreword
- Narrated by: Tony Isabella
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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For more than 40 years—whether writing for Richard Pryor and Saturday Night Live or performing stand-up to sold-out crowds around the country—Paul Mooney has been provocative, incisive...and absolutely hilarious. His comedy has always been indisputably real and raw, reflecting race issues in America, and this fascinating, fearless new memoir continues that unapologetically candid tradition.
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Master Piece!! I loved every moment.
- By Amazon Customer on 04-27-21
By: Paul Mooney, and others
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Short Stories of William Somerset Maugham, Volume 1
- By: W. Somerset Maugham
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Winner of the 2001 Audie Award for Classic Fiction, this is an unparalleled presentation of Maugham's stories, complete with sound effects and music.
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Jewels!
- By Jacko45 on 07-05-04
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He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know
- By: Jessica Valenti
- Narrated by: Julie McKay
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Double standards are nothing new. Women deal with them every day. Take the common truism that women who sleep around are sluts while men are studs. Why is it that men grow distinguished and sexily gray as they age while women just get saggy and haggard? Have you ever wondered how a young woman is supposed to both virginal and provocatively enticing at the same time?
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A well acted intro to feminist consciousness
- By Amazon Customer on 02-28-24
By: Jessica Valenti
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Articulate While Black
- Barack Obama, Language, and Race in the U.S
- By: H. Samy Alim, Geneva Smitherman, Michael Eric Dyson - foreword
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In Articulate While Black, two renowned scholars of Black Language address language and racial politics in the U.S. through an insightful examination of President Barack Obama's language use--and America's response to it. In this eloquently written and powerfully argued book, H. Samy Alim and Geneva Smitherman provide new insights about President Obama and the relationship between language and race in contemporary society.
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best book on language
- By Amazon Customer Bishop Dr Arthur Lewis PhD on 12-07-18
By: H. Samy Alim, and others
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Poetry in Person
- Twenty-five Years of Conversation with America's Poets
- By: Lucille Clifton, Alexander Neubauer - editor, Eamon Grennan, and others
- Narrated by: Alexander Neubauer
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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This first audio edition of Poetry in Person: 25 Years of Conversation with America’s Poets (Knopf, 2010), invites listeners into an intimate classroom with eight acclaimed poets. Full of compelling, in-depth conversation about manuscripts and drafts by the poets themselves, plus readings of the finished poems, these historic recordings offer one of the most detailed portraits ever produced of how poems are actually made.
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Fascinating
- By d on 08-28-16
By: Lucille Clifton, and others
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Seven Deadly Sins
- Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good
- By: Corey Taylor
- Narrated by: Corey Taylor
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor speaks directly to his fans and shares his worldview about life as a sinner. And Taylor knows how to sin. As a small-town hero in the early '90s, he threw himself into a fierce-drinking, drug-abusing, hard-loving, live-for-the-moment life. Soon Taylor's music exploded, and he found himself rich, wanted, and on the road. His new and ever-more-extreme lifestyle had an unexpected effect, however; for the first time, he began to actively think about what it meant to sin.
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Glad I didn't read this before buying concert tix
- By S. Adams on 07-23-19
By: Corey Taylor
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Late Admissions
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Engaging listen. Full of lurid details
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What listeners say about Nine Nasty Words
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Angy
- 06-01-21
So f+@king good!
First of all, belated grats to the author/narrator for keeping your bike from being stolen! And thank you for narrating your own book. Besides a great tone and a clear speaking voice, the voices you do are such a treat! The Mr. Burns is spot on.
For the reader/listener, this is possibly a biased review as I am a fan of Dr. McWhorter's body-of-work. (Books, blog, and The Great Courses' The Story of Human Language, Language A to Z, Myths of Language Usage, Language Families of the World, and Human Language).
This audiobook was a pure treat both in content and listening pleasure. His intonations, emphasis, enunciation and speaking speed are the ideal for any narrator's aspiration. It's rare that I have a book in which I don't have to adjust the speed.
I have a huge issue with censorship so a book like this from and delivered by an intellectual standard-bearer in the field is right on point. I enjoyed learning so much about the words I most often use. This book is packed with gem after gem.
I can't help but wonder how many people I have offended, confused or bewildered with various phrases and word use. Plus with other new info from this book, I can better understand others' intent!
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- R. MCRACKAN
- 07-30-21
Everything I've come to expect from McWhorter
After loving 2 of his Great Courses, I was thrilled to see this book. It did not disappoint. Everything you love about McWhorter is here. Part linguistic, part culture and history, this is the best book that you almost can't discuss.
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- Andy N
- 05-23-21
Fresh and Entertaining
I've listened to or read most of John McWhorter's books. I've always been educated and entertained along the way. Here he does it again. There have been plenty of books, articles, and even TV shows on the history of one or more of these "nasty" words. But I was confident that Professor McWhorter wouldn't simply repackage content that we've already seen. And he didn't. Without going into the content, expect to learn something you've probably heard before on some level (albeit with the authority the author brings to the subject, which, if nothing else, will give you the comfort that you will no longer repeat tired old fairy tales about some of these words). But also expect to learn much that you haven't heard before, all the while being entertained by McWhorter's signature humor and delivery, which I frankly never tire of.
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- cdl bookworm
- 06-28-21
Must read (listen)
Hearing McWhorter read the book is a treat. don't deprive yourself. This beek is meant to be heard.
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- Ann
- 09-22-21
a bit too long but fascinating
Narrator was perfect & material was very instructive. Unfortunately for me, it was Bout an hour too long. I forced myself to listen to last 2 chapters.
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- SouthDenverDave
- 07-06-23
Only John McWhorter….
He pulled it off. Entertaining and educational at the same time. I’m a big fan of his and this book will show you why. He has a compelling and humorous way of telling a story. He is also a world class reader/orator. Highly recommended!
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- watcher
- 10-21-21
Deep Dive into Nasty Words
Loved hearing the history of words I've used all my life. Some of the words I haven't used in forever, but still had a special place in my heart.
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- Qtsbuster
- 05-27-21
Ivy League Profanity
Hopefully it’s not a surprise that there will be profanity in a book about profanity, but consider yourself warned. I truly enjoyed this book about the history of the words we use and perhaps aren’t proud of. I learned a lot, and laughed out loud many times.
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- Sam Hazell
- 11-30-21
Exceptionally informing and amusing
Loved every filthy minute of this book. John McWhorter himself reading was the delicious icing on a wonderfully dirty cake. He is, indeed, a ''funny c...''
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- A.D. Walker
- 11-15-21
Fascinating and Hilarious at times
John does an excellent job of telling his story about the why and when behind all the big "bad words" It is fascinating throughout and hilarious at times Chocked full of interesting historical and linguistical information. I was familiar with the author after hearing him on YouTube and he does not disappoint in this lovely listen.
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