- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (Dec 14 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0316056561
- ISBN-13: 978-0316056564
- Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 2.5 x 21.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 408 g
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#242,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #71 in Books > Reference > Words & Language > Etymology
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"If 'Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne,' as Quentin Crisp once said, then Ralph Keyes has given word and language lovers a deeply fragrant-and thoroughly enjoyable-book." (Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of Oxymoronica and other quotation anthologies )
"Whether you're looking for information or just browsing, Euphemania is a classic. It is beautifully written, uniformly delightful, and a pleasure to read. Keyes has spread a broad net and offers the tastiest morsels to his readers. I love this book!" (Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It and The Art of Talking to Anyone )
"Fascinating! If you think you already know how we human beings shape language to create the kind of relationships we want, wait until you read Euphemania. Ralph Keyes opens the reader to a new world of thoughtfulness, embarrassment, manipulation, and even criminality through euphemisms. While much of the book is just plain funny, one cannot help but develop a new respect for the complexity of our language and for our amazing inventiveness as we cope with every imaginable situation by avoiding the truth. An engrossing, amusing and highly informative read." (Richard Farson, author of Management of the Absurd )
"Keyes' treatment of our everyday attempts to ameliorate through language the unpleasantries of life is brilliant-and a great read." (Tom Dalzell, author of The Slang of Sin and Flappers 2 Rappers )
"The title of this smart new book, Euphemania, is no euphemism. Author Ralph Keyes is right: We are crazy about euphemisms. For good reasons and bad, euphemisms help us speak the unspeakable, describe what cannot, in decent society (if only we lived in one!), be described. Those are not rings of fat around my waist; that's my spare tire. Or, should you want to know me better, just grab my love handles. Hang on tight and we'll ride through the wise and witty work of a writer who handles his love for the language on every page." (Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools and The Glamour of Grammar )
"Whether you're looking for information or just browsing, Euphemania is a classic. It is beautifully written, uniformly delightful, and a pleasure to read. Keyes has spread a broad net and offers the tastiest morsels to his readers. I love this book!" (Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It and The Art of Talking to Anyone )
"Fascinating! If you think you already know how we human beings shape language to create the kind of relationships we want, wait until you read Euphemania. Ralph Keyes opens the reader to a new world of thoughtfulness, embarrassment, manipulation, and even criminality through euphemisms. While much of the book is just plain funny, one cannot help but develop a new respect for the complexity of our language and for our amazing inventiveness as we cope with every imaginable situation by avoiding the truth. An engrossing, amusing and highly informative read." (Richard Farson, author of Management of the Absurd )
"Keyes' treatment of our everyday attempts to ameliorate through language the unpleasantries of life is brilliant-and a great read." (Tom Dalzell, author of The Slang of Sin and Flappers 2 Rappers )
"The title of this smart new book, Euphemania, is no euphemism. Author Ralph Keyes is right: We are crazy about euphemisms. For good reasons and bad, euphemisms help us speak the unspeakable, describe what cannot, in decent society (if only we lived in one!), be described. Those are not rings of fat around my waist; that's my spare tire. Or, should you want to know me better, just grab my love handles. Hang on tight and we'll ride through the wise and witty work of a writer who handles his love for the language on every page." (Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools and The Glamour of Grammar )
Product Description
How did die become kick the bucket, underwear become unmentionables, and having an affair become hiking the Appalachian trail? Originally used to avoid blasphemy, honor taboos, and make nice, euphemisms have become embedded in the fabric of our language. EUPHEMANIA traces the origins of euphemisms from a tool of the church to a form of gentility to today's instrument of commercial, political, and postmodern doublespeak.
As much social commentary as a book for word lovers, EUPHEMANIA is a lively and thought-provoking look at the power of words and our power over them.
As much social commentary as a book for word lovers, EUPHEMANIA is a lively and thought-provoking look at the power of words and our power over them.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Choosing words with care, Dec 6 2010
By Richard Cumming "dick" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms (Hardcover)
Ralph Keyes has delved into our human nature here. We use euphemisms to soften our words. To disguise them. To wrap them in pretty distracting language. We say what we mean on occasion but mostly we dissemble. We euphemize. We hide behind words that are seemingly less offensive than what we could say if we didn't resort to euphemisms.Fascinating stuff here. Keyes explores the things we get uncomfortable discussing; sex, our bodies, our bodily functions, money. You name it-we have the euphemisms for it. Keyes employs a distinctive punchy style here that will have readers spinning and laughing as he keeps those euphemisms pouring non-stop.
It's terse. It's pithy. It's succulent. Try it, you'll like it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
BookHounds [...]., Dec 2 2010
By Mary Bookhounds "BookHounds" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms (Hardcover)
If you are a word freak like me, you are going to love this book. Euphemania explains where we get common turns of phrase like "pushing up daisies" and other obscure references. The book is very entertaining and gives insight to historical references. I really enjoyed reading this one and it would make the perfect gift for that closet wordy in your life.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Euphemisms from One Culture to Another, Dec 28 2010
By Evelyne Holingue - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms (Hardcover)
A great title for a well researched (check the complete bibliography) and enjoyable book that, anyone who likes language, and the way it evolves will read in a day.Keyes draws almost all of his examples from the anglo-saxon culture, switching from England to the USA. He mentions a few Spanish words but as a French native, I especially enjoyed the references he makes to my heritage.
From "manger les pissenlits par la racine" or eating dandelions by the root when the French talk of death, to the frequent use of French mouth-watering words in the American cuisine, Keyes show that euphemisms vary from one culture to another.
When I moved from Paris to California with my baby daughter I had a hard time to understand what her new pediatrician meant when he asked me about her BM. French aren't embarrassed when it comes to body functions and it took me a while to refer to the contents of my baby's diaper as a BM. After many years in the USA, I also say UTI, PMS and IBS, and have learned that stomach in American covers a much larger territory than the organ used in the human digestive system.
However I still favor the word the French use when they want to wish good luck. In American, its polite version is shoot.
Thank you, Mr. Keyes for a fun, well researched and engaging book.
Listmania!
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