SWEARING IS GOOD FOR YOU
BY EMMA BYRNE
Published: 2nd August 2018
PROFILE BOOKS
Swearing, it turns out, is an incredibly useful part of our linguistic repertoire. Not only has some form of swearing existed since the earliest humans began to communicate, but it has been shown to reduce physical pain, help stroke victims recover their language, and encourage people to work together as a team.
Swearing Is Good For You is a spirited and hilarious defence of our most cherished dirty words, backed by historical case studies and cutting-edge research. From chimpanzees creating their own curse words to a man who lost half his brain in a mining accident experiencing a new-found compulsion to swear, Dr Emma Byrne outlines the fascinating science behind swearing: how it affects us both physically and emotionally, and how it is more natural and beneficial than we are led to believe.
My awesome friend Kaz sent me this book because she knows and appreciates my potty mouth. Yes, I freely admit that every other word that flows from my lips is profanity, and it can be rather inventive at times. I tend to use the word ‘fuck’ so much that I forget it offends other people, and I’m the friend that has to be warned when my friend Claire calls on speakerphone with her kids in the car!
This book in the support of swearing is a joy to read, and such an unexpected surprise to receive – I loved it!