HOLY SH*T

HOLY SH*T is a serious exploration of the cultural history of swearing. Almost everyone swears, or worries about not swearing, from the two year-old who has just discovered the power of saying a swear word to the grandmother who wonders why every other word she hears is obscene. Whether they express anger or exhilaration, are meant to insult or to commend, swear words perform a crucial role in language. But swearing is also a uniquely well-suited lens through which to look at history. With humor and insight, Mohr takes readers on a journey to discover how "swearing" has come to include both testifying with your hand on the Bible and calling someone a *#$&!* when they cut you off on the highway. HOLY SH*T also examines the physiological effects of swearing (increased heart rate and greater pain tolerance). A gem of lexicography and cultural history, HOLY SH*T is both fascinating and illuminating.