Andy N
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Nine Nasty Words
- English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 983
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 828
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 817
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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful book!
- By BrittPet on 06-25-21
- Nine Nasty Words
- English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
Fresh and Entertaining
Reviewed: 05-23-21
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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The Boys in the Boat
- Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
- By: Daniel James Brown
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
- Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 43,142
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 39,007
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Story5 out of 5 stars 38,889
The number one New York Times best-selling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany, the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of '36, broadcast to coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 80th anniversary of the boys' gold medal race. Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times - the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Dear Publishers of Audio Books
- By Lynn on 08-04-14
- The Boys in the Boat
- Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
- By: Daniel James Brown
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
Inspiring story
Reviewed: 07-04-14
Would you listen to The Boys in the Boat again? Why?
Yes. While we know how it ends, the journey to get there is worth hearing over and over again.
What does Edward Herrmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His voice can deliver a story
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
How the seemingly ordinary can be extraordinary
Any additional comments?
Despite some over-the-top up turns of phrase and descriptions (think Cold Mountain) that trigger several eye rolls, as well as Edward Herman's tortured pronunciations of Washington place names (not sure that is actually his fault-where was quality control?), the story is just a great one. Growing up in Washington and attending UW, I've always known the story without knowing the STORY. And it's a great one. You can't help but beam with pride and unquestionably admire what these ordinary folks accomplished in some of the toughest times in America.
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4 people found this helpful