In On Cussing, Dunn sketches a brief history of swear words and creates something of a field guide to their types and usages, from the common threat (“I’ll squash you like a shithouse mouse”) to the portmanteau intensifier (“Fan-fucking-tastic”). But she also explores their physiology—the physical impact on the reader or listener—and makes an argument for how and when to cuss with maximum effect. Equal parts informative and hilarious, this volume will delight Dunn’s legion of fans, but it’s also a must-have for anyone looking to more successfully wield their expletives, be it in writing or in everyday speech.
Katherine Dunn was a novelist and boxing journalist who lived and worked in Oregon. She is the author of three novels—Attic; Truck; and Geek Love, which was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Bram Stoker Prize—as well as the essay collection One Ring Circus. She died in 2016.