Sweary Books, Part 1: Self-H*lp
***Content Warning: Foul Language***
If you object to the current prevalence of swearing in our culture, please read no further; this will only tick you off.
If you're still reading, it's safe to assume you're okay with salty talk, correct?
So: what the frilly heck is up with all the swears in self-help publishing right now?
It's hard to say where the bleep the phenomenon started – a certain notorious "children's" book from 2011 seems like a likely culprit. It may also stem from a 2009 study that showed that swearing improves pain tolerance. But whatever the spork the reason is, for the past couple of years, it's been like a flippin' fandango of a non-stop cussfest in the world of letters.
Self-help publishing seems to be particularly potty-mouthed, perhaps for obvious reasons. There are books telling us to eff things:
F*ck Feelings, by Michael L. Bennett, M. D., and Sarah Bennett
F*ck Love, by Michael L. Bennett and Sarah Bennett
...and not to:
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, by Sarah Knight
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson
...and to un-eff them:
Unf*ck Your Brain, by Faith G. Harper
The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion, by Simon Marshall and Lesley Paterson
...and, just for variety:
The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t, by Fabrice Midal
Get Your Sh*t Together, by Sarah Knight
And that's just the self-help section. Coming soon: Sweary Books: Dining and Etiquette edition.
What do you think about the sweary book phenomenon? And what's your favourite fake swear word? Let us know in the comments.
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