PositivePittsburgh Post-GazetteIn the sections I found most intriguing, McWhorter takes deep dives into derogatory terms for minorities (women, people of color, non-straight people). McWhorter does a magnificent job of uprooting English’s ugly past when people in places of privilege uttered these taboo terms to dehumanize others ... I recommend Nine Nasty Words to anyone who gets fascinated by the weird, wild and wooly English language. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed word nerd or simply an armchair cursing aficionado, readers will be ready to drop knowledge on their friends during the next lull in conversation at your outdoor summer get-together.
