The Cunning Linguist: Ribald Riddles, Lascivious Limericks, Carnal Corn, and Other Good, Clean Dirty Fun

From Publishers Weekly
Noted linguist Lederer (Anguished English) has a naughty side, which, combined with his unerring archival instincts, makes this collection of wordplays a bawdily noteworthy achievement. As long as one doesn't overdose on more than two chapters at a time (as the author warns one should not), this book repeatedly rewards the open-minded. How about the "poonerism" (that's what Lederer dubs a dirty spoonerism, or juxtaposition of sounds within a word or sentence) that defines call girls as "the lays of our dives" and a bordello as a "toll-cookie house"? Or the list of limericks and the pun-filled "delectable daughter" jokes? Lederer strives to illuminate the "verbal vivacity of our vocabulary and illustrate one of the most astonishing miracles of language-the ability of two or more meanings to occupy the same space at the same time." Blending the richness of English with the seemingly endless supply of raunchy word tricks, the author takes pride in providing humorous, but never hurtful verbal wit, all in the name of fun and education. After all, "a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste." Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
Have some fun with your native tongue!

In The Cunning Linguist, renowned language expert Richard Lederer shows us the naughtier side of wordplay, revealing hundreds of hilarious, ingenious, unabashed, and adults-only puns, jokes, limericks, one-liners, and other adventures in sexual humor. This book of "good, clean dirty fun" will delight word hounds, punsters, bachelor-party goers, and anyone who likes a clever grown-up joke.

Here's a taste of The Cunning Linguist:

Q: What does a man have in his pants that you can also find on a pool table?
A: Pockets.

Have you heard about the incompatible couple?
He had no income, and she wasn't pattable.

The four stages of a couple's sex life:
Under 35: Tri-weekly
35-45: Try weekly
45-55: Try weakly
55 and over: Try, try, try.

For much more, sneak between the covers of this unique and laugh-out-loud book.


About the Author
Richard Lederer is the author of more than thirty books on the English language, including Anguished English, which is one of the best-selling language humor books in print. His syndicated column, "Looking at Language," appears in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and he co-hosts a weekly show on San Diego and Wisconsin public radio. He lives with his wife Simone in San Diego.



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Internationally renowned word expert Lederer (Anguished English) here offers a collection of dirty humor-from puns, short jokes, and riddles to limericks and other verses. Lederer, who professes to be following a grand tradition of bawdiness in English literature, has organized the content by subject matter, form, and, it would seem, the descending order of decency. The first chapter is a tongue-in-cheek "quiz" to determine whether the reader has a dirty mind. Should one choose to delve deeper, there are chapters on everything from euphemisms to "poonerisms" and rude historical anecdotes. The humor is Austin Powers-like but in print form; abstracted from good delivery or any semblance of a plot, it often leaves the reader cringing rather than grinning. This is the sort of book that brings out the child in adults and that, ironically, children would dearly love to get their hands on, largely because of the delicious promise of parental disapproval. It is, therefore, hardly suitable for a school or general public library collection. In fact, one can imagine its having a place only in a private collection, although its puerile offerings really limit it to the realms of mindless entertainment.-Rebecca Bollen, North Bergen, NJ Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


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