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F**k: An Irreverent History of the F-Word
An amusing, informative, controversial and utterly irreverent history of the world’s favourite word.
F, U, C and K – four letters that can cause outrage, scandal, embarrassment or instant relief if you hit your thumb with a hammer.
In this wide-ranging and frequently hilarious history of the F-word, Rufus Lodge searches out the origins of our language’s most popular obscenity, and chronicles its dramatic arrival in our everyday lives. As he discovers, the F-word can be heard among aristocrats and astronauts, rock stars and royals, poets and politicians, even in the company of Father Ted and Basil Brush.
No-one is safe from the F-word’s outrageous progress, as innocent animals, fragrant mothers and squeaky-clean TV hosts are dragged into the fray. The cast of characters includes Shakespeare, the Beatles, Andy Murray, T.S. Eliot, Elton, Camilla and everyone unfortunate enough to live in an Austrian town with a very embarrassing name.
F*** is a cavalcade of priceless anecdotes, historical research, filthy jokes and definitions too devious for any decent dictionary – guaranteed to make you laugh, and broaden your vocabulary*.
* The publisher takes no responsibility for any embarrassment caused when readers drop the F-bomb after reading this book.
F, U, C and K – four letters that can cause outrage, scandal, embarrassment or instant relief if you hit your thumb with a hammer.
In this wide-ranging and frequently hilarious history of the F-word, Rufus Lodge searches out the origins of our language’s most popular obscenity, and chronicles its dramatic arrival in our everyday lives. As he discovers, the F-word can be heard among aristocrats and astronauts, rock stars and royals, poets and politicians, even in the company of Father Ted and Basil Brush.
No-one is safe from the F-word’s outrageous progress, as innocent animals, fragrant mothers and squeaky-clean TV hosts are dragged into the fray. The cast of characters includes Shakespeare, the Beatles, Andy Murray, T.S. Eliot, Elton, Camilla and everyone unfortunate enough to live in an Austrian town with a very embarrassing name.
F*** is a cavalcade of priceless anecdotes, historical research, filthy jokes and definitions too devious for any decent dictionary – guaranteed to make you laugh, and broaden your vocabulary*.
* The publisher takes no responsibility for any embarrassment caused when readers drop the F-bomb after reading this book.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 19, 2014
This book tells us that "FUCK" is the only word in the English language that can be used in every part of a sentence – as a verb, a noun, an adjective, a participle and tucked away in the middle of other words (abso-fucking-lutely). It also works as its own little sentence and can change meaning depending on tone of voice.
In addition we a told the etymology and uses through different languages and history.
If you care about such things and want to liven up any party, then this book is for you.
I purchased this book because the publisher "The Friday Project" is at the moment fascinating me. They have also produced a history of 4AD records.
In addition we a told the etymology and uses through different languages and history.
If you care about such things and want to liven up any party, then this book is for you.
I purchased this book because the publisher "The Friday Project" is at the moment fascinating me. They have also produced a history of 4AD records.
October 19, 2014
My daughter gifted me this on our shared birthday. She seems intent on corrupting me... or at least making sure my sense of humor stays intact. It was pretty bad, sometimes clever and funny, and completely ineffective at making me want to add this ubiquitous and incredibly versatile word to my everyday vocabulary. Besides my kids say it enough for all of us.
June 25, 2017
Best in small doses, I belive. I listned to this book in one sitting (a rather long journey) and I found it, after a while, becoming a bit repetetive (fuck, fuckety, fuck). Although Richard E. Grant makes the most of a sometimes funny script, the massiveness of all fuck-related words, expressions etc. made it a tiresome experience.
October 18, 2023
This book is a waste of time. It looked interesting, at first glance, but the information is presented in a joking, juvenile manner (with a f*ckload of regional [UK] references).
The basic information about these words, their fluid usage and origins is fascinating, so WTF? Why f--- it up?
The basic information about these words, their fluid usage and origins is fascinating, so WTF? Why f--- it up?
November 30, 2019
Didn’t really live up to its title, and honestly a little boring.
Read
May 14, 2021Dnf at 28%
May 24, 2020
Some parts are hysterically funny! Some parts are interesting. But, overall it's not necessary!
May 30, 2016
Although Fuck had its moments, it failed in one important (crucial) respect -- it did not define the origin of the word with any certainty.
That said, the rest of the book was little more than average. There has been a spate of linguistic histories of foul, vulgar, words over the last twenty years or so and many of them have proved enlightening and useful. Although useful, Mr. Lodge's book is little more than this.
Not particularly enlightening, mirthful, or provocative this will be, nonetheless, a useful read for English-Learners but not so for those native to the language.
Recommendation: ESL & EFL students will find this a useful book but others need not waste their time.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars.
That said, the rest of the book was little more than average. There has been a spate of linguistic histories of foul, vulgar, words over the last twenty years or so and many of them have proved enlightening and useful. Although useful, Mr. Lodge's book is little more than this.
Not particularly enlightening, mirthful, or provocative this will be, nonetheless, a useful read for English-Learners but not so for those native to the language.
Recommendation: ESL & EFL students will find this a useful book but others need not waste their time.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars.
August 29, 2017
This book was super annoying and repetitive. I guess I was expecting a bit more history, and a bit less f-word, lol.
April 27, 2020
Meh, subpar. basically an enumeration of uses of the F-word in pop culture
(2 disclaimers. #1. I ingested this book via= audio. #2. I knew an awful lot about the history & origin of the F-word before starting this and thought I was going to learn something new.)
I Love to learn.
I love those youtube mini documentaries about just about anything. From my love of learning, and my past punk rock background I thought that this last latest 12th dozen book about the F-word would have new and exciting things to tell me.
...and then it didn't.
I was sick and tired of this book from the start. It's only charm is the forbidden thrill you could get from looking up the F-word in the Dictionary. sadly you would learn as much, if not more from Websters. This book did actually pick up for a brief and shining moment in the mid point, about half the book, where they delve into recent (hippy days/ rock & roll / (not you punk rock) and alt-rock) uses of the F-word. I did learn a few useless trivia facts. from poets, novelists, rock stars, and advertising firms who either dropped the F bomb, or just teased it.
I couldn't wait for this book to be over. I was bored from the start, heartily sick of it by the end. I confess that I only skimmed the appendix, and I fell asleep reading this book on multiple occasions.
I wish I could recall; off the top of my head, one of the numerous better histories of the word we all know. You would be better served reading one of those. You would be better served using the same amount of time masturbating with a pepper grinder up your bum than reading this book, if it weren't for the few rock & roll trivia facts.
If you care nothing for Beateles / Rollingstones trivia about the F-word, you might be better served by doing laundry, dishes, or yourself.
+1 star for expressing support for freedom of expression. -2 for making it crystal clear that everything I loved as a teenager was market driven crap with profanity as it's chief selling point.
(2 disclaimers. #1. I ingested this book via= audio. #2. I knew an awful lot about the history & origin of the F-word before starting this and thought I was going to learn something new.)
I Love to learn.
I love those youtube mini documentaries about just about anything. From my love of learning, and my past punk rock background I thought that this last latest 12th dozen book about the F-word would have new and exciting things to tell me.
...and then it didn't.
I was sick and tired of this book from the start. It's only charm is the forbidden thrill you could get from looking up the F-word in the Dictionary. sadly you would learn as much, if not more from Websters. This book did actually pick up for a brief and shining moment in the mid point, about half the book, where they delve into recent (hippy days/ rock & roll / (not you punk rock) and alt-rock) uses of the F-word. I did learn a few useless trivia facts. from poets, novelists, rock stars, and advertising firms who either dropped the F bomb, or just teased it.
I couldn't wait for this book to be over. I was bored from the start, heartily sick of it by the end. I confess that I only skimmed the appendix, and I fell asleep reading this book on multiple occasions.
I wish I could recall; off the top of my head, one of the numerous better histories of the word we all know. You would be better served reading one of those. You would be better served using the same amount of time masturbating with a pepper grinder up your bum than reading this book, if it weren't for the few rock & roll trivia facts.
If you care nothing for Beateles / Rollingstones trivia about the F-word, you might be better served by doing laundry, dishes, or yourself.
+1 star for expressing support for freedom of expression. -2 for making it crystal clear that everything I loved as a teenager was market driven crap with profanity as it's chief selling point.
December 22, 2021
Lodge's book on the F-word is an entertaining miscellany that is at its most informative when discussing the etymology of 'fuck'. With a soupçon of humour the book opens with a good analysis of the history of the word in English, with some asides as to how it possibly emerged through the influence of French, Dutch, German and Scandinavian tongues.
From the closing of that chapter Lodge then wanders all over the place, looking at ways that the once most offensive word pops up in all manner of situations, whether they be literary, geographical, historical, pop culture, music or cinema. The short accounts and lists are mostly enjoyable, though at times one wonders if the author was asked by the editor to pad his book out a bit. It must also be said that the underpinning theme of the book, i.e. linguistic obscenity as a cultural construct, is diluted and muddied by the anecdotal approach taken by Lodge. It might have been more worthy of him to provide more serious consideration of 'fuck' as a singular example of how certain words have power, or how they are mutable. Yet in fairness to the author, an academic audience is not who this book is written for.
In summary, this is a book that will find a willing readership among anyone who is interested in words, history, literature or just 'fuck' in and of itself. It's not fucking great, but it's not a fucking waste of time either.
From the closing of that chapter Lodge then wanders all over the place, looking at ways that the once most offensive word pops up in all manner of situations, whether they be literary, geographical, historical, pop culture, music or cinema. The short accounts and lists are mostly enjoyable, though at times one wonders if the author was asked by the editor to pad his book out a bit. It must also be said that the underpinning theme of the book, i.e. linguistic obscenity as a cultural construct, is diluted and muddied by the anecdotal approach taken by Lodge. It might have been more worthy of him to provide more serious consideration of 'fuck' as a singular example of how certain words have power, or how they are mutable. Yet in fairness to the author, an academic audience is not who this book is written for.
In summary, this is a book that will find a willing readership among anyone who is interested in words, history, literature or just 'fuck' in and of itself. It's not fucking great, but it's not a fucking waste of time either.
October 29, 2024
I've read some heavy books recently and got plenty of bad news, too. This book was the perfect antidote.
And yes, it's very funny.
It's too bad George Carlin never got to read this. I think he would've gotten a kick out of it.
You do have to keep in mind that this came out in 2013, and due to the nature of language, some of the definitions given have already changed, such as "fuck me sideways."
Although it has an admirable list of fuck words and phrases, it's not complete. For example, "fuck you sideways" (my current favorite expression) is unlisted.
Highly recommended. A text only version is currently available at Book Read Free.
And yes, it's very funny.
It's too bad George Carlin never got to read this. I think he would've gotten a kick out of it.
You do have to keep in mind that this came out in 2013, and due to the nature of language, some of the definitions given have already changed, such as "fuck me sideways."
Although it has an admirable list of fuck words and phrases, it's not complete. For example, "fuck you sideways" (my current favorite expression) is unlisted.
Highly recommended. A text only version is currently available at Book Read Free.
July 19, 2017
There are actually some very interesting historical tidbits in this book. The origins of the F word was a good chapter. The chapter about embarrassing uses of the F word was quite funny. Not a book to recommend to everyone, but it is worth a read if you like quirky books.
June 30, 2022
While I am now enriched in sociolinguistic knowledge of the f-word after reading this and it is written in a very humorous and cheeky way, I think I've seen the f-word in this book more than enough to last multiple lifetimes. Safe to say the f-word has been mentally f-ed out of my system.
February 26, 2024
Funnily enough despite making the point about how effective this particular swearword can be when used sparingly, this book rather overplays its own hand by not killing some of its darlings. If it was shorter, it would probably have a better rating since there are parts that actually funny.
October 3, 2017
Interesting and enjoyable.
July 15, 2019
Rather laboured and very British, but does have some interesting anecdotes.
June 30, 2020
Maybe I expected too much... It is funny and full of great fun facts, but overall not that interesting. Sorry
August 9, 2026
Well of course it gets five f**king stars! Richard E. Grant reading the most number f**is in one sitting. A f**king delight 🤣
April 17, 2020
Pretty entertaining book. I read as a audiobook. I agree with other reviews. There is a lot of f**k in this book. The ending was pretty awesome though... never ever did I expect that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2016
Complemented another book I recently read very well, Holy Shit. Although this was a bit more focused in on just the word fuck. Seems a bit ambitious to write a whole book about one word. Seems that there was plenty of space-fillers happening. What made it entertaining, though, were that simple definitions of fucky words, like fuckbeans and bumblefuck, which had me in stitches for quite some time. If the author weren't funny, this would have been a tedious read. He made it worth the while.
June 19, 2016
An informative and interesting account of world's most famous expletive. It even lists the proper usage of it and its variations, and also the history of the 'f-word' and its derivatives.
February 4, 2017
A thorough bore. I am writing this just to ensure no one else spends time reading this.
March 2, 2018
A little of this book goes a long way.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews