Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting Novelty, Esoteric Reference, And Numbing Read
Review: A big huzzah to the courage of Random House for publishing this crass, uncouth, vulgar, disgusting, arguably sexist, yet interesting and entertaining little book. More than anything it's a novelty, a fun thing to keep on your shelf, lend to a buddy, and from which to draw the perfect quote or phrase for your next dinner party with the Royal Family. This being said, one has to recognize the impressive research and work done by editor Scheidlower; it is comprehensive.Prospective readers need to keep in mind that this is a dictionary, and as such is structured exactly like any other dictionary, with all of the standard formatting and notation. This makes reading this book slow and jerky, ultimately affecting overall enjoyment. Interesting and useful within the individual entries are chronological notations, providing historical information on the origins and evolution of your favorite f-----g phrases. The foreword by Roy Blount, Jr. provides the book a touch of literati legitimacy, but is ultimately rambling and unfocused. Sure, it's interesting, but he's not saying anything we don't already know. The book concludes with a far too brief "Guide To The F-Word In Some Other Languages." Inspired concept, extremely poor execution. No, we don't need hundreds of pages exploring f--k in other languages, but if you're going to provide this little goodie, go the extra mile and complete the work. Yeah, German, French, Spanish, Latin, even Esperanto, Hebrew, and Basque are listed, but where are Sicilian, Corsican, Boer, Swahili, etc.? I've just gotta know!
Rating: 
Summary: This book should vilify, not glorify.
Review: I read this book while doing research for my own book, CUSS CONTROL, the Complete Book on How to Curb your Cursing. I give the editor credit for the compilation, but for what purpose? Some of the expressions are clever, some are funny, but most are not. People who read this book looking for new ways to express themselves should determine if they will come across as amusing or just crass. While I believe the basic word has some value, promoting its use is a social disservice. The fact that the book has received so many favorable reviews reflects the decline of civility and the dumbing down of both our language and our concept of what is funny. My book has an entire chapter on this word that is not only more amusing, but also thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: An alternative dictionary and word history
Review: I seriously believe there's no such thing as an "obscene" word; it's usage that gives a word any perceived obscenity. That said, "The F Word" is an interesting little book that doesn't mince...um...words. The smart and irreverent introduction provides you with the etymology of the f word; Roy Blount's foreword is another nice touch. Then there's the body of the book. This is a dictionary, straight and simple. Like any other dictionary, it gets a little eye-numbing if you try to read it straight through. This is a volume to dip into in bits and pieces. The F Word is a definitive study of a the word that we're not supposed to say but all know so very well! Use it for humor, use it for reference, use it your own word education. Writers stuck for an insult within their prose will certainly find a plethora of potential in these pages.
Rating:
Summary: An alternative dictionary and word history
Review: I seriously believe there's no such thing as an "obscene" word; it's usage that gives a word any perceived obscenity. That said, "The F Word" is an interesting little book that doesn't mince...um...words. The smart and irreverent introduction provides you with the etymology of the f word; Roy Blount's foreword is another nice touch. Then there's the body of the book. This is a dictionary, straight and simple. Like any other dictionary, it gets a little eye-numbing if you try to read it straight through. This is a volume to dip into in bits and pieces. The F Word is a definitive study of a the word that we're not supposed to say but all know so very well! Use it for humor, use it for reference, use it your own word education. Writers stuck for an insult within their prose will certainly find a plethora of potential in these pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Swearing is cool
Review: Swearing is pretty cool. It's funny to go up to someone and say something like "get the f away from me, you f'in f'ball," especially right during the middle of the "Our Father" during mass. Yup, it sure is funny.
Rating:
Summary: F'in fabulous reference for the lexicon geek
Review: Thanks to ADHD, I have a hard time focusing for any length of time on the written word, but I love reference books and I love the English language. I have numerous lexicons from American Slang, to quotations, scientific dictionaries, etc. This one is not for the kids, but it has come in helpful a number of times. I used to feel pretty hip, but now that my teen years are far behind me, I no longer know everything - and I am really feeling like an old codger when I hear a new phrase on TV or in a movie I've never heard before. If someone has remolded the "F-word" into another word or phrase, it's in this little dictionary. Almost an encyclopedia of the F-word. Each entry gives an approximate date of usage (some usages are timeless, and used for over a hundred years, some are over a hundred years old and just aren't used at all. If the phrase or word first showed up in a book or movie, that reference is also given. Examples are cited and the origins of how each word evolved (as appropriate) are also noted. As needed, a listing will note if it is a colloquialism for an age group, racial group, sexual lifestyle group, etc. I had no idea what Stevie Wonder's song "Bad Mamma Jamma" meant until reading the definition in this text! The illustrations are clever, and surprisingly not vulgar, considering what book they are in. This is far more than just a snicker-fest - although you can sit down and read it and giggle here & there, it is truly a reference book for American slang at its worst.
Rating:
Summary: Funny at first...
Review: The first few pages of this book is f'ing funny!! But after about 5 minutes, one gets pretty tired of it. I got this as a gift, but i don't think i would spend money on this book. In my opinion, this is not a really good read or a good buy, but rather a cool novelty gift, or an easy way to impress your friends, and laugh for a few minutes. Don't know if it's only me, but Bevis & Butthead come into mind when i think about someone reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: ...brilliant.
Review: This book contains probably more than anyone could possibly want to know (but at least have at one point contemplated during drunken conversation with friends) about a word that..., still has the power to shock and/or offend. The fact that this book does exist and has been so thoroughly researched before being released confirms what most people have suspected for quite some time; that words indeed are losing their force as a means of communication. This (drastically overworked) term, once found predominantly in hard-edged movies ("Scarface" being the most obvious example to come to mind) and hardcore rap/heavy metal music is now found in mainstream, widely acceptable films such as "High Fidelity" and cool '60's-style pop music acts such as the ridiculously brilliant Dandy Warhols. We have to face up to the fact that the shock value of the word is gone (although writing it out in an Amazon review will still result in its censorship). That being as it may, I know there are still those who consider themselves to be guardians of the English language (a lot of them being English teachers) who still take offense at the proliferation of the word...
Rating:
Summary: F***ing brilliant.
Review: This book contains probably more than anyone could possibly want to know (but at least have at one point contemplated during drunken conversations with friends) about a word that, judging by some of the horrified reviews I've read before posting my own, still has the power to shock and/or offend. The fact that this book does exist and has been so thoroughly researched before being released confirms what most people have suspected for quite some time; that words indeed are losing their force as a means of communication. This (drastically overworked) term, once found predominantly in hard-edged movies ("Scarface" being the most obvious example to come to mind) and hardcore rap/heavy metal music is now found in mainstream, widely acceptable films such as "High Fidelity" and cool '60's-style pop music acts such as the ridiculously brilliant Dandy Warhols. We have to face up to the fact that the shock value of the word is gone (although writing it out in an Amazon review will still result in its censorship). That being as it may, I know there are still those who consider themselves to be guardians of the English language (a lot of them being English teachers) who still take offense at the proliferation of the word. I'd like to see these elbow-patched, corduroy-jacketed souls buying a copy of this book and assigning a student who was misfortunate enough to be heard uttering the expression the task of reading the book and submitting a 10-page report on it. F***, I'm tempted to do it just to see if I can get it published somewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: A fascinating look at a well-worn word.
Review: This book is certainly different, if nothing else. It contains a distressingly complete etymology of everyone's favourite word, dating back to the 1600s. All sorts of phrases containing 'the magic word' are included and referenced, as well as some words of equivalent meaning, some euphemisms for it ('freak', for example), and some great abbreviations (eg 'BUFF'). A great range of sources are used, from James Joyce to Madonna to Usenet erotica newsgroup posts. All serve to illustrate the point that the 'F-word' is one of the more versatile words in our language, and can fit into virtually any situation. All in all, it's a fascinating and funny read for anyone interested in the English language, and I'm sure it says something that the history of a word such as this is so much more easily documented than probably any other word.
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