A Slap in the Face: Why Insults Hurt--And Why They Shouldn't
Philosophy professor Irvine begins this intriguing book with an examination of the various types of insult: verbal and physical, of course, but also practical jokes, the silent treatment, backbiting, insults by omission, insults by implication, accidental insults, sarcasm, and so on. Readers looking to add to their stock of insults will find much good material here, but they’ll also find an insightful analysis of the way we insult each other, why we do it, how we react, and how we can adjust our notion of insults and modify our reactions to them. Do we tend to overreact to insults? Do we see an insult where none is intended? Especially interesting is the author’s look at the ways we, as a society, have attempted to deal with insults and his analysis of whether these approaches are successful, or even necessary (perhaps the best way to deal with insults is simply to laugh them off). Written in a lively, entertaining style, the book is intended for a general audience, and anyone who picks it up should find something of interest. --David Pitt