| Edition |
First edition. |
| Descript |
xxiii, 310 pages ; 25 cm |
|
text txt rdacontent |
|
unmediated n rdamedia |
|
volume nc rdacarrier |
| Summary |
"In the age of hot takes and trolling, this expansive and funny study of the art and science of trash talk reveals something essential about public life--and even human nature. In the modern economy and culture, fame and virality have become increasingly difficult to separate from success. From athletes to comedians to politicians to big-ticket CEOs, everyone seemingly has to manage their brand. Saying the wrong thing is often more profitable than saying the right one. We are all, it seems, engaged in a giant insult comedy roast, even when we don't want to be. The tradition of talking trash goes back to ancient Greece, and is not always innocent fun. Who gets to do it to whom, how, and when? In this energetic and wide-ranging book, Rafi Kohan takes the measure of this sneakily important practice. Talking to historians, athletes, comedians, and more, he describes what they do and why they do it, and also asks why it's so central to the human experience. From military stress tests at Fort Bragg to the basketball court to the Jeff Ross Roast Battle, he writes about what's funny and what's mean, where the line is, and the consequences--sometimes severe--of crossing it. Trash Talk is full of good jokes and bad jokes, name-calling and moralizing. But it's also belonging, freedom, and how to live with other people"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Contents |
Preface -- Section I: In the beginning, there was smack. Look who's talking ; The business of trash talk ; A good heel is hard to find -- Section II: The art and science of talking shit. Are you a kangaroo? ; The most critical dimension ; The last 10 percent -- Section III: The answer to trash talk. How to respond (or not respond) ; The makings of mental toughness -- Section IV: The problem with the line. It's not compliment battle ; When to blow the whistle ; A legit societal conversation. |
| Local Note |
W3NF |
| Subject |
Invective -- Political aspects.
|
|
Invective -- Psychological aspects.
|
| Alt Title |
Only book about destroying your rivals that isn't total garbage |
| ISBN |
9781541788916 (hardcover) |
|
1541788915 (hardcover) |
|
