-In taking on vulgarity, profanity, and obscenity in US and international news media, Lasky looks at the use of asterisks, ampersands, and exclamation marks to mask curse words. He also notes the migration of the asterisk in newspapers from curse words to become the equivalent of journalistic footnotes, e.g., in describing the -stain- on Monica Lewinsky's dress... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Comprehensive collections in journalism and literary criticism supporting graduate study and research.-

--R. A. Logan, Choice

-This is a very discursive volume, almost more like an enlightened and erudite discussion, from a man who has observed (and clipped!) the press for decades.-

--Chris Sterling, editor Communication Booknotes Quarterly

"In taking on vulgarity, profanity, and obscenity in US and international news media, Lasky looks at the use of asterisks, ampersands, and exclamation marks to mask curse words. He also notes the migration of the asterisk in newspapers from curse words to become the equivalent of journalistic footnotes, e.g., in describing the "stain" on Monica Lewinsky's dress... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Comprehensive collections in journalism and literary criticism supporting graduate study and research."

--R. A. Logan, Choice

"This is a very discursive volume, almost more like an enlightened and erudite discussion, from a man who has observed (and clipped!) the press for decades."

--Chris Sterling, editor Communication Booknotes Quarterly

"In taking on vulgarity, profanity, and obscenity in US and international news media, Lasky looks at the use of asterisks, ampersands, and exclamation marks to mask curse words. He also notes the migration of the asterisk in newspapers from curse words to become the equivalent of journalistic footnotes, e.g., in describing the "stain" on Monica Lewinsky's dress... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Comprehensive collections in journalism and literary criticism supporting graduate study and research."

--R. A. Logan, Choice

"This is a very discursive volume, almost more like an enlightened and erudite discussion, from a man who has observed (and clipped!) the press for decades."

--Chris Sterling, editor Communication Booknotes Quarterly