{"title":"John McWhorter","description":"\u003cp\u003eJohn McWhorter offers incisive explorations into the intersections of language, culture, and social dynamics, challenging prevailing narratives with sharp linguistic insight. His works, such as \u003cem\u003eNine Nasty Words\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eWoke Racism\u003c\/em\u003e, provoke thoughtful debate on contemporary issues of race, identity, and communication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a blend of philosophy and social commentary grounded in linguistics and cultural studies, encouraging critical reflection on how language shapes and reflects societal attitudes. McWhorter's writing is both accessible and intellectually stimulating, ideal for those interested in the psychology of language and modern social discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"woke-racism","title":"Woke Racism","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eWoke Racism\u003c\/i\u003e, bestselling author and distinguished linguist John McWhorter explores how the modern conversation on race has taken a disturbing turn. This provocative and insightful book argues that an illiberal form of neoracism, cloaked in the guise of antiracism, is not only damaging to black communities but also threatens the cohesiveness of society at large. McWhorter takes a deep dive into this new ideology, exposing how it operates and highlighting its many contradictions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcWhorter delves into various aspects of this new form of antiracism. We are often encouraged to read books and enjoy music produced by people of colour, yet told that wearing certain cultural clothes is considered 'appropriation.' The assertion that being white comes with automatic privilege while being black labels one as an automatic victim complicates the dialogue further. Many who wish to challenge these assertions worry about being perceived as unwoke or, worse, labelled racists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to McWhorter, this issue stems from the fact that what purports to be a well-meaning and progressive movement has morphed into a rigid and dogmatic belief system—essentially a new religion. This religion of antiracism promotes ideas that are often illogical and unreachable, ultimately creating more division. The author illustrates how this belief system has foundational tenets, like the concept of 'white privilege' as an original sin, and employs tactics such as cancel culture to silence dissenters and enforce conformity. The fervour exhibited by the 'woke mob' mirrors that of evangelical zeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcWhorter goes further to show how these practices are actively harmful. For example, by infantilizing black individuals and setting black students up for failure, this new ideology inadvertently perpetuates the same problems it seeks to solve. Policies derived from this framework often have adverse effects on black communities, making the so-called antiracist initiatives counterproductive. These antiracist efforts inadvertently echo the racial essentialism of bygone racist ideologies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the grim analysis, McWhorter offers hope. He argues that it is not too late to resist and correct the course of woke racism. The book provides practical scripts and encouragement for those who wish to help friends and family members escape this ideological grip. Most importantly, McWhorter lays out a roadmap to justice that genuinely aims to uplift, rather than harm, black Americans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWoke Racism\u003c\/i\u003e is not merely a critique but a call to action, underpinned by the belief that genuine progress on racial issues is still possible. This highly significant work challenges readers to rethink their understanding of race and social justice, making it an essential read for anyone invested in the future of race relations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45707524964588,"sku":"9781800751446","price":21.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781800751446.jpg?v=1725900923"},{"product_id":"nine-nasty-words-by-john-mcwhorter-9780593421383","title":"Nine Nasty Words","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller now in paperback. One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eProfanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say \"f\u0026amp;*k!\" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLanguage evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. \u003cem\u003eNine Nasty Words\u003c\/em\u003e is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46532184539372,"sku":"9780593421383","price":51.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7203623482399.jpg?v=1749308056"},{"product_id":"nine-nasty-words-by-john-mcwhorter-9780593188798","title":"Nine Nasty Words","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNine Nasty Words\u003c\/em\u003e is a New York Times bestseller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eProfanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say \"f\u0026amp;*k!\" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLanguage evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. \u003cem\u003eNine Nasty Words\u003c\/em\u003e is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle — historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47536849944812,"sku":"9780593188798","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/1b324f4b348a399a2be045bf8bab22fe.jpg?v=1777948937"},{"product_id":"woke-racism-by-john-mcwhorter-9781800751422","title":"Woke Racism","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmericans of good will on both the left and the right are secretly asking themselves the same question: how has the conversation on race in America gone so crazy? We're told to read books and listen to music by people of colour but that wearing certain clothes is \"appropriation.\" We hear that being white automatically gives you privilege and that being Black makes you a victim. We want to speak up but fear we'll be seen as unwoke, or worse, labelled a racist. According to John McWhorter, the problem is that a well-meaning but pernicious form of antiracism has become, not a progressive ideology, but a religion—and one that's illogical, unreachable, and unintentionally neoracist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eWoke Racism\u003c\/i\u003e, McWhorter reveals the workings of this new religion, from the original sin of \"white privilege\" and the weaponisation of cancel culture to ban heretics, to the evangelical fervour of the \"woke mob.\" He shows how this religion that claims to \"dismantle racist structures\" is actually harming his fellow Black Americans by infantilising Black people, setting Black students up for failure, and passing policies that disproportionately damage Black communities. The new religion might be called \"antiracism,\" but it features a racial essentialism that's barely distinguishable from racist arguments of the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFortunately for Black America, and for all of us, it's not too late to push back against woke racism. McWhorter shares scripts and encouragement with those trying to deprogramme friends and family. And most importantly, he offers a roadmap to justice that actually will help, not hurt, Black America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47537492197612,"sku":"9781800751422","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/08459604b586a640f960f2585c326c29.jpg?v=1776909416"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/john-mcwhorter.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}