Rawson explores the evolution of "doubletalk"—words and phrases designed to make the bad seem good or the taboo seem acceptable. The book is organized alphabetically and covers a vast range of human experience, categorized into two main types:
These inflate the status of something humble (e.g., calling a janitor a "sanitary engineer"). A DICTIONARY Euphemisms ^Other Doubletalk
The author maintains a dry, scholarly humor throughout. He treats the human tendency toward obfuscation as both a necessary social lubricant and a dangerous tool for political manipulation. A DICTIONARY Euphemisms ^Other Doubletalk