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The book is widely lauded for its clear, engaging, and excellent presentation of a complex topic. Reviewers consistently praise its fluent writing style, making it an accessible and quick read. Many highlight the book's beautiful publication quality, including its striking illustrations. It is commended for offering an insightful exposition into the etymology, development, and usage of a specific term in the Dutch language, providing concrete historical context and examples, particularly concerning its evolution in dictionaries and children's literature. Readers appreciate how the book deepens their understanding of the word's controversial and loaded nature, reinforcing why its use is considered inappropriate. It is generally regarded as an important and highly recommended work.

Despite the overall positive reception, some criticisms emerge regarding the book's scope and focus. One reviewer suggests the author may not be the most competent voice on the origin of the term, while others point out that the book occasionally delves more into the history of Dutch colonialism rather than solely focusing on the word's linguistic history. A significant point of contention for one reviewer is the book's perceived narrow geographical scope, specifically its exclusive attention to Dutch in the Netherlands and Suriname, while entirely omitting the term's evolution and usage in Flanders. This omission is seen as a notable gap, potentially reflecting a form of "Dutch superiority thinking."

Overall, the book is considered a valuable and insightful contribution to understanding the social and historical dimensions of language. It is generally highly recommended for its clarity and the depth it brings to a sensitive subject, despite some critiques concerning its breadth of coverage. This book would particularly appeal to readers interested in the historical and societal impact of language, the evolution of specific terms, and the intersection of colonial history with linguistic development in the Dutch-speaking world. It is also highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand the historical context and reasons behind the charged nature of certain words.