Rating: 
Summary: A definitive collection
Review: 'The Devil's Dictionary' is an interesting, very intellectually cynical collection of proposed definitions to words collected by Ambrose Gwinett Bierce, a journalist, writer, Civil War veteran, and general misanthrope, who disappeared without a trace in Mexico about 1914. In the words of H.L. Mencken, Bierce has produced 'some of the most gorgeous witticism of the English language.' Bierce delights in irreverence and poking fun at all aspects of life. Bierce's own definition of dictionary gives some insight into his general thought patterns: 'Dictionary, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work.' This would lead us to conclude (most correctly) that Bierce is a world-class cynic. What is a cynic? 'Cynic, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.' Originally published under the title 'The Cynic's Word Book', most of the definitions in this book originally appeared as part newspaper columns. There have been many imitators, but this is the first and finest collection. Arranged as a dictionary, it provides an interesting writer's tool for finding a unique perspective on words and phrases. There are more than 1000 entries. A few examples include: 'Outdo, v.t., To make an enemy.' 'Universalist, n. One who foregoes the advantage of a Hell for persons of another faith.' Fair warning -- those who do not like cynicism and scathing wit will find this book irritating, and sometimes offensive. Bierce is a product of his generation; political correctness wasn't in vogue then, and, even if it had been, Bierce would have been one of the sharpest critics. As a Christian priest, I take great delight in the insights from Bierce's criticism of religion in general, and Christianity in particular. 'Christian, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.' Why does this ring so true? Of course, there is the old adage that if you scratch a cynic, you'll find an idealist. Bierce would undoubtedly have described himself as a realist, but buried beneath many layers of cynicism, one can sense the idealism. Why did Bierce go to Mexico? Perhaps his underlying idealism led him to a country that was awash in revolutionary ideas; perhaps those ideas are what cost him his life. Perhaps he went underground? It is possible we will never know. The publisher of this volume, one of but many reprints of the text over time, says: 'The caustic aphorisms collected in "The Devil's Dictionary" helped earn Ambrose Bierce the epithets Bitter Bierce, the Devil's Lexicographer, and the Wickedest Man in San Francisco. The words he shaped into verbal pitchforks a century ago--with or without the devil's help--can still draw blood today.' This book is very useful for generating ideas for writing and reflection. It is a good counterpoint to 'guides to positive thinking' kinds of material, and can serve as a tempering agent on such collections.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: A classic that should be read by everyone. Many will hate it but it's a part of every American's heritage -- and probably more relevant in some ways today than when it was written a hundred years ago. Bierce was the only noted American writer who actually fought in the Civil War. All the other notables -- like Mark Twain -- dodged the draft. So for many years Bierce was the only major American writer who'd actually experienced the blood and guts of actual combat. He ended up a bitter man -- but the questions he raises are good ones. And he does it with a wit that is seldom seen in writing today.
Rating: 
Summary: Timely Devils
Review: A major selling point of this book is the poetry that leavens it with sarcasm. It also exemplifies how little politics etc. changes from one century to another. So much remains applicable! Also a handy reference for cutting quotations.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy Addition to Your Library
Review: A veteran of the 1861-65 U.S. Civil War who mysteriously disappeared during the 1910-20 Mexican Civil War, the caustically irreverent Bierce was the H. L. Mencken of the 19th century (or Mencken was the Bierce of the 20th century). His timeless and ego-deflating observations of Homo Sapiens reminds us that today's 21st century politics and pop culture were well-known to this 1842-born iconoclast. For instance, he defined a conservative as, "A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others" (1993 p.18). He defined a homeopathist as "The humorist of the medical profession" (p.51). He defined a clairvoyant as "A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron-- namely, that he is a blockhead (p.16). The expositions on everything from men and women to ghouls are too long to quote here but are also incisively amusing.
Rating:
Summary: Great for the cynic(s) in the family...
Review: Actually, this slender volume can be enjoyed by anyone who can appreciate a little dark humor. The page count is miniscule, but the price is right, and the smirk-per-word ratio is as high as it gets. Apart from being a great work of humor, "The Devil's Dictionary" is also a delight for students of human nature. Oops, I already mentioned cynics. Never mind.
Rating:
Summary: Not your ordinary dictionary
Review: Ambrose Bierce is definitely the past master of the incredible. He has written fantastic stories that are still taught in the English classroom today such as his most famous work "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". Bierce, however, takes a turn from storywriting to give us his cynical defintions to our everyday words that we use in our everyday language. His definitions are both hilarious and well done, and will keep any reader entertained. There are highly quotable lines in this book, such as his definition for abstainer - a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
These definitions are priceless, and I would highly recommend any reader, whether a fan of Bierce or not, to give this book a try.
Rating:
Summary: Not your ordinary dictionary
Review: Ambrose Bierce is definitely the past master of the incredible. He has written fantastic stories that are still taught in the English classroom today such as his most famous work "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". Bierce, however, takes a turn from storywriting to give us his cynical defintions to our everyday words that we use in our everyday language. His definitions are both hilarious and well done, and will keep any reader entertained. There are highly quotable lines in this book, such as his definition for abstainer - a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
These definitions are priceless, and I would highly recommend any reader, whether a fan of Bierce or not, to give this book a try.
Rating:
Summary: A classic of 19th century American literature
Review: Ambrose Bierce was a man of many distinctions - writer, journalist, humorist, and Civil War veteran. We all remember reading his classic story "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" in eighth grade English class. Bierce is best known for his ghoulish horror tales, which were on a par with Edgar Allan Poe, but his greatest work was The Devil's Dictionary. A scathing parody of Webster's dictionary, Bierce's volume was a showcase for his brilliant, caustic wit. This is Bierce at his best, mixing comedy with social commentary, unleashing his anarchistic convictions to the hilt! Bierce blasts away at God and country and all that is respected and proper. He defines patriot as "the dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors", a Conservative as "a statesman who is enamored of existing evils" and a clergyman as "a man who undertakes the management of our spiritual affairs as a method of bettering his temporal ones" and so on. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe in this classic work of 19th century American literature which continues to attract just as much controversy and outrage today as it did when it was first published. A must read for all students of literature, dissenters, and fans of caustic humor!
Rating:
Summary: A classic of 19th century American literature
Review: Ambrose Bierce was a man of many distinctions - writer, journalist, humorist, and Civil War veteran. We all remember reading his classic story "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" in eighth grade English class. Bierce is best known for his ghoulish horror tales, which were on a par with Edgar Allan Poe, but his greatest work was The Devil's Dictionary. A scathing parody of Webster's dictionary, Bierce's volume was a showcase for his brilliant, caustic wit. This is Bierce at his best, mixing comedy with social commentary, unleashing his anarchistic convictions to the hilt! Bierce blasts away at God and country and all that is respected and proper. He defines patriot as "the dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors", a Conservative as "a statesman who is enamored of existing evils" and a clergyman as "a man who undertakes the management of our spiritual affairs as a method of bettering his temporal ones" and so on. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe in this classic work of 19th century American literature which continues to attract just as much controversy and outrage today as it did when it was first published. A must read for all students of literature, dissenters, and fans of caustic humor!
Rating:
Summary: Humour before its time
Review: American writing can, to a British reader, come across as cloying over-blown and tiresome. Ambrose Bierce is a shining exception. His "Devil's Dictionary" is a masterpiece of the epigrammatic paragraph. My favourite definition? (Sadly not included in this edition): "Dice: a cube of ivory contructed, like a lawyer, to lie on any side, usually the wrong one". A library must-have.
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