Rating: 
Summary: Not as Bitter as Bierce
Review: Ambrose Bierce (aka Bitter Bierce) wrote "The Devil's Dictionary" at the turn of the 20th Century. That 100 year old work still amazes and amuses with definitions such as "Pray--To ask that the laws of the Universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy."This work seeks to mine the same sarcastic vein which Bierce worked to such good effect. The result is somewhat uneven, and Bayan doesn't have quite the command of the English language that Bierce did. At its best, however, "The Cynic's Dictionary" gives us definitions every bit as funny, not quite as caustic, and much more timely than Bierce's work. E.g.: "Science Fiction--Fairy tales for nerds." As a science fiction fan of many years' standing, I can wholeheartedly endorse that definition.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Bitter as Bierce
Review: Ambrose Bierce (aka Bitter Bierce) wrote "The Devil's Dictionary" at the turn of the 20th Century. That 100 year old work still amazes and amuses with definitions such as "Pray--To ask that the laws of the Universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy." This work seeks to mine the same sarcastic vein which Bierce worked to such good effect. The result is somewhat uneven, and Bayan doesn't have quite the command of the English language that Bierce did. At its best, however, "The Cynic's Dictionary" gives us definitions every bit as funny, not quite as caustic, and much more timely than Bierce's work. E.g.: "Science Fiction--Fairy tales for nerds." As a science fiction fan of many years' standing, I can wholeheartedly endorse that definition.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Bitter as Bierce
Review: Ambrose Bierce (aka Bitter Bierce) wrote "The Devil's Dictionary" at the turn of the 20th Century. That 100 year old work still amazes and amuses with definitions such as "Pray--To ask that the laws of the Universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy." This work seeks to mine the same sarcastic vein which Bierce worked to such good effect. The result is somewhat uneven, and Bayan doesn't have quite the command of the English language that Bierce did. At its best, however, "The Cynic's Dictionary" gives us definitions every bit as funny, not quite as caustic, and much more timely than Bierce's work. E.g.: "Science Fiction--Fairy tales for nerds." As a science fiction fan of many years' standing, I can wholeheartedly endorse that definition.
Rating:
Summary: mean people smile
Review: cheaper by the dozen and cheaper than The Onion! side-splitting humor compiled in a user-friendly format, making it the perfect gift for not just yourself, but all your cynical friends and family. Great humor at a great price - cannot go wrong here, unless you want to.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally, the Truth
Review: I recently reread portions of this book and just had to comment on it again. This book never fails to make me laugh. I would liken Bayan's command of the English language to Edgar Allan Poe - he's that great. The pen is truly mightier than the sword. The way that he leads you down a path with a definition and then clobbers you with the last few words is sheer brilliance. Bayan proves that most writers today are merely hacks, and it is a sheer joy to read this book. If you love laughing hysterically, and if you love intelligent writing, this book is a perfect read. I can only hope that a sequel sees the light of day. EXCELLENT.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, the Truth
Review: I recently reread portions of this book and just had to comment on it again. This book never fails to make me laugh. I would liken Bayan's command of the English language to Edgar Allan Poe - he's that great. The pen is truly mightier than the sword. The way that he leads you down a path with a definition and then clobbers you with the last few words is sheer brilliance. Bayan proves that most writers today are merely hacks, and it is a sheer joy to read this book. If you love laughing hysterically, and if you love intelligent writing, this book is a perfect read. I can only hope that a sequel sees the light of day. EXCELLENT.
Rating:
Summary: An equal-opportunity offender
Review: Rick Bayan leaves nothing and no one unscathed--he exposes the dark underside of everyone and everything for all to see in this book. Everything that bothers you about EVERYTHING we all deal with in life is the victim of Bayan's unyielding criticism. I loved this book though--sometimes I laughed out loud in public because the author cuts to the chase so well. Some of my favorite definitions: Exhaustion--Sufficient cause for the hospitalization of a celebrity; the normal state of existence fo the rest of the working world. Hometown: The community that nurtures us during our formative years, so that we might attend a good school, succeed handsomely and spend the rest of our lives somewhere else. You get the idea. Bayan tells it like it is--says on paper what the rest of us are thinking but don't dare say out loud. Great fun!
Rating:
Summary: An equal-opportunity offender
Review: Rick Bayan leaves nothing and no one unscathed--he exposes the dark underside of everyone and everything for all to see in this book. Everything that bothers you about EVERYTHING we all deal with in life is the victim of Bayan's unyielding criticism. I loved this book though--sometimes I laughed out loud in public because the author cuts to the chase so well. Some of my favorite definitions: Exhaustion--Sufficient cause for the hospitalization of a celebrity; the normal state of existence fo the rest of the working world. Hometown: The community that nurtures us during our formative years, so that we might attend a good school, succeed handsomely and spend the rest of our lives somewhere else. You get the idea. Bayan tells it like it is--says on paper what the rest of us are thinking but don't dare say out loud. Great fun!
Rating:
Summary: More fun than a barrel of oak cheese!
Review: The author skates the fine line between the profoundly insightful and the sophomorically silly. He knows that the Russian judge has him ticketed for a 7.5 regardless.
Rating:
Summary: Ambrose, move over!
Review: The Head Cynic has written a book into which he has expressed the frustrated views of the world's disgruntled idealists but in his own inimitable style. He has proven that just because you are a cynic it doesn't mean that you don't have a sense of (black) humour! For all those CD fans out there, join Rick at his website - http://www.amz.com/cynic END
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