Rating: 
Summary: How Do They Know That?
Review: I always wondered how speakers knew all those quotations. Now I know. They check "Barltett's Quotations."This book consists of an extensive collection of thousands of familiar quotations from hundreds of sources spanning the history of the world. Biblical books, literary works, historical figures, authors, politicians, religious figures and even the anonymous all contribute to this vast collection. The collection is assembled by source, listed, more or less, chronologically. The book contains two indices. In the front, the reader finds the Index by Authors. After the quotations, we find a general index of topics. For each listing in the general index, we find the lead word as a heading with the citation for each lead word with the words which follow it in the quotation. I have found this book to be a valuable resource on many occasions. Just reading through it educates the reader to the source of many sayings with which we are familiar. When I have been searching my brain for the particular phrase, I have often found it in "Bartlett's". When looking for a witty phrase with which to liven a speech, "Bartlett's" often comes in handy. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who needs a source for quotations for speeches, writings, or just to satisfy your own curiosity.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not 100% accurate.
Review: I have found Bartlett's pretty accurate. Although I am by no means an expert but will rebel when I find what I feel is an error. I wrote to the publishers concerning a misquote of an Arthur Conan Doyle story. My letter although correct was ignored and the error still is printed in the latest volume. RE: The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. Too bad Sherlock Holmes never spoke for himself. Watson was very eloquent though, eh. I've had a Bartlett's since 1981 when the cover was red. I still remember my good friend Richard "Doc" Gauger.
Rating:
Summary: It's one of the great books for thinking a doing people.
Review: I have had a copy for over twenty five years and it always makes my day brighter by meditateing on the thoughts great thinkers share with the world. I have redhashed the thoughts and used them in writeing, in speaking and in instructive teaching a even in church as a teacher. I would hate to be without it. I intend to get a new copy to reap the benefits of new quotations that have been added.
Rating:
Summary: This is indispensable for writing
Review: I like this book and look for odd sayings to spring on people at work. The index is just large enough to find things that you were not looking for. So be warned that this book will take more of your time than day trading. However if you are of limited funds you need to look at Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus ISBN: 0316101389, first. There are not as many good quotes but the combination of Bartlett and Roget's is better by far than either one alone. Just place this number in the search box 0316101389 and press ok.
Rating:
Summary: Required For the Serious Public Speaker or Persuasive Writer
Review: I'm a politician and frequently prepare speeches and articles that are meant to persuade or provide appropriate commentary. Bartlett's is indespensible if your style accomodates the quoting of others. For those moments when I must mark events (Memorial Day) or meet an expectation of seriousness I find Bartlett's to be an excellent source for just the right phrase. This is a massive reference book, which is good in and of itself. Where Bartlett's really shines is in it's organization. Quotes in the body are arranged chronologically and by author. The index is superb, with quotes locatable by subject and author. For most topics, the writer will be confronted with multiple quotes from which to choose which best illustrates the heft and value of this tome. My only criticism, which has been noted by other commentators, is that this latest edition does seem to be moderately invaded by political correctness. For example, the quotes selected to characterize Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher almost seem to be designed to belittle their historic contributions and commentary -- while much more historic and significant utterances are ignored (missing for example are "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall," or any of Reagan's wonderful D-Day commemmoration speech). I personnally find this annoying because my need for quotes does run to the political. One also gets the sneaky suspicion that some of the newer entries were inserted for reasons other than the significance or value of the quote. That said however, the book is an excellent resource. It is rich, covering almost any topic you may want to highlight and reaches back to beyond biblical times for quotable utterances. A must for any reference library.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have resource for your reference library...
Review: I've loved this book since I was a child. It is one my parents always left out for us to refer to as we were growing up, and I used to get lost in it as a child. As an adult, I find myself picking it up to look up one particular thing, and I still get sucked in for an hour or more. I have a ton of those little Post-It flags in the book to help me remember something I want to pass onto a friend. I use this book regularly, and it's one I'd never want to give up. The book is arranged in a fairly standard format. At the beginning there is the alphabetical index of authors with page numbers. Then the quotes begin, listed chronologically (with which I have absolutely no problem, unlike some other reviewers). They begin with "The Song of the Harper" from c. 2650 - 2600 B.C. and go all the way to Monty Python, 1969 - 1974. There is a nice section of quotes by the famous "Anonymous", as well as nursery rhymes, shanties, and spirituals. The second half of the book is comprised of the index, which lists things by keyword, directing one to the page and item number (a pretty standard format). All in all I find this book to be an invaluable addition to my home reference library, and don't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive!
Review: Inspirational, entertaining, and thought-provoking, this is one collection of great quotations that no library or bookshelf should be without. Sincerely, Diana J. Dell, author, "Memories Are Like Clouds" and "A Saigon Party: And Other Vietnam War Short Stories."
Rating: 
Summary: Organization and Format Lacking
Review: It should be noted that some reviews here refer to editions PRIOR to the new 17th edition of Bartlett's. For example, Ronald Reagan's Berlin speech "...tear down this wall..." is included in this latest edition along with other updates and revisions. I would agree with others that it is probably worthwhile to hold onto earlier editions of timepieces/repositories of additional quotes that, with the march of time, get squeezed out of current and future edtions. Every home should have at least one of these in it though. Nice to see the positive influence of the weekly television treasure, SUNDAY MORNING with Charles Osgood. This book was entertainingly featured yesterday (12/8/02) and visiting Amazon[.com] today, I see the book's sales have jumped 28,150%!
Rating:
Summary: Changes in new edition
Review: It should be noted that some reviews here refer to editions PRIOR to the new 17th edition of Bartlett's. For example, Ronald Reagan's Berlin speech "...tear down this wall..." is included in this latest edition along with other updates and revisions. I would agree with others that it is probably worthwhile to hold onto earlier editions of timepieces/repositories of additional quotes that, with the march of time, get squeezed out of current and future edtions. Every home should have at least one of these in it though. Nice to see the positive influence of the weekly television treasure, SUNDAY MORNING with Charles Osgood. This book was entertainingly featured yesterday (12/8/02) and visiting Amazon[.com] today, I see the book's sales have jumped 28,150%!
Rating: 
Summary: Do not order at any cost
Review: This ebook version is totally unusable. The interface is fine for a document that will be read page by page. It is impossible for this 1,00+ page reference book. When you download it and find it is completely unsable, you will then find that Amazon is not making refunds on ebooks. THAT FACT IS NOT SHOWN ON THIS PAGE. Save your [$$$]. If you want Bartlett's - as many of us do - buy the printed version. This virtual version [stinks]. [Of course that is a technical term.]
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