The Devil's Dictionaries: The Best of the Devil's Dictionary and the American Heretic's Dictionary [Paperback]

Ambrose Bierce (Author), Chaz Bufe (Author), J. R. Swanson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

This compilation of hundreds of biting, witty, cruel, and hilarious definitions combines the best 200 definitions from Ambrose Bierce's classic 'The Devil's Dictionary', with more than 500 definitions from the most humorous and stinging entries in Chaz Bufe's 'The American Heretic's Dictionary'. This new edition includes 50 new definitions from Bufe and new biting illustrations by San Francisco artist and filmmaker J R Swanson. The Bierce definitions focus on his favourite targets, including religion, jingoism masquerading as patriotism, the 'lickspittle' press, the thievery inherent in the American economic system, and the multitude of idiocies and hypocrisies pervading American social and political life. Bufe's definitions share many of the same targets, but also skewer such contemporary plagues as the 'right to life' movement, religious fundamentalism, the IRS, and the puritanically 'politically correct'. Bufe also turns a jaundiced eye on both male and female sexual attitudes, something which Bierce, writing in much more conservative times, was not free to do.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The funniest people I know all seem to have a copy of the Ambrose Bierce classic, The Devil's Dictionary, begun in 1881, which is not Satanic, but is certainly one of the most cynical (yet truthful) collections of bubble-popping definitions for many of our most sacred cows. This edition also contains a considerably longer modern successor to Bierce's classic, by Chaz Bufe, written in the same spirit but updated for the 1990s. Highly recommended to anyone who craves the truth behind the pretense. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

""As amazing as it may seem, Bufe surpasses Bierce in the cleverness and incisiveness of his satire. Some people may be offended by this book, but Bufe hits the target so many times, it's hard to stop laughing."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: See Sharp Press; 2nd edition (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884365353
• ISBN-13: 978-1884365355
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,414,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Makes you appreciate the real thing, July 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Devil's Dictionaries, Revised and Expanded: The Devil's Dictionary and the American Heretic's... (Paperback)

_The Devil's Dictionary_ has long been one of my favorite books of all time. Ambrose Bierce's satirical definitions are elegant jewels of sardonic wit, hard and sparkling as diamonds. The publisher of this book has had the inspired notion of showcasing Bierce's wit by displaying it side by side with the work of a truly moronic and talentless imitator, one "Chaz Bufe" (a name Bierce himself might have invented for one of the "poets" whose works grace certain definitions in his own classic work). Bierce's diamonds of wit glow all the more brightly in contrast with the rank and malodorous cow pie that is "The American Heretic's Dictionary."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new classic in satire and political humor, September 21, 2004

By 

Will Hancock "wilhandcok" (Joplin, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Devil's Dictionaries: The Best of the Devil's Dictionary and the American Heretic's Dictionary (Paperback)

I have been a fan of Ambrose Bierce for many years, and I've often wished that someone would update and add to his classic
Devil's Dictionary. Bufe has done a great job of blending his definitions with those of Bierce. Bufe certainly has the sardonic wit and caustic humor that characterized "Bitter" Bierce. Instead of reading the old reprints of Bierce's D.D., I would highly recommend this updated and overhauled version of that classic satire.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Funny Pick Up and Read Book, July 30, 2005

By 

Craig Spears - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Devil's Dictionaries: The Best of the Devil's Dictionary and the American Heretic's Dictionary (Paperback)

Bierce's is obviously a classic and Bufe modernizes it wonderfully in his new version which lashes out at society just as well as it's inspiration albeit with slighty more layman language. Both books (despite what some seem to think) are decidedly anti-religious and leftist. That doesn't mean, however, that liberals are left unharmed though. All in all I think it's target audience will find it a fun read and it's targeted victims will be the only ones whining about it.