Pessimisms: Famous (and not so famous) Observations, Quotations, Thoughts, and Ruminations on What to Expect When You're Expecting the Worst [Mass Market Paperback]

Eric Marcus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

Bad things happen to everyone, and Pessimisms provides just the right words of irreverent inspiration to help you laugh at life and all of its nasty surprises. Inspired by the author's profoundly pessimistic late Grandma Ethel, Pessimisms offers wickedly witty observations, quotations, thoughts, and ruminations on:

FAMILY
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
--George Burns

FAITH
"God is love, but get it in writing."
--Gypsy Rose Lee

MEN
"The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing--and then marry him."
--Cher

LOVE
"Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell."
--Joan Crawford

LIFE
"Life isn't one damn thing after another. It's the same damn thing again and again."
--Edna St. Vincent Millay

HEALTH
"The only way to keep your health is the eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not."
--Mark Twain

OPTIMISM
"An optimist is a guy who has never had much experience."
--Don Marquis

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable' - Woody Allen" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Eric Marcus is the author of co-author of a dozen books, most of which can't be found at bookstores anywhere. He hopes you like Pessimisms, but he's not counting on it.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: CDS Books (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593150008
• ISBN-13: 978-1593150006
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,658,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Clever & very timely!, April 30, 2003

By 

Von Ramsey (Lompoc, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pessimisms: Famous (and not so famous) Observations, Quotations, Thoughts, and Ruminations on What to Expect When You're Expecting the Worst (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a fan of quotation books, and this is as good as any I have ever come across. Pessimisms is a great title for it. The quotations, though, could be collected under "realisms", I think.
It must be true about writers that they are at their best when their view is less sunny, not so cheerful. This collection is amusing, thoughtful, and makes a great gift. Marcus does a nice job of weaving in his personal story with the quotations. And, the book is nicely done for an inexpensive edition. A winner all the way around.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, witty, and the perfect antidote to the news, May 1, 2003

By 

Val Barlow (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pessimisms: Famous (and not so famous) Observations, Quotations, Thoughts, and Ruminations on What to Expect When You're Expecting the Worst (Mass Market Paperback)

The author, Eric Marcus, has does a great service with this. I loved the selections, and I really enjoyed his stories about his Aunt Ethel. Despite the title, these are not really pessimistic quotes. Most all the authors get the message across that life may not be easy, but we move on and get through it. Optimism via faux pessimism? Could be. This is one I really enjoyed.

2.0 out of 5 stars Payed too much and was left deflated..., March 29, 2007

By 

Dr. James E. Collins "Quote seeker" (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pessimisms: Famous (and Not So Famous) Observations, Quotations, Thoughts, and Ruminations on What to Expect When You're Expecting the Worst (Paperback)

I was not extremely impressed with this text. For the price, I expected more reading. It was a book I could fit into my front pocket. I read it in its entirety in two settings. I thought it would be a little more humorous. I was expecting sarcasm but found it bordering cynanical.