The Portable Curmudgeon Redux [Hardcover]

Jon Winokur (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1992

The Portable Curmudgeon returns with a compilation of more than one thousand brand new crotchety, caustic comments uttered by the world's greatest grumps, from Oscar Wilde to Woody Allen. 100,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1ST edition (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525934898
• ISBN-13: 978-0525934899
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #714,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A welcome addition to any grouch's library, May 25, 2002

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Portable Curmudgeon Redux (Hardcover)

Those among us who are generally grouchy and pessimistic can find solace and support in the pages of this book. Indeed, the Portable Curmudgeon Redux is a celebration of the art of complaining. You don't have to be a misanthrope to enjoy the humor, but eternally happy, effervescent souls will find little reason to even glance at these pages. This is the province of realism, satire, rapier wit, irritability, and--above all--humor; this book really doesn't take itself too seriously. The book offers a dictionary of quotations for such selected words and concepts as love, marriage, life, lawyers, and advertising, the jewels of wisdom coming from such individuals as Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, and H. L. Mencken. Several specific topics (such as American Presidents, music, and fine art) are singled out for special attention. There are also interviews with personalities such as P.J. O'Rourke, Larry Gelbart, Florence King, and Carrie Fisher. No subject is taboo or safe from the skewering stick of sarcasm, and many of the statements are thought-provoking or just plain funny enough to make special note of. Amuse your friends or pester your enemies with curmudeonly quotes on all manner of subjects.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A KEEPER, December 5, 1999

By 

"anonymous_chick" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Portable Curmudgeon Redux (Hardcover)

Calling all cars! Calling all cars! Be on the look-out for a funny, acerbic collection of smart-alec quotes from the 20th century's greatest cynical wags. Suspect is armed and dangerous with several witticisms, hilarious one-liners and quips. Proceed carefully; you could die laughing.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorite books...when you need a good laugh reach for this!, January 6, 2007

By 

K. L Sadler "Dr. Karen L. Sadler" (Freedom, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Portable Curmudgeon Redux (Hardcover)

I just spotted this book again while looking at my other books, to find ones to get rid of to make room for books I am getting for cell biology and microbiology (teaching). Anyway, I'd forgotten how very funny this collection is, and it got me to wondering about one of the major problems in this country today is the declining of American humor. We especially need political humorists that write rather than be on television or radio because oftentimes they say something that if not written down will be forgotten. So many of the humorists in this book are from the same time period, the early to mid-1900s, and many were journalists or writers. We don't seem to have those guys any more and that is our loss. We need people to say sarcastic and pithy and witty comments to the incredibly stupid things done in politics, corporations, and modern society. This is one of those books my husband hates to have me reading, because I want to share all this stuff with him, and I will read it late in the night, laughing my head off. Luckily, he's a heavy sleeper, or he would be up with me all night!

A very enjoyable book. They should definitely think about reissuing and updating this book. Surely Jay Leno, or the political humorists today on CNN and comedy channels must say something occasionally that is worth repeating for generations to enjoy. I sure wish I could come up with retorts such as these guys wrote (and some women) as quickly as they did, but unfortunately, that gene bypassed me and went to my husband and kids. Sometimes you just need a good laugh, no matter what your usual reading preferences are!

Karen Sadler