An extremely entertaining compendium of bon mots, anecdotes, and trivia about Winston Churchill from a leading Churchill lecturer and performer -- useful for speakers, students, of history, and World War II buffs, as well as general readers.
The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill
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About the Author
James C. Humes is a former speechwriter for Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. He has written numerous books, including Instant Eloquence, Podium Humor, The Sir Winston Method, Citizen Shakespeare, and The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill. He lives in Philadelphia.
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74 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Be forewarned. The words of Sir Winston Churchill are not for everyone. If you are too timid, sensitive, politically correct, Victorian in outlook, or do not drink, you are not the ideal audience for this book. However, if you love stirring speeches, great epigrams, and explosive wit, then Winston is your man. Divided into several sections, the first deals with epigrams concerning subjects in general, for example; History--"A nation that forgets its past has no future." The next section deals with excepts from his most famous speeches: Their Finest Hour, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, etc. Then, Coiner of Phrases, a section dealing with famous words or sayings first attributed to him, such as Destroyer, for "light search and destroy vessel." Next, Saints and Sinners, a section reserved for his opinions of the great (and nearly great) of the world; his opinion of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George: "He could talk a bird out of a tree." Finally, the last (and best) section, Escapades and Encounters (aka Winston's Wit). Yes, here we have the famous Lady Nancy Astor story (I won't spoil it for you here), another famous (and politically incorrect) encounter with Labourite Bessie Braddock, and the hilarous story The World Is Not My Oyster, in which the eighty-six year old Churchill blames his indisposition on the oysters served at the Savoy Grill, not the numerous glasses of wine he consumed there. So, grab a glass of your favorite port or sherry (or a snifter of brandy, if you must), sink into a comfortable chair with a favorite snack and this book, and INDULGE YOURSELF. Trust me, it will be one (or more) of your finest hours.
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While I expected to be swept away by Churchill's superb grasp of the English language and his intelligence on a multitude of topics, I was suprised at how much I laughed out loud at this book. Churchill's wit was truly timely and amazing, and it is well-packaged here.
One notable quote was missing, however. Churchill was once reported to have said, after meeting Eleanor Roosevelt: " I have faced war, and I have faced Eleanor. I prefer war."
42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this book, James C. Humes gives his audience an excellent opportunity to conjure up a mental picture of Winston Churchill and his legacy. As a renaissance man, Churchill was more than a skilled politician and a gifted soldier. Perhaps more importantly, Churchill was a man of inspired words, whose work was ultimately crown by the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. Churchill often was far from politically correct and did not hesitate to say, write and do what he thought was right. Churchill's bluntness did not make him dear to everybody.
Humes first brings to light many of the great thoughts of Churchill in "Observations and Opinions." Humes classifies key words alphabetically without giving context so that readers can easily find a quote of their liking about a specific subject. Some readers might get frustrated about it if they are not familiar with the key milestones in the life and career of Churchill. These readers can read books such as "Churchill a Life", "Churchill a Study in Greatness", "Clementine Churchill The Biography of a Marriage" or "Winston and Clementine The Personal Letters of the Churchills" to fill in the gaps in their knowledge of Churchill for that purpose.
Humes forges ahead in a similar way in "Orations and Perorations", "Coiners of Phrases", "Saints and Sinners" and "Escapades and Encounters." In these sections, Humes is usually very good at giving his audience the context so that readers better understand where Churchill was coming from. Hours of fun and laughter are virtually guaranteed, especially in "Escapades and Encounters."
Churchill's witticism, wisdom and oratory probably reached their climax in the faithful summer of 1940 when Britain stood alone against the Nazi monster. Churchill galvanized by his words and actions the civilized world to soldier on when the horizon seemed hopelessly bleak. As President Franklin Roosevelt said to his aide Harry Hopkins after listening to one of Churchill's radio broadcasts during that period: "As long as that old bastard is in charge, Britain will never surrender." The words of Churchill will continue to resonate for a long time in the heart and soul of humanity. Churchill's words will further shine like diamonds in the night when humanity loses hope from time to time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill
I Love the sayings of Winston Churchill. Only a man of such high esteem could get away with some of the things he said. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sibbie
GOOD SERVICE
The book arrived Really fast and in great condition. I will definitely use this service again. Thank you very much
Published 8 months ago by caroline Coicou
English wit at its finest - cutting, honest, and frequently right
This book highlights the razor-sharp dialogue Churchill was famous for, from a sampling of his speeches to the unvarnished personal opinions of a statesman who couldn't give a damn... Read more
Published 10 months ago by MIscribe
wisdom/philosophy
I am very disappointed. I obviously ordered The Wit and Wisdom of WINSTON CHURCHILL, but instead received The Wit and Wisdom of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Heather
Gotta love Churchill...
I've always been a Churchill fan - not only did he possess exceptional oratory and writing skill, he was also a man of remarkable vision. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Busy Executive
Put this in your library, and read it! :-)
One of the biggest shocks of my life came around 1979, when I finally got my little Apple II and dot-matrix printer to screech out a portrait of Winston Churchill. Read more
Published on February 2, 2010 by Geoff Puterbaugh
It's Like Having Winston At Your Side
James C. Humes has put together a delightful potpourri of quotations and anecdotes of what I consider the man of the 20th Century. Read more
Published on May 5, 2009 by Richard C. Geschke
Must Read!
Have if you're like me and have a lot of friends that don't read (but love Blue Collar Comedy Tour... Read more
Published on August 10, 2007 by Jimmy Ray Purser
Entertainment
A delightful book. I thought the author a little too sycophantic for my taste (I am an Australian after all) but the contents are very entertaining. Read more
Published on June 8, 2007 by Elvin Smith
review of wit and wisdom of Winston Churchill
The book is entertaining. It's the kind of book you don't just read through, but pick it up read a few sections at a time.
Published on September 12, 2005 by Glen M. Sweeney
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Next to the Bible and Shakespeare, Churchill is the most frequent source of quotations. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
House of Commons, United States, First Lord of the Admiralty, President Roosevelt, White House, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Downing Street, Sir Winston, Winston Churchill, British Empire, Lord Randolph, New York, President Truman, Royal Navy, Charles de Gaulle, Hyde Park, Soviet Union, Westminster College, Harry Hopkins, Lord Privy Seal, Queen Elizabeth, South Africa, Thornton Butterworth, Board of Trade, London Churchill New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Next to the Bible and Shakespeare, Churchill is the most frequent source of quotations. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
House of Commons, United States, First Lord of the Admiralty, President Roosevelt, White House, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Downing Street, Sir Winston, Winston Churchill, British Empire, Lord Randolph, New York, President Truman, Royal Navy, Charles de Gaulle, Hyde Park, Soviet Union, Westminster College, Harry Hopkins, Lord Privy Seal, Queen Elizabeth, South Africa, Thornton Butterworth, Board of Trade, London Churchill New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 32
books:
See all 32 books this book cites
- The Boer War (London to Ladysmith via Pretoria Ian Hamilton's March) by Winston S. Churchill (Sir) on page 111, page 165, and page 166
- Winston Churchill (A&E Biography) by James C. Humes in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Blood, Sweat and Tears by Winston Churchill on page 116, and page 141
- Churchill: Speaker Century by James C. Humes in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Churchill Winston S. in Front Matter, and page 226
See all 32 books this book cites
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