Customer Reviews

The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ambrose Bierce, in this hilarious book, satirizes all aspects of human behavior. This lexicon that he has created provides often true insight in to the tacit meanings of otherwise benign words. For example, PRAY, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy. This book is a must-get.

skep·tic also scep·tic (skptk)
n.
1.One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally
accepted conclusions.
2.One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3.Philosophy.
a.often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
b.Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of
Elis (360?-272? B.C.).
[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine.
See spek- in Indo-European Roots.]

cyn·ic (snk)
n.
1.A person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.
2.A person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.
3.Cynic A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only
good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.
[Latin cynicus, Cynic philosopher, from Greek kunikos, from kun, kun-, dog. See kwon- in
Indo-European Roots.]
Such are the real dictionary definitions of the stance which Ambrose Bierce adopted in considering the world. Beginning in 1881 and continuing to 1906, he created a series of sardonic word definitions of his own. Many of these were collected and published as The Cynic's Word Book, which he later protested was "a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve." So in 1911, he pulled together a collection that was more to his own liking and called it The Devil's Dictionary. The entries are a tad uneven in quality, but most are amusing and some are great. Each reader will have his own favorites, some of mine are as follows :
ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.
ALLIANCE, n. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.
BIGOT, n. One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
CONSULT, v.i. To seek another's disapproval of a course already
decided on.
CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.
DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the
growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This
dictionary, however, is a most useful work.
DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.
EDUCATION, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.
FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our
friends are true and our happiness is assured.
HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
IDIOT, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot's activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but "pervades and regulates the whole." He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line.
POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of
principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
And, my choice for the very best among them :
CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.

By all means, read it and pick out your own; you're sure to find a few that tickle your fancy.

If truth is beauty, and beauty truth, this is one good looking book. As an aspiring cynic, finding this book was akin to Ahab finding the whale. (I have no idea what that means). I don't think this book could be written today. Most of Bierce's definitions have become accepted fact. The book belongs in the library of everyone who believes Political Correctness is the beginning of the end of the world. Without the ability to communicate honestly, we are doomed. If you don't agree, you're just a bigoted fool. (see Bierce definitions). A great, funny, lucid book.

Still haven't found any real competitor for the Devils Dictionary.

Sheer honesty abounds. The insurance agent that came by my place rapidly deflated when I showed him the entry for "insurance" while (to his credit) acknowledged its veracity...

"an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table."

(followed by a vicious, fictitious and brilliant dialogue between an agent and perspective mark wherein said agent tries to overcome the mark's observation that by the agent's own actuarial tables a home owner without insurance would most likely save the full value of the house in premiums well before any loss... )

And that's just one of hundreds of essays. One of my intellectual heroes.

Also known as "The Cynic's Workbook" this collection is classic and belongs in any library. Ambrose Bierce, like Mark Twain and few other of his contempories, had a biting wit that always left a mark.
Here is just a taste of his humor.

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.

Good good stuff.

This is a great book. The sarcasm and the definitions are the best. If you know someone who is a book lover or just enjoys quick wit-this book is for them. I bought two more just for gifts. It's one of those books that you can always pick up and find a smile...

This dictionary is funny, biting, pointed, witty, clever........I could add more, but you get the message. I bought one for me, one for my sons and one as a gift for a friend. We all have laughed and nodded at the accuracy and relevance of the "definitions" which, amazingly, were written almost 100 years ago.
I recommend this book to anyone over the age of 12 who enjoys sarcasm, puns, The Onion and laughing at politicians.

I love all things cynical and witty so I found the Unabridged Devil's Dictionary really appealing (I tracked the book down after reading a few exerpts on a quotes website). If you like the book (yet to buy, use the see inside feature to see if it appeals to your sense of humour) I also recommend Molvania by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch as well as The Soddit by A.R.R.R. Roberts.

The basic version, by Ambrose Bierce, is a classic. The annotated version expands on both the content and the usefulness of the volume. A copy should be on everyone's bookshelf.

This review is about The University of Georgia's hardback version of 2000 (ISBN 0820321966.)

Black and off-black quarter cloth over hardback boards in dustjacket. Sewn binding. Red endpapers. 404 pp, about 1.5 pounds.

Introduction, List of Abbreviations, and List of Appearances of Definitions. Appendix of Supplementary Definitions that were never collected into the work itself. Over 60 pp of End Notes. 7 p. Bibliography.