Peter's Quotations: Ideas for Our Times (Paperback)

by Laurence J. Peter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From the author of the multimillion-selling The Peter Principle, and The Peter Prescription, here is a timeless collection of some of history's greatest and best-expressed thoughts. Organized alphabetically by subject -- from Ability to Zoos -- and completely cross-refernced by related categories, Peter's Quotations is a joy to use. Packed with many unusual and little-known quotations of great wit, Dr. Peter's reference book is not only fun to read -- an idea mine for writers, students, and public speakers -- but it is also relevant to the sometimes overwhelming problems of today. Peter's Quotations is priceless.

About the Author
Before Dr. Laurence Peter's death in 1988, he was a professor of education at the University of Southern California and at the University of British Columbia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Collins Reference (March 29, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688119093
• ISBN-13: 978-0688119096
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #492,328 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for writers/speakers, March 25, 2002

By	jobu_pks (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

A lot of quote books focus on the timeless and famous or the "witty" and not-so-meaningful. Peter's Quotations is a clasic among public speakers and essayists because it focusses on what these people are likely to need. It addresses broad, abstract topics such as "kindness" but also lays out the lawyer jokes. The topics are a good mix of the immortal and the current and, while often witty, are never ridiculous or campy (well, almost never campy). I've used it for years as a debater and public speaker, as a coach, and as a teacher. The best indication I can give you of its outstanding usefulness is that I buy a new copy for my speech team every year because a graduating senior always steals the old one. I'm on my third personal copy because I've worn two others out.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharp and Pointed, August 8, 2000

By	Peter A. Greene (Franklin, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not a "real" quotation reference like, say, Bartlett's, but a great compendium of mostly modern quotes. The book has a sharp, sassy, punchy, pointed sensibility (which only lags, unfortunately, in Dr. Peter's own added asides which are uniformly below the standard of the rest of the book). This is a quotation book that you will read cover to cover. Organization is handy so that when you want to find that pithy bon mot that struck you the last time you read the book, you'll be able to locate it easily. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Quotation Book!, March 5, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Ukiah, CA) - See all my reviews

I have had this book for 9 years and it continues to be my favorite. I have several other quotation books, but I always keep coming back to this one. It covers many topics that are categorized in a user friendly format which makes searching for the perfect quote a breeze. I recommend this book for the quotation fanatic!