What do you think?
The Heretic's Handbook of Quotations: Cutting Comments on Burning Issues
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 2, 2012
The Heretic’s Handbook of Quotations is Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations for Outsiders and trouble-makers. Yeah, it lacks the pedigree, longevity, gravitas, and the nifty hardcover of Bartlett’s more established tome, but if you identify as a free thinker, a rabble-rouser, an anarchist, or just a puckish contrarian, you will get more use, entertainment, and education out of Heretic’s than you could ever find in Bartlett’s.
The Handbook is arranged by topics rather than authors. Politics, The Law, The State, Anarchism, Revolution, War, Women, Sex, Religion — these and many others that lend themselves to Outsider ideas are represented. Among the many quotations from the likes of Mencken, Ingersoll, Shaw, Goldman, Swift, Twain, etc. are interspersed cartoons and artwork from radical publications and artist that add a visual entertainment that is lacking in the staid Bartlett’s. It also boasts an index to cross reference the many people quoted across the subject sections, and gives capsule bios of everyone quoted within, i.e.
Giordano Bruno — 1548-1600, Italian scholar, burned at the stake by the Roman Inquisition for heresy.
or,
Al Capone — 1899-1947, American businessman and firearms fancier.
Keep The Heretic’s Handbook of Quotations by your desk for when you need that perfect controversial zinger for an e-mail or social media thread. Or keep in in your bathroom, as its format is ideal for quick perusing. Best of all, leave it on your coffee table to entertain (or shock) your guests, depending on the company you are expecting.
Bartlett’s was never this much fun.
The Handbook is arranged by topics rather than authors. Politics, The Law, The State, Anarchism, Revolution, War, Women, Sex, Religion — these and many others that lend themselves to Outsider ideas are represented. Among the many quotations from the likes of Mencken, Ingersoll, Shaw, Goldman, Swift, Twain, etc. are interspersed cartoons and artwork from radical publications and artist that add a visual entertainment that is lacking in the staid Bartlett’s. It also boasts an index to cross reference the many people quoted across the subject sections, and gives capsule bios of everyone quoted within, i.e.
Giordano Bruno — 1548-1600, Italian scholar, burned at the stake by the Roman Inquisition for heresy.
or,
Al Capone — 1899-1947, American businessman and firearms fancier.
Keep The Heretic’s Handbook of Quotations by your desk for when you need that perfect controversial zinger for an e-mail or social media thread. Or keep in in your bathroom, as its format is ideal for quick perusing. Best of all, leave it on your coffee table to entertain (or shock) your guests, depending on the company you are expecting.
Bartlett’s was never this much fun.
February 2, 2019
In 1992, I would have been all over this. Unfortunately, it hasn’t aged too well. It feels dated as you’re reading it (mostly due to layout and typeface) and an internet search would be an easier way to find these quotes. And some of the quotes are less effective when stripped of their original source and context.
April 8, 2024
A heretic to one can simply be a comedian to another. Personally, I've always found heresy to be all the more amusing when solidly anchored in academic-grade evidenced reason. Conservative theists don't seem to like that shit at all. So if you are one, don't buy this book cuz omfg it ain't for you.
July 8, 2009
Always fun to look through.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews