What do you think?
Rate this book
Not a Good Word About Anybody
A collection of humorous mishaps, blunders, and inexcusable behaviors of the rich and famous features quotes and anecdotes about Leonardo da Vinci, Cleopatra, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Edison, and numerous others
123 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 12, 1988
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 27, 2020
This was kinda fun. Described as "a wicked and wonderful collection of other people's mishaps, blunders, and inexcusable behavior."
A few examples:
-The Ecole des Beaux Arts turned down Paul Cezanne when he applied for entrance.
-Henri Matisse's painting, Le Bateau, hung 47 days in the Museum of Modern Art before someone noticed in was upside down.
-Louis XIV, the most elegant man in 17th century Europe, took a bath once a year.
-The average American woman in the 17th century gave birth to 13 children.
-In ancient Egypt, only pharaohs were allowed to eat mushrooms. They were considered too good for anyone else.
A few examples:
-The Ecole des Beaux Arts turned down Paul Cezanne when he applied for entrance.
-Henri Matisse's painting, Le Bateau, hung 47 days in the Museum of Modern Art before someone noticed in was upside down.
-Louis XIV, the most elegant man in 17th century Europe, took a bath once a year.
-The average American woman in the 17th century gave birth to 13 children.
-In ancient Egypt, only pharaohs were allowed to eat mushrooms. They were considered too good for anyone else.
September 27, 2011
From Library Journal
"Were it not for the misfortunes of our friends, life would be unbearable." This formidable bit of rapier-work from the pen of La Rochefoucauld suggests the flavor of this engaging collection of puns, witticisms, object-lessons, quips, and odds and ends gleaned from such varied sources as the classics and newspaper columns. The book's aim is to offer comfort to those whose personal tales of woe seem overpowering by demonstrating that others have had it as bad or worse. For instance, Picasso couldn't learn the alphabet, Marilyn Monroe suffered from hemorrhoids, and Gable was perfunctory in bed. Goodsell has packed a great deal of superfluous fun into the book, and it should pleasantly beguile a tedious half-hour or two. A.J. Anderson, G.S.L.I.S., Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"Were it not for the misfortunes of our friends, life would be unbearable." This formidable bit of rapier-work from the pen of La Rochefoucauld suggests the flavor of this engaging collection of puns, witticisms, object-lessons, quips, and odds and ends gleaned from such varied sources as the classics and newspaper columns. The book's aim is to offer comfort to those whose personal tales of woe seem overpowering by demonstrating that others have had it as bad or worse. For instance, Picasso couldn't learn the alphabet, Marilyn Monroe suffered from hemorrhoids, and Gable was perfunctory in bed. Goodsell has packed a great deal of superfluous fun into the book, and it should pleasantly beguile a tedious half-hour or two. A.J. Anderson, G.S.L.I.S., Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
February 5, 2016
Much truth, much amusement, as the title suggests.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews