"A literary manifesto--a celebration of direct and exacting voices, a rejection of the fuzzily adorable, and a recommendation of humor as one of the essential tools of both art and life." --Henry Hitchings, The Wall Street Journal "A good Christmas present for pretty much anyone.Quotations books are often awful and faux-wise, but this is sharp and funny." --India Knight , Times Literary Supplement "An uncommon commonplace book from a wide-ranging reader . A diverting trove of witty remarks."-- Kirkus Reviews.