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Rating:  Summary: Delusions of adequacy. Review: 'the american heretic's dictionary' is a poor imitation of bierce's classic 'the devil's dictionary'. bierce's insight and wit is a two-edged sword striking the foibles of anyone and everyone. 'heretic's dictionary' is a narrow-minded and biased attempt to capitalize on this work by throwing together some cheap-shots at those who disagree with the author's point of view. true, some of the shots are valid, but many are not really and too many are simply petty and vindictive. if you want true insight and satirical comment (still valid after a century), buy the 'devil's dictionary', not this piece of trash
Rating:  Summary: Another geat book from AK Press Review: A caustic exercise in political and social black humor. 300 plus definitions such as - JUSTICE, n. A term of vicious mockery, as in "equal justice under the law."
Rating:  Summary: Delusions of adequacy. Review: As usual, Ambrose Bierce said it best. In the preface to "The Devil's Dictionary," he describes the country being "flooded by its imitators with a score of 'cynic' books- The Cynic's This, The Cynic's That, and The Cynic's t'Other. Most of these books were merely stupid, though some of them added the distinction of silliness."... (What Bufe lacks in wit or talent, however, he more than makes up for in effrontery. Consider, for example, the pretentious title ("The Devil's Dictionaries..."), in which he places his own inadequate work on an equal footing with Bierce's timeless classic. What's next? "The Hamlets, Revised and Expanded, by William Shakespeare and Chaz Bufe?" Consider also his lame self-justification above: "Progressive-minded people have generally loved it, while fundamentalists and other authoritarians have generally hated it." In other words, if you fail to be amused by Bufe's weak attempts at humor, it must be because you're a fundamentalist authoritarian- it couldn't possibly be because the book just plain stinks. Talk about blaming the victim! Postscript: In a new statement in the editorial review section above, the publisher blames this book's uniformly bad reviews on "right-wingers, fundamentalists, and prudes" who are trying to suppress sales of this book because it "gores their sacred cows." For the record: I'm not a right-winger, a fundamentalist, or a prude by any possible standards, and the only "sacred cows" of mine that this book "gores" are (a) that great authors whose works happen to be in the public domain should be treated with respect, rather than used for posthumous "endorsements" of inferior works that can't stand on their own merits, and (b) that reading a humor book should be an enjoyable experience.
Rating:  Summary: A new classic in satire and political humor Review: I have been a fan of Ambrose Bierce for many years, and I've often wished that someone would update and add to his classic
Devil's Dictionary. Bufe has done a great job of blending his definitions with those of Bierce. Bufe certainly has the sardonic wit and caustic humor that characterized "Bitter" Bierce. Instead of reading the old reprints of Bierce's D.D., I would highly recommend this updated and overhauled version of that classic satire.
Rating:  Summary: The contribution by Bufe is a joke Review: To put Bufe between the same covers with Bierce is a joke. His contribution is simply a left liberal attack against America and an outlet for radicalism run amuck..A waste of money and dumped in the garbage bin !
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