Publisher's Weekly Review
A good speech may have a "good beginning and a good end-preferably close together," but tongue-tied toastmasters will cheer for this new edition of the exhaustive but sprightly and easy-to-use compendium of aphorisms, jokes and anecdotes. The book is designed for the speechmaker desperate for a nugget of wit and wisdom to spice up a talk; selections are arranged thematically, and an alphabetic index facilitates a quick look-up on topics from abortion to zeal. Orators will find timeless wisdom on truth, virtue and the meaning of life, while the many witticisms about the foibles of accountants, lawyers and psychiatrists (among others) are sure to keep trade-show and convention audiences in stitches. The editors include an introductory section on the art of public speaking (brevity, as always, is the soul of wit), but simply browsing through this treasury of well-turned phrases is bound to sharpen one's thoughts and elevate one's rhetoric. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
This collection of over 10,000 quotes is geared to those who seek something witty and appropriate for public presentations. Following some introductory guidance on presenting effective speeches, there is an outline of the book's overall structure and an alphabetical list/index of subject categories. Most quotations are ``one-liners'' that may be clever, amusing, profound, or insightful. Many old standards are included, but there is much that is contemporary to choose from. Persons quoted are identified and indexed, but unlike some reference books of this nature, no citations are provided. A few brief jokes are included for each of the 300 subjects into which quotations are divided. They are funny, and in a few cases risque. From quotes on ``adversity'' to ``women's rights,'' or from ``accounting'' to ``youth,'' this highly practical reference by three professional writers will prove to be a useful resource for most libraries.-- Stanley P. Hodge, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.