The Pocket Book of Quotations

by Henry Davidoff (Editor)

book

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Poetry

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Otis Campbell]

Now, this ain't a storybook with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s more like a giant jar of moonshine—you don’t chug the whole thing at once; you just take a little sip now and then when you need a bit of wisdom or a clever comeback for the neighbors. It is the ultimate cheat sheet for looking wise. Back in '42, folks didn't have the Google machine in their pockets, so they carried this little fella around to spice up their speeches or letters. The layout is clean, and it's a mighty fine way to pass the time while you're waiting for the laundry to dry or sitting on the porch. Because it was put together decades ago (and features folks from centuries before that), some of the humor and advice is a bit crusty. It’s heavily weighted toward old dead European guys, so you won't find any modern-day wisdom or diverse voices in these pages. It's an old-timey time capsule, for better or worse.

[Jamie Jonas]

A brilliant compendium of some of the most scintillating sayings in the English (and a few others, as translated) language. This one book has led me off on a few invaluable chases through the amazing labyrinth of Wordery, and I'm confident that as I return to it I will enjoy many more.

[Clare O'Beara]

I won this in a three-book set as part of a writing competition.

[Sara]

It's good and very useful. My favorite quotation book.
I realized recently that it is a compilation of cynics. Few subjects get quotations exalting them, so you're better off with an optimistic quotation book as well.

[Jennifer]

If you can give Shakespeare, Thoreau and the other great masters one or two stars, this is not the book for you folks. It would be just literary pearls before swine.

[Beka]

Well organized.

[Don Gubler]

I love the good quotes and this book has them in abundance.

[Eliza]

Well organized - great quotes.

[Frank]

I didn't read it all. I did read a lot of it. It's not as good as I had hoped. Still, some pretty good stuff in there. I think a 3 was generous.