Big Curmudgeon: 2,500 Outrageously Irreverent Quotations from World-Class Grumps and Cantankerous Commentators

by Jon Winokur

The author of the wildly successful Portable Curmudgeon and Portable Curmudgeon Redux outdoes himself in the biggest collection yet of acid wit and wisdom cunningly collected from sardonic savants of every stripe.

A curmudgeon is defined as 1. A crusty, ill-tempered, churlish old man; 2. Anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; or 3. anyone who points out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner. The Big Curmudgeon is the richest collection yet of curmudgeonly commentary, combining all of the material from the bestselling Portable Curmudgeon and Portable Curmudgeon Redux , plus selections from A Curmudgeon’s Garden of Love —and lots of brand-new quips, quotations, and wisdom freshly collected by compiler extraordinaire, Jon Winokur.

Arranged alphabetically by subject and featuring special sections on such world-class grumps as H.L. Mencken, John Simon, W.C. Fields, and Dorothy Parker, the book is the last witty word on all things cynical, snide, and hilariously grouchy.

Equally suited to the "humor" and "reference" sections, The Big Curmudgeon is filled with the pithiest, smartest things ever said by the wittiest people who ever lived.

Genres: Reference, Humor, Nonfiction

660 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2007

About the author

Jon Winokur (b. Aug. 5, 1947) is an American writer and editor. Born in Detroit, the son of Martin M. and Elinor Winokur, he attended Temple University (BA, 1970) and the University of West Los Angeles (JD, 1980). He lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Kbmaxwell Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will never finish reading--it is too much fun to read and re-read some of the most insightful, pithy, and downright rude comments in the western world. I loved the interviews with famous "curmudgeons"--actually, people who call nonsense by any other name that will make offenders uncomfortable in the extreme--ALL of Us!
If you don't squirm a little and laugh a lot while reading this, there's no hope for you--just lie down and let the rest of the inhuman race run right over you--you'll feel better.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twain is a curmudgeon, a very good one. So is Mencken. So is Bierce. But Lewis Black--sorry. He's just a potty-mouthed grouch. And Carrie Fisher's a whiner (Princess Leia didn't get her very far). This book is basically a mix between the two: bona fide snarkist vs. vulgar sourpuss. And it's worth every laugh and "oh, sheesh" you give it.