I Have Abandoned My Search for Truth and Am Now Looking for a Good Fantasy

by Ashleigh Brilliant

A dazzling collection of witty and wise Pot Shots, or Brilliant Thoughts . . . illustrated epigrams that will inspire your personal quest for telling communication. Fresh, funny, wistful, bright; they may well reflect some of your own deep or whimsical thoughts. Ashleigh's Pot Shots are acclaimed, told and re-told, by young and old, secular and religious, mainstream and offbeat they speak to everyone. What they Clifton Most enjoyable; Isaac Good one-liners; Richard Wise, and witty; People Artistic trailblazer, Ashleigh Brilliant coins epigrams that would drive Oscar wild. Ashleigh's Pot Shots are copyrighted and the names Pot Shots and Brilliant Thoughts are registered trademarks.

Genres: Humor, Philosophy, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Valerie]

When I worked in libraries, I began to choose which newspapers to read based on whether they carried Pot Shots.

Brilliant often comes up with the quintessential formulation of epigrams, and helps distill the essence of things we might have already thought of. Also, he often puts things in ways that make one question previous assumptions, opening up doors to new outlooks. Plus, it's often hilarious.

[ida-vaziri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be my favorite book ever! It is so hilarious and clever! I read the whole thing in one big gulp! Pure genius! :)

(favorite non-Potter book)

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This particular book is flamboyant, twisted, unique, satirical, and imaginative! I was obsessed by it: it is filled with three-paragraph chapters, followed by thought-provoking illustrations like those found in the daily newspaper. For example: "The only real strain on our marriage comes from trying to live together."; "No wonder I'm all confused - one of my parents was a man, the other was a woman!"; "Please spare me the ghastly details of your happiness."; "If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think!";
"Come over to my side of the argument: the view is always so clear from here."; and
"Well, if you don't like my opinion of you, you can always improve."

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to I May Not Be Totally Perfect But Parts of Me Are Excellent, this compilation of Pot Shots - epigrams with cartoon illustrations - is usually funny, sometimes sad, and almost always thought-provoking. Another book to read aloud from.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Ashleigh's witticisms! I had forgotten about him until recently, and am now trying to find and reread his books of the comic stip Pot Shots.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cartoons and humorous quotes. Ashleigh's second book of epigrams..wonderful.

[Jetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must come clean and admit that I got to know of this book because of Addison Rae.

The title, “I have abandoned my search for truth, and am now looking for a good fantasy” resonates with me — during my late teens to early 20s, I have been reading self-help books (e.g. productivity) in order to improve my life 360. But I find myself not being able to get things done, straying away from their advices and in my bed wallowing in self-pity.

I realized that life doesn’t have to be serious, rigid or productive every time. It’s alright to be whimsical, to have fun, be cringey and to fuck up (I always fuck up every time). Go and never be afraid to romanticize life, imagine scenarios from time to time and appreciate the little details in life.

I find this pot shot beautiful because it reminded me of a line I saw over the Internet, “be the creative director of your life.”

🤯Other pot shots that resonates with me:

#1699: A small advance every day will eventually total much less than a big advance every day.

This pot shot is simple common sense, yet at the same time profound. I always fall into the trap of do everything, read everything, take everything and my life would change for the better 360 overnight. But I know it wouldn’t, I would always carry the mental distress of not being able to do things that are unrealistic to do in one sitting. Even when learning new skills or doing hobbies, I should always remind myself that it’s okay to suck as long as I show up everyday.

#1752: Life can be good, while it lasts, and it’s guaranteed to last your whole lifetime.
#726: If I must go into eternity, I’d prefer to go by the scenic route.

Simple - romanticize life.

#1191: Someday there’ll be books explaining what’s happening now, but by then, I may have lost interest.

There are ideas over the Internet that might be interesting now which I would take a screenshot of and save it for later. I would then leave these in my gallery to rot, bloating up my phone memory storage. When I look back, I’m afraid to delete them, hoping that it might be useful in the future. This pot shot reminds me that it’s okay to delete these screenshots when you don’t find them useful, interesting or funny compared to before. These things will always find a way back to me if they truly resonate with me.

#1318: My life is a performance for which I was never given any chance to rehearse.

Uncertainty is the only certain thing in life. Reflecting on my life, I am proud of myself for having the courage to show up in life, despite being truly afraid of uncertainty.

🤣Pot shots I find funny:

#748: Please let me know if there’s any further trouble I can give you.

I am hoping to use this as a closing message in my work email someday.

#1085: My sources are unreliable, but their information is fascinating.

I am planning to use this during conversation with friends and family someday.

#1096: I will always love the false image I had of you.

This goes out for all of the delulus out there, especially for myself.

I have abandoned my search for truth, and am now looking for a good fantasy - is a message by Brilliant that would be stuck in my mind for a very long time and I am looking forward to read his other works.

[Zachary Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm not getting paid much for staying alive but it's good experience."

I was listening to NPR today [insert liberal/snobby stereotype joke here] and got unexpectedly drawn into a segment about a man who had recently passed - Ashleigh Brilliant otherwise known as "history's only full-time, professional, published epigrammatist in history" (at least that what he called himself). Over his career he wrote 10,000 epigrams and made his living by slapping them on postcards, t-shirts, and books.

This particular book was his second (according to wikipedia) and contains MANY of these epigrams. Many of them I liked, a few were quite sad, some I laughed out loud at, and many didn't really do much for me. This collection of epigrams was very hit or miss, but the accompanying drawings were pleasant to the eye and I enjoyed at least 60% of the books content so we'll leave it at 3 stars. Thanks to the magic of the Internet Archive, you can read the whole book here. You can read the whole thing in less than an hour and it's more satisfying than doom scrolling on [insert app you're afraid to admit you spend hours on every day].

Here were some of my favorite epigrams from the book:
-Many people have spent their whole lives worrying about the same things I'm spending mine worrying about.
-If only our great thinkers could learn to talk and our great talkers could learn to think!
-Inside every older person, there's a younger person, wondering what happened.
-The chief purpose of our organization is to perpetuate our organization.
-Things can only get better, or worse, or stay the same, or not be what we supposed.
-One thing you can rely on is that there will always be uncertainty.
-My life is a performance for which I was never given any chance to rehearse.
-Take courage! Whatever you decide to do, it will probably be the wrong thing.
-My life has a superb cast, but I can't figure out the plot.
-If only I were having as much fun as you probably think I am.
-I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-To get to a good place, sometimes you have to go through a number of bad places.
-Please spare me the ghastly details of your happiness.
-All my life I've been changing - when will I finally become what I'm really supposed to be?

[Bob Lorentson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book filled with strange and thought-provoking insights, perfect for an Optimist in Dreamland like myself.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten how much I like the wit and wisdom of Ashleigh Brilliant. I purchased 8 books and just finished this one. Pot shots are funny, sad, timeless, etc.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf

[Maryjane Nordgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

some of these twisted epigrams are as deep into truth as into absurdity. Fun read. Thoughtful

[Carol Rose Stark Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mildly amusing.