Phillips' Book of Great Thoughts & Funny Sayings: A Stupendous Collection of Quotes, Quips, Epigrams, Witticisms, and Humorous Comments. For Personal Enjoyment and Ready Reference.

by Bob Phillips

From Bible quotes and Christian teachings to the words of renowned historical figures, this collection of over 3,800 entries offers wit, wisdom, and an emphasis on practical living.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Humor, Writing, Christian Living

345 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

Reviews

[Albert Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Obviously this is not a book to sit down and read for an hour. It is great for a page or two at a time to provide thought and amusement for the mind while the body is occupied. Hmm...where might that occur?

Anyway, the saying come from a broad swath of history, philosophy, wit and religion. I was pleased to see a good number of quotations from the Bible included. The book has no point it tries to make. Often under one topic sayings are listed which contradict one another. Its purpose is more to make the reader aware of the well-known and pithy ways these topics have been addressed in the past. One does not need to agree with a point to benefit from knowing it is part of the public discourse.

[Mark McTague · Rating 1 out of 5]

One doesn't expect much from the reading one does in that room of the house, but one does like a bit of amusement, diversion, or interesting trivia (e.g., the Canary Islands have nothing to do with the little yellow songbird but draw their English name from the Spanish Islas Canarias, itself likely to have come from the ancient Latin name for them, Canariae Insulae, or Island of the Dogs). There, that was a bit of amusement and diversion while you were otherwise occupied. Unfortunately, "Phillips' Book of Great Thoughts and Funny Sayings" far too often fails to deliver on its title. The "Great Thoughts" are more often than not cliches or observations people have been making for millenia ("the best things in life are free, it is not good to wake a sleeping lion, the early bird catches the worm"), and the "Funny Sayings" rarely elicit more than a slight twitch at the corner of one's mouth ("Bigamy is when two rites make a wrong" or "Bridge is a friendly game invented by two married couples who disliked each other.") The problem is too few kernels and too much chaff.

[Valarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11681235

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were too many quotes from Hitler and Henry Ford. Seriously.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the type of thing I’d normally peruse, way too many quotes by 99% old dead white men, many of whom owned human beings, plus entirely too many psalms & just general sexism & most of the other "isms", but was spending a few nights at an AirBnB & it was interesting to read a few here & there… There were a few gems. UNTIL we reached the quote by a freaking NAZI… I refuse to post the filth or type the evil fuckers name, but yeah. It was neither a “great thought” nor a “funny saying.” Suffice it to say we put the book back & didn’t pick it up again. This was published in 1993 for goodness sake. Shame on everyone associated with this filth.

[Hanna]

A lot of lame quotes; a few confusing quotes; a sprinkling of quotes with which I disagree. But, still, there were many good thoughtful and insightful quotes; and, too, many Bible verses which are of course all worth remembering. Because of the compiler's bent toward scriptural things, it's a nice compilation of decent sayings.

[JSL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I especially like that it is clean and represents a Christian worldview.

The book needs an INDEX OF AUTHORS.

[Coleman Wigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Chock full of great sayings, quotes and other information. Plenty to read and pass the time without getting bored.

[John Kaufmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far from one of the best books of quotations that I've read. Adequate, nothing more. Many quotes were too long, not pithy. Not as much wisdom as many other books of quotations I've read.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a little bit of everything in this huge collection of quotes. Loved every minute of it, and marked a lot to post on Facebook.

[April Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

What ages would I recommend it too? Twenty one and up. *** Normally I would recommend humor to teens and preteens. However, this was so full of religion and preaching, it isn't suitable for young adults.

Length? Very long.

Characters? None.

Setting? Real world throughout history, and one major religion.

Written approximately? 1993.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? No.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Many quotes, even modern ones were unattributed. The religious quotes, especially direct from religious books need to be marked, as many are uncomprehendable. A few are duplicated in various sections.

Short storyline: Various quotes and anecdotes in a semi organized fashion.

Notes for the reader: In many places, it feels as if the author is intending to preach, rather than share historical quotes. Very few of them are funny.

[Andy Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny saying and quotes on just about every topic. Who said it? Find out in this book. Samples:
Cheap
"Cheap this are good, good things are not cheap." Chinese Proverb.

Madness
"We are all born mad. Some remain so." Samuel Beeckett

Riches
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures pon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." Matthew 6:19

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of one line sayings ... so I thought this book would be fabulous. However, many of these quotes were mundane, some stupid funny, and not particularly inspirational, which is the kind I like best. So it was good for a quick read, most of these quotes could easily be found, by subject, on the internet too, so I didn't feel that it was a worthwhile book to keep.

[Deborah]

Got this from my boss today for Administrative Professionals Day. Wont read it like a regular book, but will definitely have fun with it!

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice reference, and it has a good lookup system, but it's not exactly funny, and it feels like it needs more. Still, it's a good reference book to have on a shelf.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom got me this while we stopped on the way to see my uncle in Kansas City. Hilarious!

[Ryk Stanton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good enough book, does what it says and does it well enough. I picked it up for a quarter at a library sale and am glad to have it in my library.

[Robin Beach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good bathroom book