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The Sarcasm Handbook
From the author of the bestselling Snark series comes the premiere guide to satire, sneering, jeering, and mockery in their finest forms. A surviving knight of many a verbal joust, Larry Dorfman has become an expert at backhanded sass and cathartic banter.Featuring life lessons from the master himself, as well as quotes and quips by some of history’s sarcastic greats, The Sarcasm Handbook teaches readers how to deflect stupidity and express their inner dissatisfaction with a keen sensibility, hushing subtlety, and wisecrack wit. Included in these invaluable teachings are chapters on achieving the right tone, sarcastic bastards in history, as well as scenarios depicting some of the greatest moments in sarcasm.So pick up your copy today and start learning the art of disparagement through passive aggressiveness!
- GenresNonfictionHumor
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2017
173 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Dorfman
35 books12 followersLawrence Dorfman has more than thirty years of experience in publishing, where he honed his snark chops. He lives in Hamden, Connecticut, like you really care.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 1, 2018
As a light collection of quotes, it was a fine thing. Not really a handbook of any sort. More snarky than sarcastic (to be expected, I suppose, given the author's six previous snark-themed quote collections).
February 22, 2021
It was okay read, whose best quality was probably that it was not a long read. It was not what I was expecting, and my overall impression is probably grounded in that initial disappointment.
September 17, 2017
It's hard to be fair to a book that you're disinclined to get lost in. But it's also difficult when that book isn't really a sit-down-and-read-it type anyway.
The Sarcasm Handbook, which I bought based entirely on the title, and without even looking at while in the bookshop, turned out to be disappointing. It's not disappointing in its completeness. Rather, in the fact that it's not a handbook.
This book is actually a collection of quotes, a few examples from films, some examples of sarcasm from books, and very little commentary. In fact, while the contents betray a rather deep amount of research and reading, the presentation makes it look like it was a bunch of notes kept while reading other things, and slapped between two covers.
Ouch.
In a sense, The Sarcasm Handbook is the ideal kind of handbook for sarcasm because it is a preponderance of material. It shows you examples, and lets you learn from those examples about how to be sarcastic.
But, really, some of it isn't sarcastic, it's just snide and nasty. Like the comments about musicians in their 70s needing sponsors like Metamucil. Honestly, they're leaping around stages at 70+, touring hard, and working like every day's their last. Kinda feels like the "master" of sarcasm is just sore that his life isn't theirs. Or the comments about Queensryche being pretentious (and sure, Geoff Tate is a bit of a tosser), when in fact they have penned some deeply influential and remarkable works, like Operation Mindcrime, which I bet the author has never even heard (or let alone seen the full production).
Perhaps that's me being ignorant about where is the line between sarcasm and nasty ignorance. And if so, that's something I'm totally willing to cop on the chin.
As for you, dear reader, read this in the library and save your pennies.
The Sarcasm Handbook, which I bought based entirely on the title, and without even looking at while in the bookshop, turned out to be disappointing. It's not disappointing in its completeness. Rather, in the fact that it's not a handbook.
This book is actually a collection of quotes, a few examples from films, some examples of sarcasm from books, and very little commentary. In fact, while the contents betray a rather deep amount of research and reading, the presentation makes it look like it was a bunch of notes kept while reading other things, and slapped between two covers.
Ouch.
In a sense, The Sarcasm Handbook is the ideal kind of handbook for sarcasm because it is a preponderance of material. It shows you examples, and lets you learn from those examples about how to be sarcastic.
But, really, some of it isn't sarcastic, it's just snide and nasty. Like the comments about musicians in their 70s needing sponsors like Metamucil. Honestly, they're leaping around stages at 70+, touring hard, and working like every day's their last. Kinda feels like the "master" of sarcasm is just sore that his life isn't theirs. Or the comments about Queensryche being pretentious (and sure, Geoff Tate is a bit of a tosser), when in fact they have penned some deeply influential and remarkable works, like Operation Mindcrime, which I bet the author has never even heard (or let alone seen the full production).
Perhaps that's me being ignorant about where is the line between sarcasm and nasty ignorance. And if so, that's something I'm totally willing to cop on the chin.
As for you, dear reader, read this in the library and save your pennies.
August 31, 2019
I must admit that I read this book purely because of its title. That being said, this book of sarcastic quotes had me laughing and cringing all at the same time. I was not disappointed.
It is not a book for everyone though, it can seem overly harsh and may even offend some. If you do not have a sarcastic, a slightly dark sense of humor or tend to get offended easily, don't read it. This is not for you.
The art of the insult, famous examples; would actually be a more accurate title. Because the word 'handbook' can give the wrong impression. As this book does not teach you how to be sarcastic per say, it only shows quotes of other peoples sarcastic remarks.
It is not a book for everyone though, it can seem overly harsh and may even offend some. If you do not have a sarcastic, a slightly dark sense of humor or tend to get offended easily, don't read it. This is not for you.
The art of the insult, famous examples; would actually be a more accurate title. Because the word 'handbook' can give the wrong impression. As this book does not teach you how to be sarcastic per say, it only shows quotes of other peoples sarcastic remarks.
February 22, 2022
I'm reviewing Lawrence Dorfman's embarassment of a book with the preface in mind: his lengthy introduction wherein he smells his own farts vigourously, not only telling us it doesn't stink, but that we should be breathing it in, too. "I've written many books on sarcasm!" he extols, hoping to regale us with his pedigree in the art of sarcasm. He complains extensively about his ex-publishing company that got rid of him, and I can see why: having a monkey at a type-writer would be more cost-efficient and you'd get the same result.
Unsurprisingly, it turns out that Lawrence Dorfman is a drooling moron. He should've named this book "The Idiots Handbook!" or "Content Aggregation: The Handbook!" The majority of the book is taken up by information such as: Who was in what movie, and when, some one-sentence band reviews (most of them you've never heard of), filled with a bunch of quotes, quite a few of which aren't even intended to be sarcastic or snarky. It's almost like Lawrence set out to write the book, wrote his introduction then decided "Nah, I give up," then went on a google search for snarky quotes. He's apparently too inept to follow his own definition of sarcasm when he includes quotes like:
"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence," wow, the amount of sarcasm in this definitely not pretentious quote is just dripping everywhere.
If you're looking a book where the author regurgitates information they got from a "Sarcastic quotes" google search, and reviews a bunch of bands and movies that were culturally relevant in some spheres thirty years ago, then this is the book for you.
Unsurprisingly, it turns out that Lawrence Dorfman is a drooling moron. He should've named this book "The Idiots Handbook!" or "Content Aggregation: The Handbook!" The majority of the book is taken up by information such as: Who was in what movie, and when, some one-sentence band reviews (most of them you've never heard of), filled with a bunch of quotes, quite a few of which aren't even intended to be sarcastic or snarky. It's almost like Lawrence set out to write the book, wrote his introduction then decided "Nah, I give up," then went on a google search for snarky quotes. He's apparently too inept to follow his own definition of sarcasm when he includes quotes like:
"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence," wow, the amount of sarcasm in this definitely not pretentious quote is just dripping everywhere.
If you're looking a book where the author regurgitates information they got from a "Sarcastic quotes" google search, and reviews a bunch of bands and movies that were culturally relevant in some spheres thirty years ago, then this is the book for you.
October 8, 2018
I'm wondering whether the title of this holds a little of its own sarcasm as this isn't really a handbook, more of a reference guide broken down into various common categories that shows how universal sarcasm is and how well it can be used. I did find a lot of the quotes rather amusing but you really should avoid this one if you are easily offended or prefer to be a nice pleasant individual as this will just upset you (nothing wrong with that, each to their own and such like).
April 4, 2022
All the things you wish you would've come up with
I really enjoyed this book as I am a frequent user of the art of sarcasm on an almost daily basis. It seems that I have passed my appreciation of it along to my daughter and we try to sharpen our skills every time we talk on the phone.
I really enjoyed this book as I am a frequent user of the art of sarcasm on an almost daily basis. It seems that I have passed my appreciation of it along to my daughter and we try to sharpen our skills every time we talk on the phone.
May 24, 2020
A good shelter-in-place read
As a general connoisseur of general sarcasm, I found the book a quick read and helpful in deducing new methods of the art. Be warned, utilizing this art form in the workplace is not for the faint of heart.
As a general connoisseur of general sarcasm, I found the book a quick read and helpful in deducing new methods of the art. Be warned, utilizing this art form in the workplace is not for the faint of heart.
May 10, 2021
More snark than sarcasm - which is not surprising considering Lawrences previous publications, most quotations appear to be American. The feel of the book was journalistic.
I read the book in a couple of sittings - and enjoyed it without be overly impressed.
I read the book in a couple of sittings - and enjoyed it without be overly impressed.
May 26, 2020
reagan quotes? really
hmmmmmmmm
hmmmmmmmm
January 16, 2025
Very good reference, if you ever need some tactical ways to be sarcastic!
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October 27, 2018This book SUCKED! Absolute garbage! It's a book of stupid one liners basically. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews