"Talkers are no good doers."-- William Shakespeare

"The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it."-- FranÇois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld

"It is hard to believe a man is telling you the truth when you know you would lie if you were in his place."-- H. L. Mencken

"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.-- Gore Vidal

"Women keep a special corner of their hearts for sins theyhave never committed."-- Cornelia Otis Skinner

"You lose it if you talk about it.-- Ernest Hemingway

"The worst thing about some men is that when they are not drunk they are sober."-- William Butler Yeats

"Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five."-- William Somerset Maugham

You don't have to be a genius to sound like one. Here's a collection of the most profound and provocative wit and wisdom in the English language in two lines or less. Edited by entrepreneur John M. Shanahan, who created the wildly successful Hooked on Phonics program, this wonderful book presents the best that has been thought and said on every imaginable topic.

Classified by such themes as "Truth, Lies, and Deception," "Men, Women, and Relationships," and "Passions, Virtues, and Vices," these quotes contain timeless messages for all humankind. Oscar Wilde: "A man who marries his mistress leaves a vacancy in that position." Charles de Gaulle: "The cemetery is filled with indispensable men." Abraham Lincoln: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Sophocles: "Men of ill judgment oft ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it."

Perfect for anyone who has ever been left speechless, this book will make you as glib as Oscar Wilde, as profound as Winston Churchill, and as wise as Aesop. Inspirational, entertaining, and thought-provoking, this is one collection that no library or bookshelf should be without.

Great book to review each day and contemplate one or two thoughts from some of the world's foremost "thinkers".

The point is to contemplate their thoughts, not to just accept them. Just like reading your daily astrology, some quotes can be so general as to lack basis.

Good reference tool for writers, or leaders who need to quickly and capably convey thoughts, or ideas.

Includes a CD to listen to in the car, etc.

Review:

Shanahan has put together many great one liners into a single volume; about 6 per page.

Contents are logically divided:

Acknowledgments
1.....The Human Condition
2.....Success, Fortune, Failure, and Misfortune
3.....Truth, Lies, and Deception
4.....Talk, Talk, Talk
5.....Passions, Virtues, and Vices
6.....It's Only in Your Mind
7.....Men, Women, and Relationships
8.....Religion, Nature, and God
9.....Life's Passages
10....Human Foibles
11....Pursuits - Artistic and Otherwise
12....History and Government
13....Stuff to Think About
Sources

The "Sources" lists each author alphabetically, with the quote source and quote placement with the page numbers.

Negative:

1.....The CD has no look-up capability, so you can only listen to it linearly, and cannot use it as a search tool.

2.....There is no index, or topical list for searching for quotes using specific words (like searching for "love", "ocean", "heart", etc).

43 of 43 found the following review helpful:


A Mite Self-Serving  Nov 17, 2001 By sweetmolly
The title alone makes the modest person back up a little and think, "Are you SURE?" And yes, the author considers a few of his own Most Brilliant Thoughts worthy of inclusion. (We blush for him.) I was surprised that the "Reader's Digest" was the source for some of the material, and a few (very few, to be fair) of the brilliant thinkers were Oprah, Erica Jong, and Marlene Dietrich. Delightful ladies all, but Most Brilliant Thinkers of All Time?

I am a junkie for books of quotes and maxims, though I freely admit this shows a certain lack of depth. There are many quotes included that you wish you had for ready reference, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson's

"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."

My, wouldn't I just like to spring that one on some of my more pessimistic friends! However, unless you memorize the ones you like, "Most Brilliant, etc." is not user-friendly. It has no subject or line index, which I find very irritating and a major drawback.

The sections are vague, and quotes are repeated in different sections. It could be Mr. Shannahan thought one quote applicable to many situations, but it seems like padding. The book is handsome, with the quotes well spaced and easy to read. I met a few I had never seen before, and am stirred to further inquiry on some of the authors. Grade: C-

17 of 17 found the following review helpful:


fabulous fun  May 25, 1999
This is the book you can pick up for a minute or for hours and enjoy over and over again. The quotes are not only witty and fun, they are truly that perfect collection of one liners that say it all. The C.D. is great especially if you are driving and tired of the same old radio play. A gift you'll wish someone would give you!

21 of 22 found the following review helpful:


Better than average collection of witticisms  Jun 18, 1999
This book lends the perfect quip for every occasion, from ironic to inspirational. Light reading for times when you want to be amused. I liked it so much I ordered a second copy to give as a gift!

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