The Devil's Dictionary: A Reader's Guide
Ambrose Bierce's cynical definitions — politics, virtue, and truth redefined.
Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary — satirical definitions ("POLITICS: strife of interests masquerading as contest of principles").
How to read
Not cover to cover — browse alphabetically when cynical clarity needed.
Voice
Civil War veteran wit, misanthropy as art form.
Influence
Precursor to modern satirical dictionaries and aphorism Twitter before its time.
American acid on every page.