A Cynic Looks at Life
"A Cynic Looks at Life" is a collection of essays and short stories written by Ambrose Bierce in the late 19th century. The book covers various themes such as love, death, war, and religion, all presented from a cynical perspective. Bierce's writing style is direct and to the point, often using dark humor and satire to make his points. The book is considered a classic of American literature and continues to be widely read and studied today.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Essays, Satire, Non-fiction · 8 chapters · 21,597 words
First lines
I
The question "Does civilization civilize?" is a fine example of _petitio principii_, and decides itself in the affirmative; for civilization must needs do that from the doing of which it has its name. But it is not necessary to suppose that he who propounds is either unconscious of his lapse in logic or desirous of digging a pitfall for the feet of those who discuss; I take it he simply wishes to put the matter in an impressive way, and relies upon a certain degree of intelligence in the interpretation.
What this Textopian page supports
A Cynic Looks at Life is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Essays, Satire, Non-fiction, Philosophy, Humor
- Length: 21,597 words
- Structure: 8 chapters, 296 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Cynic Looks at Life by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Cynic Looks at Life?
- How does this novel by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Essays first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- For A Certain Critic by Ambrose Bierce
- The Optimist And The Cynic by Ambrose Bierce
- The Committee On Public Morals by Ambrose Bierce
- Lusus Politicus by Ambrose Bierce
- An Optimist by Ambrose Bierce
- Rejected by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Essays — The book is a collection of essays written by Ambrose Bierce sharing his cynical perspective on life, society, and human nature.
- Satire — The content of the book embodies the satirical tone, often using irony and sarcasm to critique society and human behavior.
- Non-fiction — The book is based on the author's real-life views and perspectives, making it non-fictional.
- Philosophy — Many topics discussed in the book revolve around philosophical themes like life, society, and human nature, thus can also be categorized under philosophy.
Tags
humor · satire · cynicism · irony · social commentary · critique of society · dark humor · absurdity · philosophy · self-deprecation · skepticism · realism
Contents
- CIVILIZATION
- THE GIFT O' GAB
- NATURA BENIGNA
- THE DEATH PENALTY
- IMMORTALITY
- EMANCIPATED WOMAN
- A MAD WORLD
- EPIGRAMS OF A CYNIC