Pretty funny collection of insults from one writer about another. Some of them are sharply on point, others just mean-spirited. Ezra Pound comes across as a boor, which I guess he was. Oscar Wilde features prominently. Not enough from Gore Vidal, but to be fair, most of those quoted are long since dead. ( )

The above information is partial or incorrect because I didn’t pay very close attention to it and don’t have the book with me four days later as I write this. According to the subtitle this is meant to be a sort of reverse “Logrolling in our Times.” Rather than Spy’s collection of authors giving one another glorious reviews, the editor of this book picked out foul and mean-tempered comments by authors about other authors. Amusing concept but not vicious enough. Some of the comments were actually complimentary. I had the feeling the editor didn’t search reviews for the comments, but only found them elsewhere, as asides. Too bad. It would be fun to read scathing reviews of works later considered classics.

All the smartest people ever making cutting remarks about their colleagues. Good book for the bathroom book shelf. ( )

Full of brilliant and cringe-worthy insults. It makes me afraid to publish anything, ever. ( )