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Veeral's Reviews > The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled
The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled
by
Will Cuppy wrote 'The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody' on and off for 16 years. At the time of his death (suicide), it was still incomplete. Ailing and suffering from depression, Cuppy committed suicide after he was facing eviction from his apartment.
Basically a journalist and book reviewer who wrote more than 4000 book reviews in his 23 year career, his popularity reached its zenith when this book was published (by sifting through more than 15000 note cards, Cuppy's friend, Fred Feldkamp completed Decline and Fall), after one year of his passing (his tragic end does remind one of John Kennedy Toole).
I am not saying all this to make you feel melancholy, but if I did (and I am sure I did), there is no better cure than to read this book. The book is really hilarious, concise, and accurate (a rare combination). And Cuppy never opts for below-the-belt humor (only lesser humorists do that).
But in case you're still feeling a bit sad, here's some uplifting tidbit.
The reclusive bachelor whose best work got published posthumously (which he never completed, and so must have concluded before dying that it never would), got an asteroid named after himself by the IAU, ... in 2003.
This still didn't lift the gloom, did it?
Well then you should go and read this book already.
Rest in peace, Mr. Cuppy.
by
Veeral's review
bookshelves: funny, history-macro, non-fiction, favorites-of-2014, read-in-2014
Jun 11, 2014
bookshelves: funny, history-macro, non-fiction, favorites-of-2014, read-in-2014
Will Cuppy wrote 'The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody' on and off for 16 years. At the time of his death (suicide), it was still incomplete. Ailing and suffering from depression, Cuppy committed suicide after he was facing eviction from his apartment.
Basically a journalist and book reviewer who wrote more than 4000 book reviews in his 23 year career, his popularity reached its zenith when this book was published (by sifting through more than 15000 note cards, Cuppy's friend, Fred Feldkamp completed Decline and Fall), after one year of his passing (his tragic end does remind one of John Kennedy Toole).
I am not saying all this to make you feel melancholy, but if I did (and I am sure I did), there is no better cure than to read this book. The book is really hilarious, concise, and accurate (a rare combination). And Cuppy never opts for below-the-belt humor (only lesser humorists do that).
But in case you're still feeling a bit sad, here's some uplifting tidbit.
The reclusive bachelor whose best work got published posthumously (which he never completed, and so must have concluded before dying that it never would), got an asteroid named after himself by the IAU, ... in 2003.
This still didn't lift the gloom, did it?
Well then you should go and read this book already.
Rest in peace, Mr. Cuppy.
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Reading Progress
June 11, 2014
– Shelved
June 24, 2014
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Started Reading
June 25, 2014
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Finished Reading
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☯Bettie� wrote: "sounds fun:O)"
It is. Will Cuppy was a humorist who knew his history, a rare combination.
onto my wishlist it goes. thanks Veeral
I was half through , when I decided to stop and read some reviews of this wonderful book. I read yours and I learned that Will Cuppy committed suicide. I felt heart-broken; it would've never crossed my mind reading his book that someone with so much wit and sense of humor was actually depressed.
Maryam wrote: "I was half through , when I decided to stop and read some reviews of this wonderful book. I read yours and I learned that Will Cuppy committed suicide. I felt heart-broken; it would've never crosse..."Yes. A learned and very funny man, but a very tragic life.
:O)