When I first encountered this book in a friend's bathroom I definitely thought it was called The Meaning of Life at first glance and this (undoubtedly common) optical aberration made what I discovered inside so much funnier.This is a wonderfully creative book. It’s a list of definitions which can be read randomly. All the terms are actual places--many being towns in England and America--and the definitions for things and happenings for which there was no single term for beforehand. In other words it's a list of observations of "the little things" but not in a groan-inducing early 90's Seinfeld stand-up comedy way whatsoever. It's like an intelligent, irreverent, childlike-curiosity-driven, British version of the "Didja ever notice when...", "...airplane peanuts...", etc, tiresome bullshit routine we all know, loathe, and were sick of mocking a decade ago. It combines that basic style of observational humor with an eye for the truly tiny details and a sensitive finger on the pulse of absurdity lurking behind, well, most things in daily life.E.g. at random:OSBASTON (n.)A point made for the seventh time to somebody who insists that they know exactly what you mean but clearly hasn’t got the faintest idea.OSHKOSH (n., vb.)The noise made by someone who has just been grossly flattered and is trying to make light of it.OSSETT (n.)A frilly spare-toilet-roll-cosy.OSWALDTWISTLE (n. Old Norse)Small brass wind instrument used for summoning Vikings to lunch when they’re off on their longships, playing.OBWESTRY (abs.n.)Bloody-minded determination on part of a storyteller to continue a story which both the teller and the listeners know has become desperately tedious.OUGHTERBY (n.)Someone you don’t want to invite to a party but whom you know you have to as a matter of duty.OUNDLE (vb.)To walk along leaning sideways, with one arm hanging limp and dragging one leg behind the other. Most commonly used by actors in amateur production of Richard III, or by people carrying a heavy suitcase in one hand.OZARK (n.)One who offers to help just after all the work has been done. MILWAUKEE (n.)The melodious whistling, chanting and humming tone of the milwaukee can be heard whenever a public lavatory is entered. It is the way the occupants of the cubicles have of telling you there’s no lock on their door and you can’t come in.NAZEING (participial vb.)The rather unconvincing noises of pretended interest which an adult has to make when brought a small dull object for admiration by a child.PITSLIGO (n.)Part of traditional mating rite. During the first hot day of spring, all the men in the tube start giving up their seats to ladies and straphanging. The purpose of pitsligo is for them to demonstrate their manhood by displaying the wet patches under their arms.PLEELEY (adj.)Descriptive of a drunk person’s attempt to be endearing.PLYMOUTH (vb.)To relate an amusing story to someone without remembering that it was they who told it to you in the first place.PLYMPTON (n.)The (pointless) knob on top of a war memorial. Read ABOUT it here.&Read the entire thing online here."In Life*, there are many hundreds of common experiences, feelings, situations and even objects which we all know and recognize, but for which no words exist.On the other hand, the world is littererd with thousands of spare words which spend their time doing nothing but loafing about on signposts pointing at places.Our job, as wee see it, is to get these words dow off the signposts and into the mouths of babes and sucklings and so on, where they can start earning their keep in everyday conversation and make a more positive contribution to society.*And, indeed, in Liff." -The Authors
Synopsis: Adams & Lloyd set out to define inexpressible but ubiquitous occurrences of late 20th century life.Thoughts: The simple premise that the authors riff upon is that the scope of human experience is so vast, and yet there are no single words to describe petty annoyances or little triumphs that people undergo every day. For example, we all could probably think of someone we know who is all eager to help once it's clear that all the real work is finished, but why isn't there a simple word for such a person? The authors helpfully suggest calling him or her an "Ozark." It's a straightforward idea, and there are some nearly transcendent moments when they name a phenomenon that you have spent most of your life observing but have never known how precisely to describe. My favourite is "To Thrupp," which is "to hold a ruler on one end on a desk and make the other end go bbddbbddbbrrbrrrrddrr." Not that I will be calling this activity a thrupping henceforth, but it is actually quite nice to think that such a thing could, and perhaps ought to have its own word to describe it. That said, mixed in with the moments of brilliance there are also a number of puns on UK place names that fail for this American reader as I'm not sure how they are pronounced; furthermore, there are some rather silly bathroom jokes and erection jokes and so on that are more grimace-inducing than anything else. Probably best enjoyed by dipping into it now and then, rather than reading it straight through.Rating: Three Stars. Not really the amazing incredible lost Douglas Adams book you're looking for, but a completist will appreciate a few buried gems of wit.
What do You think about The Meaning Of Liff (1983)?
It's always great to read something comical every now and then. It helps prevent me getting stuck in the same genre all the time. I've always admired Douglas Adams' work and, ever since the Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy, I have been hooked on the humour.Written in collaboration with John Lloyd, who also writes for the well-loved British panel show QI, hosted by the adorable Stephen Fry, it has a similar humour which I find among some of the most entertaining that British TV has to offer right now.I have bought the follow-up Deeper Meaning of Liff and am eagerly awaiting some time to sit down and have a good laugh in its pages.
—Kitty Mulholland
Another book about words that I didn't really read, but pick up to read through randomly from time to time. This one is by Douglas Adams, so my fannish self would have bought it even if it wasn't good, and it contains such useful definitions as "Tolob - A crease or fold in an underblanket, the removal of which involves getting out of bed and largely remaking it" (a common occurence in my bedroom, now that it is getting colder)and "Oughterby . Someone you don't want to invite to a party but whom you have to as a matter of duty."The Meaning of Liff - words for experiences, feelings and situations for which we have no words. Until now.Buy.
—Oceana2602
An ingenious solution. For years, people have been complaining that nowadays we only use a tiny fraction of English vocabulary. On the other hand, there are words we need to fit into our brain, because it's important (names of cities, streets, etc.) Why not combine them both? Drop the unused words. Then add approriate definitions to the names of places. For instance: WHAPLODE DROVE (n.)A homicidal golf stroke.It'll even spice up your pillow talk!"Honey, was it good for you as it was good for me?""Like a whaplode drove, Love."
—Isman
