From New York Times bestselling author David Denby comes an argument against snark--the nasty combination of snide and sarcasm--with lessons on how to live without it by thinking and debating with true wit and intelligence.

A New Yorker film critic evaluates the cultural consequences of the sarcastic language that has become pervasive in the media and on the Internet, in an assessment that cites the importance of developing true wit.

Basil Fawlty is an inept and manic English hotel owner and manager who isn't cut out for his job. He's intolerant, rude and paranoid. Chaos frequently breaks loose as Basil tries to run the hotel. He is constantly under verbal (and sometime physical) attack from his unhelpful wife Sybil, and hindered by the incompetent, but easy target, Manuel, the Spanish waiter. Fortunately he has an intelligent and attractive maid to help him out of the various...

Elizabeth Taylor delivers an Academy Award-winning performance opposite Richard Burton in this adaptation of Edward Albee's groundbreaking Broadway play that rips the façade of civility off the dysfunctional marriage between an alcoholic college professor and his shrew of a wife during a dinner party the two host for a young couple.

This isn't a home--it's a house with four wall and no heart. From the outside, Tyler's life seems pretty good. His dad is a doctor and his parents are well-respected members of the community. They live in a nice house and Tyler has enough spending money. But behind closed doors his dad's drinking problem and verbal abuse towards Tyler have gotten worse as his mom's mental health has decline. Soon, Tyler starts going home only for meals and to sleep,...