Facétieuse, acerbe et hilarante, Pensez avant de parler. Lisez avant de penser est l'anthologie ultime des textes de Fran Lebowitz, la légendaire
satiriste new-yorkaise révélée par la série documentaire de Martin Scorsese, Pretend It's a City.
Fran Lebowitz s'attaque aux vicissitudes de la vie quotidienne - des enfants (« rarement en position de vous prêter une somme d'argent intéressante »)
aux gérants d'immeubles (« tout propriétaire digne de ce nom a le solennel devoir de s'assurer que son bien immobilier dispose d'un stock fourni de cafards »). Quant à sa conception du travail, elle est le parfait antidote à notre épuisante culture de la performance (« 15 h 40 - J'envisage de me
lever. Idée aussitôt rejetée car nécessitant un effort physique insurmontable. Je continue à lire et à fumer »).
Tour à tour ironique, sarcastique et espiègle, Fran Lebowitz nous entraîne dans une déferlante ininterrompue d'éclats de rire.
Traduit de l'anglais (États-Unis) par Pierre Demarty
Acerbic, wisecracking and hilarious, this is the definitive essay collection from New York legend and satirist, Fran Lebowitz, star of Martin Scorsese's hit Netflix series, Pretend It's a City.
'The gold standard for intelligence, efficiency and humour. Now and forever' DAVID SEDARIS
'She's inexhaustible - her personality, her knowledge, her brilliance, most of all her humour' MARTIN SCORSESE
'The rare example of a legend living up to her own mythology. She really is THAT funny' HADLEY FREEMAN
Lebowitz turns her trademark caustic wit to the vicissitudes of life - from children ('rarely in the position to lend one a truly interesting sum of money') to landlords ('it is the solemn duty of every landlord to maintain an adequate supply of roaches'). And her attitude to work is the perfect antidote to our exhausting culture of self-betterment ('3.40pm. I consider getting out of bed. I reject the notion as being unduly vigorous. I read and smoke a bit more').
'Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things and small people talk about wine'
'Think before you speak. Read before you think'
'All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable'
'There is no such thing as inner peace. There is only nervousness and death'
'The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting
