The Dictionary of Accepted Ideas

The Dictionary of Accepted Ideas is a satirical reference book by Gustave Flaubert, published posthumously in 1913. The work takes the form of a dictionary filled with definitions that represent the clichés and conventional wisdom of 19th century French bourgeois society. Flaubert spent over 30 years collecting and documenting the platitudes, stock phrases, and received opinions he encountered in middle-class social circles. The entries range from single-line definitions to longer passages, covering topics from art and literature to politics and social customs. Each entry in the dictionary presents what Flaubert viewed as the standardized, unthinking responses that people deployed in conversation to appear educated and proper. For example, the entry for "Doctors" instructs readers to always distrust them but still treat them with respect. The work stands as both a cutting critique of bourgeois conformity and a demonstration of how language can be used to reinforce social conventions rather than express genuine thought. Through its mockery of accepted wisdom, the dictionary reveals deeper truths about how societies construct and maintain their beliefs.

Readers highlight Flaubert's biting satire of bourgeois clichés and commonplace opinions. Many note the book's relevance to modern social media discourse and how it exposes shallow thinking that persists today. Several reviews mention laughing out loud at entries like "BRAIN: Be troubled by having one." Readers appreciate: - The concise, dictionary-style format - Deadpan humor that targets pretentiousness - Historical insights into 19th century French society - Translation quality in newer editions Common criticisms: - Some entries require knowledge of French culture/history - Can feel repetitive when read straight through - Too brief at around 80 pages - A few dated references that don't resonate Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ ratings) "Like scrolling through Twitter from 150 years ago" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect bedside reading in small doses" - Amazon reviewer "Shows how little human nature changes" - LibraryThing review

The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce A collection of satirical definitions turns societal conventions into biting commentary on human nature and cultural hypocrisies.

The Book of Snobs by William Makepeace Thackeray The text catalogs and dissects varieties of social pretension through mock-serious classifications of upper-class English society.

The Cynic's Word Book by Ambrose Bierce This precursor to The Devil's Dictionary presents caustic definitions that strip away social pretenses through sardonic wordplay.

A Perfect Vacuum by Stanisław Lem The book presents reviews of nonexistent books, using fictional criticism to expose literary and philosophical absurdities.

The New Devil's Dictionary by Rhoda Koenig This modern interpretation of Bierce's format applies sardonic definitions to contemporary phenomena and societal conventions.

🔖 Written between 1850-1880 but published posthumously in 1913, the book satirically catalogs the clichés and accepted wisdom of the French middle class through alphabetized entries. 📚 Flaubert originally intended this work to be part of his unfinished novel "Bouvard et Pécuchet," serving as the two main characters' final project after their many failed intellectual pursuits. 🖋️ The book's French title "Le Dictionnaire des idées reçues" reflects Flaubert's lifelong fascination with human stupidity and his contempt for bourgeois platitudes. 📖 Each dictionary entry is crafted to mock how people mindlessly repeat opinions without thinking, such as "PHOTOGRAPHY - Will make painting obsolete" and "DOCTORS - All charlatans." 🎭 The format influenced later writers including Georges Perec and Roland Barthes, helping establish a new genre of experimental literature that plays with dictionary and encyclopedia formats.