H.L. Mencken: An Acidic Anthology

H.L. Mencken was America’s most prominent iconoclastic journalist of the first half of the 20th century, and he still has a considerable following. Mencken’s writings have been in print continuously for over 100 years, including a collection published in the 1950s that’s still in print almost 70 years after it was first published. This is the first new collection of Mencken’s writings to appear in decades, and it consists primarily of complete pieces rather than excerpts from his newspaper and magazine articles. The focus is on writings that are relevant to the present day, that are biting, insightful, and that showcase Mencken’s trademark dark humor. Topics include American politics, evangelical Christianity, the South, the Scopes trial, sex, morals, Prohibition, civil liberties, war, quack cures, American literature, and American journalism.

Chris Edwards is a regular contributor to ＂Skeptic＂ magazine, and is the author of several books including ＂Disbelief 101＂ and ＂Spiritual Snake Oil.＂ He’s currently writing a biography of Elvis Presley. Charles Bufe is the author, compiler/editor, or translator of over a dozen books, including ＂Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?＂ and ＂The American Heretic’s Dictionary.＂ H.L. Mencken was America’s most prominent skeptic, iconoclast, and journalist in the first half of the 20th century, and the author of several books including ＂The American Language,＂ ＂In Defense of Women,＂ ＂The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche,＂ and ＂A Book of Calumny.＂ He was also noted for his German-English translations, notably Nietzsche’s ＂The Anti-Christ.＂ As well, he was the editor of the influential literary magazines ＂The American Mercury＂ and ＂The Smart Set.＂ Mencken’s writings have been in print continuously for over 100 years. Michael Shermer is the longtime editor of ＂Skeptic＂ magazine, America’s most influential skeptical publication. He is also the author of several books, notably ＂Why People Believe Weird Things.＂