“In Henry Adams, I discovered not only the prototype of the modern thinker but also someone who is more interesting: a viper-toothed, puling, supercilious crank, thwarted in ambition, aging gracelessly, mad at the cosmos, and ashamed of his own jejune ideals. He is nevertheless very dear to me.”

American satirist and journalist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, P.J. O’Rourke wrote with razor-sharp wit about politics, culture, and the absurdities of modern life. His work blended sharp observation with irreverent humor, offering incisive commentary on everything from government inefficiency to the quirks of American society.