Jacobson is one of the great sentence-builders of our time. I feel I have to raise my game, even just to praise ... In short, he is one of the great guardians of language and culture - all of it. Long may he flourish

Nicholas Lezard, Guardian

[An] acutely observed collection of occasional pieces that pick at absurdist life and reveal him to be a quiz, a cultural critic gifted with precise comic timing

The Times

Yes, Jacobson is an entertainer ... And he does indeed entertain, but in a way that stimulates rather than simply amuses

Sunday Telegraph

Sharp and playful, surreal and thoughtful, and occasionally…rather moving

New Statesman

His columns were always one of the best things in [the Independent] – funny, argumentative, contrary and stuffed with ideas as well as a big, sympathetic personality. They were on the right side of the argument, even when they were obviously wrong … He is an excellent writer to disagree with – and an even better one to agree with ... Jacobson was satisfying because he always gave the impression of writing to start a discussion at least, an argument on a good day, even a proper fight

Philip Hensher, Spectator

Whether [Jacobson] is writing about the intricacies of darts, or why all TV programmes should be subtitled, or about a much loved old dog, he's invariably sharp, clever and very, very witty

Simon Shaw, Mail on Sunday