It happens once in a while: you think of a clever twist of phrase, one that’s not only funny but insightful. Maybe you were in the shower, in the car, doing the dishes. “I should write that down,” you think. But, of course, most of us never do.

Not so with Piotr Bardzik. He’s made a point of getting it all down on paper, and you’ll be glad he did. "Fact Denounced as a Four-Letter Word: and Other Accidental Thoughts in the World Dominated by Common Nonsense" captures some of the fleeting moments of brilliance that strike him throughout the day. And maybe even in the middle of the night.

Bardzik brings wry wit and an eye for the absurd to his collection of aphoristic musings. Here, we find “common nonsense” in politics, corporate culture, media, and all manner of flawed logic and irrational thought fully and thoroughly lampooned for our entertainment — and, at times, edification as well.

Divided into fourteen categories by subject matter, we are regaled with such quips as:

“The duration of the conflict is related to the comfort of decision-makers in the trenches.”

“In our company, we prioritize absolutely everything.”

“Some watches don’t just tell time, they measure vanity.”

“Optimism can be a valuable resource unless you combine it with delusion.”

“Complexity is not unlike an extremely invasive weed. It grows without any support.”

Familiar words are provided with ironic definitions, such as “privilege — a one-sided coin,” “passion — obsession ennobled,” and “Tautology? It is what it is.” On the other side of the spectrum, Bardzik’s neologisms perfectly capture concepts we didn’t even know we needed a name for. You’ll be eager to incorporate phrases like “hopium,” “excuse parade” and “nothing and a half” into your vocabulary.

A self-described “bean counter nearing retirement,” Bardzik also devotes a few chapters to corporate finance and mathematics, giving each their fair share of ribbing. If this is your line of work as well, the following words deserve to be hung on your cube-farm wall: “It takes great wisdom to distinguish between what Excel can do and what it cannot.” Truer words have never been written.

Inspired by aphorists Stanisław Jerzy Lec and Nassim Nicholas Taleb and the product of 8 years of journaling, "Fact Denounced as a Four-Letter Word" is “a distillate of three thousand accidental thoughts,” writes Bardzik, further culled down to “personal bonnes pensées” that can be referred to as “instances of common nonsense.”

Some of the best examples stem from the follies of flawed thinking, such as this winner: “The intensity of our convictions is oftentimes directly proportional to the level of self-doubt with which we are burdened.” Or “We are all obsessed with looking for answers. To the point of losing the ability to pose sensible questions.”

Whether we recognize these thought patterns in others or ourselves, Bardzik’s words first make you think, and then make you laugh. It’s a great book to pick up as your mood dictates and open to any page at random. Fittingly, it comes with a self-deprecating caution emblazoned on the cover: “Warning: to be read only in small doses.” With aphorisms, is there any other way?

The best aphorisms aren’t just clever; they reveal insights about their subject. They are more than just pithy; they stick the landing like a dart in a bullseye. They also assume the reader is intelligent enough to get the point without further explanation. As Bardzik puts it, “It’s the context, stupid!” And he’s right. So, if you appreciate humor that tickles your brain as well as your funny bone, "Fact Denounced as a Four-Letter Word" is very likely just the right book for you.