Are You a Bromide? The Sulphitic Theory Expounded and Exemplified According to the Most Recent Researches into the Psychology of Boredom Including Many Well-Known Bromidioms Now in Use

Are You a Bromide? by Gelett Burgess delivers a razor-bright comic manifesto that christens the sulφitic theory—an amusing, insightful take on the psychology of boredom and the people who spread it. Burgess invents the terms “bromide” and “sulphite” to name social clichés and conversational dullness, assembling a gallery of bromidioms and satirical portraits that still sting more than a century after their publication. Part social criticism, part linguistic play, this classic humorous essay—rooted in early 20th-century (Edwardian) literary circles—maps how thoughtless phrases and pedestrian tastes calcify into cultural blandness. Burgess’s lively voice, witty examples, and mock-scientific reasoning turn a cultural diagnosis into an entertaining study of manners, language, and modern life. The prose is literary in its craftsmanship yet deliberately playful, making it a founding comic essay in American humor. Perfect for lovers of humor and literature, students of language and social satire, and anyone curious about the origins of conversational clichés. Listen to discover why Burgess’s observations remain fresh, laugh at timeless bromides, and learn to spot the sulphitic tendencies that still shape polite society.