A Cynic Looks at Life is an essay written by Ambrose Bierce. Misanthropes, grumps, and the hopelessly jaded will relish every ruthlessly witty word of Ambrose Bierce's essay collection A Cynic Looks at Life. Bierce unleashes his jaundiced eye and incisive insight on a number of topics that are still as resonant as they were at the time of the book's 1912 publication. Ambrose Bierce (June 24, 1842 ...