| I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes | 
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Sales Rank: 3100
Category: Book
Author: Mardy Grothe
Publisher: Collins
Studio: Collins
Manufacturer: Collins
Label: Collins
Languages: Spanish (Original Language), German (Original Language), English (Original Language), Italian (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Unknown), German (Unknown), French (Unknown), Italian (Unknown), Spanish (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 5.8 x 1.2
ISBN: 0061358134
Dewey Decimal Number: 808
EAN: 9780061358135
ASIN: 0061358134
Publication Date: August 1, 2008
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The murals in restaurants are on a par with the food in museums. America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people. Critics are like pigs at the pastry cart.
Describing something by relating it to another thing is the essence of metaphorical thought. It is one of the oldest activities of humankind?and one of the most impressive when done skillfully. Throughout history, many masters of metaphor have crafted observations that are so spectacular they have taken up a permanent residence in our minds. In I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, quotation maven Dr. Mardy Grothe fixes his attention on the three superstars of figurative language?analogies, metaphors, and similes. The result is an extraordinary compilation of nearly 2,000 feats of association that will entertain, educate, and occasionally inspire quotation lovers everywhere. In this intellectual smorgasbord, the author of Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee explains figurative language in a refreshingly down-to-earth way before taking readers on a tour of history's greatest word pictures. In chapters on wit, love, sex, stage and screen, insults, politics, sports, and more, you will find quotations from Aristotle and Maya Angelou to George Washington and Oprah Winfrey.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
Yet Another Gem from Mardy Grothe November 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dr. Mardy Grothe has written yet another book that will delight linguaphiles. In fact in his introduction Grothe says, " This book is aimed at readers who have a deep interest in seeing language used in creative ways." This latest volume, _I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes_, includes nearly 2,000 quotations.
Since Grothe became a voracious reader more than four decades ago, he has collected hundreds of thousands of quotations, some of which appeared in his earlier works: _Viva la Repartee_, _Oxymoronica_, and _Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You_.
_I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like_ follows the same format as Grothe's previous books. The introduction acquaints readers with the figures of speech included in the book. Grothe clearly explains the similarities and differences between analogies, similes, and metaphors, and he recounts their earliest known appearance in history. His explanation is perfectly seasoned with illustrative quotations.
The body of the book is divided into fifteen chapters, each of which includes analogies, similes, and metaphors on a particular theme, such as definitions, relationships, stages of life, stage and screen, politics, sports, and -- of course -- the literary life. Again in the format of his earlier books, quotations included in the first part of each chapter are enhanced by discussion and historical anecdotes. It is interesting to see nearly identical quotations from widely separated contemporaries or to see various ways that a similar idea is expressed -- the idea, for example, that love is mental illness. Equally fascinating is to see the wide range of things to which one other thing can be compared. Love, for example, is compared to a cigar, a snowmobile, measles, a game of poker, and dozens of other things. The latter part of each chapter presents additional quotations, usually without explanation. The book concludes with an author index.
Grothe advises readers to read the book slowly, as one would amble through an art museum, "taking the time to savor the observations and to admire the skill that was required to create them." Once we have tasted these morsels, it's nearly impossible to resist the desire to share them. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. --Victor Borge
Modern English is the Wal-Mart of languages: convenient, huge, hard to avoid, superficially friendly, and devouring all rivals in its eagerness to expand. --Mark Abley
Grothe's explanations and quotations would serve to instruct and inspire writers; however, parents and teachers might want to monitor young people's use of the book since -- especially in the "sex" chapter -- some body parts and functions are named and described.
I am glad that Dr. Grothe has found such an effective way to share his collection of quotations with the world!
Relationship Is Like a Shark October 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Yes, relationships seem dangerous or at least irritating at times. And our choices often appear murky. Want a surprisingly quick and satisfying exercise for making wiser decisions next time? Try it by opening to any page in this witty new book by Dr. Mardy Grothe. (Relationship Is Like a Shark is one of his chapter titles.)
Once a Big Man on Campus (BMOC) Dr. Mardy Grothe took a dramatic approach to self-discovery. Seeking deeper meaning for his life, he abruptly resigned as president of his fraternity, vice-president of the student-senate and from several social clubs. He even moved off campus and spent all his spare moments, not in dating or with friends but in reading Emerson, Thoreau, Camus and more.
"Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."
- Charles M. Schulz, writing for Charlie Brown
To reinforce his self-discovery, Grothe thumb-tacked to the wall of his room his favorite quotations. That practice morphed into typing them onto his computer and continues to this day, a habit for which thousands of us are grateful. His newsletter of quotations and the remarkable stories of the people behind them is the mental candy break for many of us.
"Life is like a cobweb, not an organization chart."
- H. Ross Perot
After devouring Grothe's first three books, Never Let a Fool Kiss You or Let a Kiss Fool You, Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee, I dove into his fourth "intellectual smorgasbord" I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, and you will too.
"Assumptions are the termites of relationships."
- Henry Winkler
With chapters on wit, sex, stages of life, humor and the human condition, this may become the book you open to try my college professor's suggested exercise - figuring out what you really want to do. Or, more deeply, what you are about in this life you are living. His droll chapter titles include The Lights May Be on, But Nobody's Home (Insults & Criticism), An Actor is a God in Captivity (Stage & Screen).
"Luck is the residue of design"
- Branch Rickey
"Love is a kind of dementia with very precise and oft-repeated clinical symptoms."
- Louis de Bernieres, Corelli's Mandolin
By the way, my favorite story in his book begins the chapter, Humor Is the Shock Absorber of Life.
"Gratitude, like love, is never a dependable international emotion"
- Joseph W. Alsop, Jr.
The quotes in this post are culled from over 2,000 gems in his book. For those much-needed mental vacations, keep this book within easy reach on your bed stand or in your bathroom, study or kitchen.
A cherry tree in the potato patch September 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mardy Grothe's new book, I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, is a first class meal in the back row of the plane. It's a waterfall after three weeks in the Sahara. It's a brand new Beatles album at an estate sale. It's....it's....you see why I like this book? I need help with my metaphors!
Seriously, this book is a gem. The historical and literary references make it more than a book of great quotes. It's fascinating reading and a terrific tool for would-be writers. Pick it up and start reading anywhere. It's harder to let go of than a hot date at the prom.
-- Greg Tamblyn, Motivational Humorist, recording artist, author of "Atilla The Gate Agent." [...]
Atilla The Gate Agent (Travel Tales and Life Lessons from a Musical Laf-ologist
Saving the World from Whiny Victim Love Songs
A Master Chef of Wordsmithery September 25, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I could peruse this latest book by Dr. Mardy for hours and never tire of it. As a writer who enjoys quotations of all sorts I have long been a big fan of Dr. Mardy Grothe's weekly column. With i never metaphor i didn't like, he has so won my heart that it is now and always the first place I will ever look to discover helpful quotations to illustrate or embellish my thoughts. So long Bartlett's, you've been replaced. Simply reading the pages of this book is a vastly entertaining experience. Like many who enjoy cooking, I appreciate perusing cookbooks. For a writer, a book of quotations is not unlike a compilation of recipes, and just as worth reading for the stimulation it provides. I especially appreciate the further explanations he appends to the quotations as they do much to help me to learn more about a variety of interesting things. All hail the Master Chef of Cordon Blue wordsmithery: Dr. Mardy Grothe and his wonderful i never metaphor i didn't like.
Tasha Halpert author of Heartwings: Love Notes for a Joyous Life.
 Ruined by Over Explaining September 24, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I enjoyed every metaphor, simile and analogy in this book-- but why, pray tell, did he have to ruin them by explaining what they mean? Anyone literate enough to buy and read this book should able to understand them without having them explained. But he overloads on the explanations. The pleasure of a metaphor, etc, comes from thinking about the meaning. He gives them, then right away tell what they mean like he's teaching a bunch of school children. He talks down to his readers. On page 181 we read " Courtship to marriage; as a very witty prologue to a very dull play." Then he proceeds to tell us dummies what a prologue is. Same all thru the book. I guess he thinks the people who read this book are stupid. If he had left out the explanations it would have been so much better.
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