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The Associated Press Stylebook 2015 This new edition contains more than 3,000 A to Z entries detailing the AP’s rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, and word and numeral usage. Learn more
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Product Details
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; First Edition edition (October 2, 2007)
Unlike most of the anthologies of aphorisms and wise- sayings that I know this one is not primarily classified by subject , but rather by author. Geary provides a very useful biographical sketch of each other and a few or as much as a couple of dozen of their aphorisms. He classifies the authors by their professions or backgrounds: e.g. "Comics, Critics and Satirists," "Icons and Iconoclasts," "Philosophers and Theorists". The author claims that this is the largest book of aphorisms there is in English. It certainly does contain many aphorists I had not known of. There is a biographical sketch for each aphorist and samples of their work. Geary has his own list of qualities for determining whether a saying or sentence is an aphorism. "It must be brief. It must be definitive. It must be personal -- that's the difference between an aphorism and a proverb. It must be philosophical -- that's the difference between an aphorism and a platitude, which is not philosophical," "And the fifth law is it must have a twist. And that can be either a linguistic twist or a psychological twist or even a twist in logic that somehow flips the reader into a totally unexpected place." Like other considerable collections of aphorisms i.e. 'The Viking Book of Aphorisms ed. by W.H. Auden and L. Kronenberger or the 'Oxford Book of Aphorisms ed. John Gross- this book provides a vast amount of material for 'thought' i.e. Aphorisms cannot really be read consecutively and gobbled up quickly one after the other. They make their initial impressions but then we often want to ponder whether they are really 'true' or not for us.Read more ›
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34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
As a writer, I love and use aphorisms all the time. They add to your writing and help the reader understand and appreciate what you write. An aphorism is a short, witty, philosophical saying. Here are a couple of examples:
When I am shaving in the morning and I behold my rapidly receding hairline--a modest curl rushing towards the crown of my head like some follicular riptide--I think of Jean Cocteau and his quip: "Mirrors would do well to reflect a little more before sending back images."
"Sex without love is an empty gesture. But as empty gestures go, it is one of the best."
I find using aphorisms fun. I also find they give my writing wit and humor, which my readers enjoy.
This is a comprehensive guide to aphorisms and is a wonderful tool for writers and public speakers as well as must-have reading for all language lovers.
You'll find aphorisms from such notables as Sun Tzu and Desmond Tutu. I think there are around 400 or so aphorisms in the book.
When I started stocking my writing library many years ago, one of the main books recommended to me was a good book of aphorisms. So I will pass that recommendation on. And this would be a great book to fill that bill.
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This book is a gem. Every week this year I read one book, and other than a couple works of classic literature, this is the only book I loved without reservation. It should be in the home library of everyone who is interested in reading wise insights into the human condition or just wants to browse through a book of thoughtful reflections - and hopefully that covers everybody!
It is a high quality work of reference and even more delightful to read all the way through. I have two very minor reservations: first, that the brief biographical notes on each aphorist overlap Geary's earlier aphorism book to a great extent (that book is also excellent, but briefer, thus lacking in the depth of this title); my second concern is that this book appears to not have sold well enough to warrant an updated edition someday - alas. I have wondered whether it is even possible that there could be a better and more concise book of timeless wisdom ever compiled - I doubt it. That was meant as a compliment.
This is actually a "desert island" book, and given its modest size and price should be given to any thoughtful person in your life. Of course it is not the only handbook of aphorisms on the market, but it is the most personable and carefully selected, with a perfect balance of classic, modern, and contemporary writers (including many obscure and translated sources).
No matter your level of education or intellectual curiosity you will find something meaningful on each and every page. After you enjoy this book (which I know you will) please help spread the good word for this special title.
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"Another book of quotes?" I groaned as I perused James Geary's book. Frankly, while it may have a lot of quotes, it is a superb resource for aphorisms, lumped by author and cross referenced by related topics. While there are familiar ones, there are aphorists of less renown. Useful as a reference, it also makes for some fun reading.
While generally laid out well, the choice of chapters and groupings were somewhat novel (read: less than intuitive), it is a helpful addendum for authors or those in search of just the right aphorism to color their work.
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This item: Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists
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