Customer Reviews

I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes

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I never met a Mardy Grothe book I didn't like. And "I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like" is certainly no exception. In his Introduction, the author describes himself as "a serious quotation collector," and in this newest of his four books, containing nearly 2,000 analogies, metaphors and similes, he provides indisputable evidence of that fact. He has indeed delivered what he promises in the book's subtitle: "A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes."

However, "I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like" is far more than simply a collection of quotations. In his own highly readable, entertaining and informative style, the author tells often fascinating stories behind many of the entries.

I can't imagine any word lover not wanting this delightful volume in his or her library. But be advised! This is not a book to be devoured in one, two or even in a dozen readings. In what he calls his attempt "to compile some of history's greatest word paintings," Mardy Grothe has succeeded beautifully. To fully admire and appreciate these "paintings" will take time, but it will indeed be time very well spent.

With "i never metaphor i didn't like" [sic] Dr. Mardy Grothe once again succeeds in deriving both amusement and plenty of food-for-thought from the nuances of figures of speech-this time from metaphor, simile, and analogy. This is another of his books worthy of multiple browsings for examples of linguistic wit, wisdom, pathos, and bathos thoughtfully arranged by subject. Dr. Grothe intersperses the quotations with background information, anecdotes, and reference linkages that enhance the reader's enjoyment and make the book more than just a list of quotations. I've thoroughly perused all of his figure-of-speech books, and I'm sure this one will wind up as well thumbed as his others on my shelf.

His introduction provides a quick brush-up on the characteristics of analogies, metaphors, and similes that is bright and readable without being tedious. And his index by author will be appreciated by anyone seeking specific who-said-whats that are scattered among various topics.

Mardy triumphs again in showing the feedback loop by which our language influences our thoughts and our thoughts influence our language.

Mardy Grothe is a national treasure and so are his books. I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like lives up to Mardy Grothe's platinum standard of wit, wisdom and insight.

It is absolutely amazing that one man has such a comprehensive collections of quotes. It is even more amazing that he has them well-organized into topics. However, the presentation of each quote, painted into a context and story is nothing short of sheer delight.

I am a big fan of Mardy, his books and his "Dr. Mardy's Quotes of the Week" e-newsletter (drmardy.com). If it seems that I might be overstating and exaggerating, then I welcome the reader to purchase a copy in a failed attempt to prove me wrong!

I love this one and ALL of Dr. Mardy Grothe's clever books!

His exhaustive research, his witty chapter introductions, and his delight in words and word play are all evident and a joy to read!

His other books include, "Never Let a Fool Kiss You, or a Kiss Fool You," "Oxymoronica," and "Viva la Repartee," and they are so much fun, you will chuckle as you read them. As a fellow fan of word play, I adore reading his books and I'm eagerly awaiting his next, entitled, "Ifferisms."

Sign up for his weekly newsletter for even more interesting literary information and a puzzler, which I love solving!

--Linnda Durre', Ph.D.
Author, psychotherapist, and columnist

There are certain kinds of books that are simply fun. They do not have any great thesis or argument. They offer the reader a selection of very varied fare and suggest sampling it.
So this collection of Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies. Some will make you smile, some will make you think again.Some you will have to squint a bit to puzzle out.
But it will all be enjoyment.
For me a book like this is of special value. As a writer I am always studying ( which does not mean- learning) how other writers did truly good things. This book is rich in examples. As Henny Youngman might have said " One man's metaphor is another man's corned-beef sandwich."

What a terrific Book! I have been a fan of Dr Grothe for a long time and now I have such a great collection of his wisdom and humor. Recommended to anyone who is in speaking, teaching or who wants to be enlighted themselves! I am each of those and find it a great resource. You will too!

I have in my library Dr. Mardy Grothe's previous three books "Never Let a Fool Kiss You, or a Kiss Fool You," "Oxymoronica," and "Viva la Repartee."

After having read once even an extremely well-written novel, most of us do not feel like reading it again. On the other hand, I fairly frequently feel like rereading for a while one of the above three books by Dr. Grothe. It's because the material in them is highly informative and witty. The particular genre of these three books enables me to randomly open any page in one of them and read the material on that page and the next few pages or any other pages. The way human brain's memory part has evolved, after having read these books once, my subsequent readings of them are of course much quicker while the wit and information stored in these treasure chests bring me experience of intellectual joy anew.

Expecting his latest book "I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like" also to be equally informative and delightful, I enthusiastically purchased it. After reading it, the thought occurred to me: "I never met a book by Dr. Grothe I didn't like!"

Reading Dr. Grothe's books is like watching linguistic ballets.

I find that a brief description of the "Metaphor" book is already provided above under "Product Description" on this web page; so I won't repeat it here. I would like to just say the following in closing:

Do you recall the "Try it! You'll like it!" slogan in the TV commercial some years ago for Bayer Corporation's Alka-Seltzer tablets? Well, regarding Dr. Grothe's latest "Metaphor" book, I would like to say: "Buy it. You'll like it!"

C G Jambotkar, Ph.D.

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.

Metaphorically speaking, It's a great book! It was fun to read and I found myself re-reading some chapters. I have to tell you though; it's been embarrassing to tell people what I was reading. In one large group, after I mentioned the title of the book, everyone became quiet and looked in my direction, finally someone asked; you never met a whore you didn¡¦t like? So I found myself explaining the title and more careful enunciating the words. º

What a goldmine lovers of language will find in "I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like." My only regret is that I didn't think of this title for my book. In our current world of information overload, metaphors and analogies are a communicator's most powerful "weapon of mass communication" to make a point. Dr. Grothe's entertaining contribution is to show that this was always so. Read this book with a pen for the many entries you will want to remember and/or use. Anne Miller, www.annemiller.com