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Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You Paperback – February 26, 2002

by Mardy Grothe (Author)

24 customer reviews

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What do Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Victor Hugo, and H. L. Mencken have in common? They all indulged in chiasmus-a literary device in which word order is reversed to hilarious or poignant effect. When Mae West said, "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men," she was using chiasmus; when John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," he was doing the same. Dr. Mardy Grothe has compiled hundreds of examples of chiasmus in this whimsically illustrated collection, bringing this witty and thought-provoking device out of obscurity and into the public imagination.

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Product Details

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books; Reissue edition (February 26, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142000574
ISBN-13: 978-0142000571
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #916,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #765 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Reference
- #1026 in Books > Reference > Quotations
- #18065 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor

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Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars

5 star		63%
4 star		12%
3 star		4%
2 star		17%
1 star		4%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

For word lovers everywhere!

By Amazon Customer on January 14, 2000

Format: Hardcover

Dr. Mardy Groethe not only introduced me to the literary deviceof chiasmus, but completely engaged and entertained me with his bookon the subject. The book is truly a joy! Dr. Groethe's chiasmi span from old to new, from light to meaningful, from humorous to serious. He shows how chiasmus are used by everyone: from poets to politicians, from writers to actors, from coaches to philosophers. Adding to the book is how Dr. Groethe organizes it, essentially enabling the reader to find a chiasmus for any occasion. It's no surprise to me that "Never Let A Fool Kiss You..." is the 8th best-selling quotation book in amazon.com's history (as of 1/10/00) and going strong!
A new lover of chiasmus, I visited Dr. Groethe's website immediately after reading his book and signed up to receive free daily chiastic quotes directly from him!

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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

NEVER KISS A FOOL OR LET A KISS FOOL YOU

By Patricia R. Christie on May 12, 2000

Format: Hardcover

What a great little book. If you like wordplay, philosphy, history and pop culture, you'll love reading chiamus quotes from then and now. Chiasmus stretchs and delights the mind. I bought the book as a guide to my teenage daughter...you know...for the kissing part, but it has also become a delightful source of information as well as entertainment. We have fun trying to make up our own chiasmus lines. If you subscribe to Grothe's weekly Chiasmic Quotes...you'll discover a new puzzle and antedote. It always gives a moment of thought or mirth; giving new pleasure to the announcement to 'you've got mail'.

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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

An Invitation to a Feast: The World of the Chiasmus

By Dennis R. Ridley on January 20, 2000

Format: Hardcover

There are books that you can really get into, and there are books that really get into you. Dr. Mardy Grothe's "Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You" is one of the latter. It is a book to be savored like a hearty soup. If you encounter the book or the wonderful web site chiasmus.com as I did, you will come in the door not knowing what a "chiasmus" is, and afterwards you will find examples everywhere. You will even start making them up. There are books one reads for information and others one reads for pleasure. This book is wonderfully informative. As for pleasure, that word is too bland to describe the delights in store for the reader. The knowledge of chiasmus will expand and stretch you, helping you see things you never saw before and challenging you to think in ways you've never thought before. God bless you, Mardy Grothe, for the gift of this book!

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

If you like wordplay you'll love this book

By Jack Peters on March 28, 2000

Format: Hardcover

This is one of the more fun books that I've ever read, I found myself sitting up all night looking at the different phrases in the book, and working to restrain myself so that it wouldn't be over too soon. The sheer amount of chiasmus that is assembled in this book is very impressive, and it makes for a very fun read. I would reccomend it to anyone who likes words or chiasmus.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Wonderfully complete and completely wonderful

By David Hartson (dhartson@mail.med.und.nodak.edu) on October 29, 1999

Format: Hardcover

Dr. Grothe's book is a joy to read. He says in his book that it is written for the intellectually curious with an interest in words, language and quotations. If this definition comes even close to who you think you are, this book is for you. It is best read at a slow reflective pace like a fine wine or a good cup of tea. As Grothe quotes Brougham "It is well to read everything of something and something of everything." This book offers you something of everything in its completeness of categories and everything of something in its love of chiasmus. What a gem!!!

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

What fun, chiasmus are everywhere!

By A Customer on November 6, 1999

Format: Hardcover

To think that Dr. Grothe found the word chiasmus and wrote a book about it is unbelievable. He obviously enjoyed the writing and the research. How did he find all the quotes and express them in such an enjoyable and organized way? His book kept me reading, reflecting,and noticing chiastic quotes everywhere. This book and word should be required reading for English 101. Thanks to Dr. Grothe for a refreshing text for word lovers!

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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

A really interesting read - fun to make up your own!

By Steven Charnick on April 30, 2000

Format: Hardcover

I consider myself fairly intelligent, yet had never heard of a chiasmus. When I learned of them through this book, you can't imagine the fun I had trying to create them commuting to and from work. I imagine I will someday be able to start presentations with quotes that I made up that fell into this category - which isn't conceit, but rather thanks to the author for writing this book.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

What a hoot!

By A Customer on August 13, 1999

Format: Hardcover

If only all reference books were this much fun...and useful. I sling words for a living...and this elegant little tome is an easy investment.
It's a particularly tart way to blow through writer's block.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

The same joke over and over forever.

Published 4 months ago by rwx

Not worth the price

This book is merely a collection expressions loosely categorized as chiasmus. There is little to no scholarly discussion of origines nor is any historical context provided. Read more

Published 6 months ago by David L. Molnar

I enjoy all books in this Mardy Grothe series

I enjoy all books in this Mardy Grothe series! This one is such fun, too! I've given it away as a gift and also have my own copy.

Published 7 months ago by cnighti

Four Stars

good read

Published 10 months ago by Amazon Customer

Thanks

I didn't know for sure if this was what I wanted. It is fine but it was not what I wanted. My choice not your fault.

Published 19 months ago by Mrs. Denise I. Akers

read slowly to enjoy

Even the author advises to read in small sections, I am did just that, a great book for the "library" reading. Read more

Published 23 months ago by B. Bishop

not worth reading

I don't recommend.
the quotes were scattered, not really a format ?
waste of money.
my child could compose a book better than this.

Published on August 22, 2013 by anthony b.

Tacky

If you want the contextless pulp of human experience, then yes, a book of sayings will do. If you want a gimmick, a book of sayings, all containing a chiasmus, will do. Read more

Published on June 9, 2013 by sarah

word play made fun

Welcome to the concept of chiasmus. Once you read this book - you'll notice these phrases popping up where you least expect them.

Published on February 9, 2009 by Amy B. Brennan

Do we create our experiences or do our experiences create us?

As Dr Grothe explains William Safire introduced the term contrapuntal to describe this reversal of the order of words, using an ABBA form, although there are more elaborate ones. Read more

Published on April 18, 2008 by Inkhorn

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