PDF Ebook Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
PDF Ebook Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
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Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
PDF Ebook Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
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From Publishers Weekly
Coining the titular word to describe quotations that contain seemingly self-contradictory elements, psychologist and amateur wordsmith Grothe (Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You) gathers hundreds of examples—ancient, modern and everything in between—of such sayings. From ConfuciusÂ’s "Real knowledge is to know the extent of oneÂ’s own ignorance" to Yogi BerraÂ’s "Nobody goes there anymore. ItÂ’s too crowded" to Adrienne RichÂ’s "Marriage is lonelier than solitude," these bon mots offer pithy insights and sometimes clever advice. GrotheÂ’s 14 chapters group the quotations by theme; in "Sex, Love, and Romance," for example, Louise Colet advises readers to "Doubt the man who swears to his devotion," while in "Oxymoronic Insults (and a Few Compliments)," Henry James reflects that George Eliot is "magnificently uglyÂ…. in this vast ugliness resides a most powerful beauty which, in a very few minutes, steals forth and charms the mind." Potentially useful to public speakers and certainly bound to amuse word mavens, GrotheÂ’s collection is good clean fun—with a bit of an edge: the last section offers "Inadvertent Oxymoronica," in which George W. Bush is quoted as saying "One of the common denominators I have found is that expectations rise above that which is expected." Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–Grothe is an inveterate collector of words and phrases. He is especially fond of paradoxical sayings, "ideas stood on their heads." He has been gathering such seemingly contradictory quotations as Carrie Fisher's "Instant gratification takes too long" or Yogi Berra's pithy "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded" for years. For him, these sayings are like oxymorons but with more depth. Thus, he coined the term, "Oxymoronica, n.; A compilation of self-contradictory terms, phrases, or quotations; examples of oxymoronica appear illogical or nonsensical at first, but upon reflection, make a good deal of sense and are often profoundly true." This book is an assemblage of his collection divided into 14 chapters ranging widely in subject and author from wit and wisdom through love and sex to insults, written by Ovid through Oscar Wilde to George W. Bush, with many thought-provoking stops in between. The collection can be dipped into frequently and offers much to think about upon first, second, or third readings. It will be useful for public speakers, debate classes, English assignments, and essays. There is an index of authors and broad topics, though finding a specific quote might prove challenging. There's even a Web site to submit new ideas or to join a discussion with like-minded devotees. The whole collection might be summed up by Berra, "I didn't say everything I said." Lots of fun and much to ponder.–Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Product details
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Harper; First Edition edition (March 2, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060536993
ISBN-13: 978-0060536992
Product Dimensions:
5.5 x 0.9 x 7.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
4.3 out of 5 stars
68 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#379,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
There are concentrations of phrases on a few pages but the book is mostly filled with evidence that the author is good in digging up historical information and drawing conclusions concerning development or use. I expected more pages (with heavy indexing) of phrases without the author's input.
The book contains a wide selection of paradoxical expressions arranged in 14 different sections from sex, love and romance, to politics, insults, insights from world literature, etc.Here are few examples:The lage F.W.H. Myers used to tell how he asked a man at a dinner table what he thought would happen to him when he died.The man tried to ignore the question, but, on being pressured, replied:"Oh well, I suppose I shall inherit eternal bliss,but I wish you wouldn't talk abut such unpleasant subjects."* * *I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.* * *Last month I blew $5,000 on a reincarnation seminar.I figured, hey, you only live once.* * *We sleep in separate rooms, we have dinner apart,we take separate vacatins.We're doing everything we can to keep our marriage together.* * *Beware! To touch these wires is instant death.Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted.
I have yet to read a book by Mardy Grothe that is not deeply engrossing, encourages lots of reflection and is often hilarious at the same time. This is one of five I own, most of which I have read three or four times apiece. The amazing part is that the books are all about words and language! This one explores sayings that on the surface seem to contradict themselves but on other levels reveal some profound insights about how we think and express ourselves. If you want a reading experience that delights and informs I strongly recommend this or any of his other books.
Great to have at a house party. Lot's of quotes by famous and not so famous. You can find out who originally said it - not just the most recent person it's attributed to........I love it.
One of my best friends had an aunt (let's call her Ginny) who, like Yogi Berra, could bring a lively conversation to a screeching halt with one brief comment. Aunt Ginny really was unaware of this (shall we say) unique talent. She was not trying to be funny, clever, etc. On the contrary, she offered what she considered to be a serious comment and everyone knew what her intended meaning was. For example:"Quicker than you can count Jack Robinson.""Deader than a door knob.""She was born on a silver platter."My personal favorite:"He's on a treadmill to Bolivia."I am curious to know what Aunt Ginny would make of Grothe's book. (She died many years ago.) She would no doubt agree with many observations but perhaps not see the humor in any of them. Grothe has selected what he calls "oxymoronical" material from his vast collection of quotations. With regard to the term, his definition: "Oxymoronica, n.; A compilation of self-contradictory terms, phrases, or quotations; examples of oxymoronica appear illogical or nonsensical at first, but upon reflection, make a good deal of sense and are often profoundly true." As other reviewers have correctly noted, many of the quotations which Grothe has assembled are hilarious, others insightful, still others cynical. All of them qualify as "oxymoronica."Among those forgotten or of which I was previously unaware, my personal favorites include:"Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything."John Kenneth Galbraith"Hatreds are the cinders of affection."Sir Walter Raleigh"I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?"Benjamin Disraeli"What you get free costs too much."Jean Anouilh"Good fiction is that which is real."Ralph Ellison"Nothing is funnier than unhappiness."Samuel Beckett (in Endgame)Selections are organized within fourteen chapters, each of which has a generic subject such as "Sex, Love & Romance," "Ancient Oxymoronica," and "The Literary Life." I presume to suggest that Grothe's anthology be skimmed occasionally rather than read cover-to-cover. In the Foreword, Richard Lederer offers these comments which serve as an appropriate conclusion to my review: "Paradox is a particularly powerful device to ensnare truth because it concisely illuminates the contradictions that are at the very heart of our lives. It engages our hearts and minds because, beyond its figurative employment, paradox has always been at the center of of the human experience." Or, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, if people don't want to appreciate oxymoronica, nobody's going to stop them.Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out The Portable Curmudgeon and The Return of the Portable Curmudgeon, both edited by Jon Winokur; also John M. Shanahan's The Most Brilliant Thoughts of All Time (In Two Lines or Less) and Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide to Feeling Smart Again, edited by Will Pearson.
Dr. Grothe's "Oxymoronica" left me chuckling and amused on more than one occasion. Although this book is -- as another reviewer indicated -- a mere collection of quotes, the presentation and commentary provided by Dr. Grothe makes it so much more than a simple book of not-so-simple quotes. If you buy this book, be prepared to mark it up because you'll find yourself repeatedly reminding yourself, "I've got to remember that quote". A stellar read that should be enjoyed, savored, and referred to frequently!!
I won't include a bunch of examples, as other reviewers already have.... But I will say that I LOVE this book! It's so fun to read. I suggest you read it with another smarty sitting nearby so you can share your glee with someone else -- some of the phrases simply MUST be shared! Also, I recommend this book as a cure for writer's block. These lovely nuggets give you a lot of food for thought and inspiration to be just as clever.You'll be glad to have this precious collection in your library!
Read a friend's copy, got this one to give as a gift for a friend who loves words and good writing as much as I do. Couldn't be happier.
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