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

As a collector of metaphors, similes, analogies -- as well as other clever adages and sayings, I was disappointed in this collection.

While admittedly there is some historical value in knowing where many of our common metaphorical clichés have come from, one hardly thinks that history alone should be the final arbiter or criterion for inclusion - even if they have been penned by some of our most famous authors. And even though the author took the pain to carefully explain the difference between these and clichés. Yet, how could he fail to filter the latter from this collection?


Plus, times and the rules of cleverness do change. They are both contextual as well as evolutionary. This book is a lot like watching an old movie before acting moved into the modern era. The old movies still may have great nostalgic value, but the art and craft of acting has long since moved on ...

The same goes for metaphors, similes and analogies: Arguably the final criterion for inclusion should be creativity and cleverness, not history or nostalgia. And in the view of this reader, the items in this collection, rather surprisingly, too often fall short of that test.

Also, is it not a bit counterintuitive (not to mention disconcerting) to spend pages discussing a single pithy sentence, when both its beauty and meaning lies in the subtlety of the surprise of the discovery itself?

Most of this book is inelegant in the same way that explaining the historical importance and cleverness of the punch line of a joke might be? Two stars

Random House Webster's Quotationary

A good book is either enjoyable or instructive; a wonderful book is both enjoyable and instructive. I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like falls into the latter category. It's a glorious mix of familiar and unfamiliar aphorisms, witticisms and observations, many of which you will want to store in your memory for reflection, guidance or maybe just to bring a smile to your face. Were I to list all my favorite entries, I'd probably soon run out of your patience. Here instead are some of them:

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Freedom of the press is to the machinery of the state what the safety valve is to the steam engine.
ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER

The best mind-altering drug is truth.
JANE WAGNER (delivered by LILY TOMLIN)

It's hard to fight and enemy who has outposts in your head.
SALLY KEMPTON

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told, "I am with you kid, Let's go!"
MAYA ANGELOU

The difference between being a director and being an actor is the difference between being a carpenter banging the nails into the wood and being the piece of wood the nails are being banged into.
SEAN PENN

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
ROBIN WILLIAMS

This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life.
C. S. LEWIS

Love is the wild card of existence.
RITA MAE BROWN

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.
JEAN ANOUILH

Love is the bridge between two hearts.
AMERICAN SAYING

What a refreshing book! This has got to be one of the best coffee table books I have gotten. I just left it out and each member of the family picks it up through the week and says, "Listen to this one!" and we all laugh or muse about it. Good stuff.

A rather enjoyable read, "I Never Metaphor" is humorous, entertaining and enlightening all at the same time. I enjoy books on language and will admit to being a fan of analogies, metaphor, and similes, so it was easy for me to enjoy this book. However, I believe anyone would find this book a pleasant and thought provoking read, even if the study of language isn't something they enjoy.

Grothe's "Never Metaphor" is interesting and entertaining throughout - many of the metaphors trotted forth were brain candy, others were shock treatment: a new way of looking at a matter.

I hope he gives us a book on palindromes and/or anagrams some day.