From Publishers Weekly
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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 examplesancient, modern and
everything in betweenof such sayings. From Confuciuss "Real
knowledge is to know the extent of ones own ignorance" to Yogi
Berras "Nobody goes there anymore. Its too crowded" to Adrienne
Richs "Marriage is lonelier than solitude," these bon mots offer
pithy ins and sometimes clever advice. Grothes 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 ugly
. 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, Grothes collection is good
clean funwith 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."
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From School Library Journal
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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 O 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
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Review
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“As addictive as a of peanuts--you can’t stop
after just one paradox from Oxymoronica!” (A. Ross Eckler, author
of Making the Alphabet Dance)
“Truly the most comprehensible collection of contradictions
around.” (Erin McKean, Editor of Verbatim: The Language
Quarterly)
Promises to engage you for long moments -- or short hours -- in
its paradoxical simplicity. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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About the Author
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Dr. Mardy Grothe is a retired psychologist, management
consultant, and platform speaker; the author of six books on
words and language; the creator of Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of
Metaphorical Quotations; and one of America’s most beloved
quotation anthologists. He lives in Southern Pines, North
Carolina, with his wife, Katherine Robinson.
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