References Books

This is the most helpful and comprehensive book on how to market a book. I learned so much from Penny and recommend her book to all my writing students who are seeking publication. These days the author is responsible for marketing her book and it is worthwhile to know what you are doing in order to get the most from your publicity dollars.

I've marked, highlighted and dog-earred this book and I continually come back to it as a reference manual as I am publicizing my book RIGHT TO RECOVER: Winning the Political and Religious Wars Over Stem Cell Research in America. With the advice in this book I was able to put together a marketing plan for pre-publication that my publisher is very pleased with.

Yvonne Perry
yvonneperry.net

From Book to Bestseller by Penny Sansevieri is the book you need if you intend to self publish and also if you are published by a major publisher. The author, who has seven other titles to her credit, is an expert in how to promote yourself and your book on Television, radio, book signings and other ways. She discusses the secrets of writing books that sell, creating unique marketing campaigns, budgeting, and more. This is THE book that authors need! Excellent!

This book solved my problem. It empowered me.

I have started, built and run several successful industry-specific brick & mortar and internet businesses. I knew I had a story to tell with my first book project. Indeed, the book was picked up by a very reputable New York publisher pretty quickly.

My problem was, what road to take next. I could find bits and pieces of marketing information here and there, but no map. I was anxious and uncomfortable outside my knowledge base... That was, until my publisher gave me a copy of Penny's book to read!

From Book to Bestseller is a complete roadmap. It guides you through the valleys of despair into the world of public relations and marketing in easy-to-understand steps. It will empower you too.

Janyce

From Book to Bestseller is the full meal, from appetizer to dessert, on the art of marketing a book. Penny Sansevieri has written the definitive guide to the process of self promotion. If she does not cover it, you don't need to know it.

With so many books being published every day (statistic used in the book is 195,000 a year) it is up to the author to find a way to make his book standout from the rest. It is especially true for authors that so not have paid media specialists working for them. This resource guide gives both debut and experienced authors the tools and information to be able to get the word out about their books. The lay out of the book is conducive to easily accessing and processing the information. Large type lets the reader focus on understanding the suggestions, well thought out, complete chapters and sections form a logical progression through all the different stages of promotion. It is extremely thorough in addressing the many facets of book marketing from creating a successful media and press kits, It includes the addresses and contact names for many for radio stations, associated press, reviewers, and tv (even Oprah). Web addresses that cover a wide assortment of needs are also listed throughout the book and under Helpful Web Sites.

Her hints include such interesting information as the best time of year to pitch an idea, the best time of the week to have your book arrive at the reviewer's office and why mass emails are not a good idea. it is the strength of the book that it does cover such ideas that most authors will not have considered. It is truly specialized knowledge. For the simple cost of a book authors receive in depth information they can only get from a professional in the business of marketing and self promotion. Not a bad deal at all.

Although this book was written with authors as the target audience it could also be helpful for anyone beginning to market a new product or or even a new business. Sansevieri has an insiders knowledge about the business of promotion that can be translated into PR for authors or entrepreneurs.

(It is ironic that, with all her expertise, Ms Sanseviei would get her book to a review site she does not include in her book. Oh well- we can assume she will rectify that and add Front Street Reviews in future editions.)

I admit, most of the contents of _From Book to Bestseller_ were not new to me because I've already read other books on marketing for self-publishers, which contained much of the same advice. I found this book to be rather breezy and fluffy in comparison. I also admit that I'm an editor as well as an author, and this book is in need of editorial work. To get my pet peeves out of the way, it's time for the copyeditor and layout artist to discover:

* Curved quotation marks
* That reviewers will not respect a publisher who calls an ARC an " advanced" reading copy (it should be "advance")
* A better use of white space in the layout--especially, using less of it
* And, that certain tips don't have to be repeated in multiple chapters, because this is a book, not a series of independently published reports

Having gotten all that off my chest: _From Book to Bestseller_ consists of a series of very short, bite-sized chapters, like little reports. Its real strength is its advice on radio and TV appearances, rather than on some other and often very successful marketing methods. There is little information on mailings to consumers, bookstores, and libraries; on the mechanics of writing catalog copy, ad copy, and press releases; or on the use of wholesalers and distributors.

This book makes little attempt to discuss the comparative values of different marketing methods, or on how to analyze whether a given method is working for your particular book. Because an infinite amount of time and money can be spent on marketing, but much of it will not bring results for a given book, this is a significant weakness. _From Book to Bestseller_ sometimes implies that just "getting exposure" automatically sells books. That is not in fact the case.

For example, there is an upbeat chapter on starting a syndicated column. A syndicated column can be a useful revenue stream for a professional journalist. But since it takes substantial time and effort to not only get syndication, but to write column after column after column, it's an exceedingly time-consuming way to just publicize a book. An author can hardly mention his or her book in every column. It is much easier, and just as effective, to do a one-time press release mailing to journalists already writing columns.

I would recommend _From Book to Bestseller_ only to authors and self-publishers who want to market their books primarily through TV, radio, and personal appearances--and who have already done research to determine whether these very time-consuming methods are likely to market their particular book well.

Great book for any Linkin Park fan. I enjoyed the pictures and reading about the tour and how they made their videos.

My friend and I are vietnamese fans of LP and we must say that it's really hard for us here to buy anything about LP we like, because most websites never ship to Vietnam. But luckily, a friend of mine told me about this site. And the first thing we bought when we entered this site was "From the inside". This book is something I think every diehard fans of LP must have. It's full of beautiful pictures, lovely quotes from LP members and commentaries of Mr Hahn about all the videos in Meteora album. I found out a lot more about all the LP members and how they made music. You should really buy this book, I swear you'll be satisfied with it.

I've been a Linkin Park fan for probably about 6 years now and I'm amazed every time hear something new from them. The creativity and energy they put into each note, each measure of anything they put thier names on. That type of dedication is severely lacking in the music business today. I'm glad to say to say I'm a fan, without any hesistation or worries. I've read this book, 2 maybe three times and it's the kind of book you can go back to and get new views of the bands months or years after the initial read. It's a good job, well written and an easy read, not at all full of superflous language and unnecissary jargon. It proves they are a band of thier word, just average kids from SoCal, with nothing more in mind than making great music.

If you are a Linkin Park fan, want to know more about the band, or just want to recognize how six down to earth guys spend their time on tour, this book's for you. This is a diary of life on the road. It is filled with beautiful pictures, and look inside minds of one of the greatest rock bands in history! A must have for any Linkin Park fan!

From the Inside: Linkin Parks Meteora is a really good book. It tells you how the band started out and gives you interesting facts about the band, Linkin Park. The book tells you what the fans mean to the band, and where the root of their songs and music comes from. A 'Rolling Stone' reporter gives you his insight on the band, and talks about the interview he had with Linkin Park. I would definately recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Linkin Park, or to anyone in a band, or starting a band. They give you good tips to keep in mind if you are in a band and making music, and what to expect.

this is the best cookie book out there. This is my number one go to for cookies! Every time I make something out of this book I look like a professional.

amazing, easy to follow, the best cookie book out there, hands down.

This is one of the best cookie cook books I have the pleasure of owning. They are a little exotic but easy recipes and taste soooo good. If you believe in butter and sugar and everything nice deserves to be in a cookie, you'll love this cookbook. Don't hesitate - buy it. A friend of mine regularly takes this out of the library - I say, why bother, just buy it!

So far, I've enjoyed every recipe I've attempted from Tish Boyle's collection. However, the only limitation of this book is the presentation -- i.e., the lack of photos. Half the pleasure of cookies, I think, is being able to see them -- their shapes, color, thickness and texture.

I would not recommend this book to a beginner. This is really for someone who's at least at an intermediate level -- familiar with all the tools of crafty cookie-making and has the capacity to make adjustments, such as adding or subtracting flour, as needed.

I used to have a side business selling cookies and have made more varieties of cookies than anyone I know. This is hands down my favorite cookie book. The pictures are beautiful, the organization is thoughtful, and the recipes are scrumptious and spot-on. My favorite cookie of all time is the monster fudge nut cookie featured here. Every time I have made it, people gush over how wonderful it is. I strongly recommend this book.

Every so often I would go through several NT books in Greek as a discipline and this volume will be my constant guide. If you don't have it get it. It is worth the buy.

A very helpful and handy companion to the Greek New Testament. Not only it locates the conjugations of every verb in the Greek NT, it also serves as a grammatical commentary where applicable. You must own one if you are serious in studying the New Testament.

This book is a great tool for intermediate Greek students. It parses and defines unfamiliar forms and words and provides helpful syntactical comments.

This is simply a must for the student of intermediate Greek (i.e., one who has just completed his introductory grammar). Here's why I say this:

This is the ideal tool for learning NT Greek through induction. I love studying grammar deductively, that is, studying the principles and rules (a priori), but the average person will find that deductive study isn't quite enough. Even with examples, the rules tend to get lost in the heap. One needs also to gather up particular instances of the manifestations of those Greek rules of grammar as he goes in a real text (a posteriori) in order for the principles and rules to really take root (IMHO). Here's where 'the Jesuit' comes in.

As you read the NT you will encounter--invariably--forms you can't parse and words whose definitions you have not yet memorized. While having a lexicon handy, and consulting it liberally, also consult Zerwick's Grammatical Analysis and you will identify the word and its parsing. He will then possibly refer you to a section from his companion book (which you must get) called Biblical Greek (ISBN 8876535543), and it will tell you what the deductive intermediate grammars have also told you, but quickly and succinctly. By studying an intermediate grammar plus this book you wind up with a double whammy of inductive/deductive study!!

I have, in fact, only one criticism of this publication: it is not physically user-friendly. One cannot open it up and lay it out next to one's Greek NT. It's kind of laborious, putting down, picking up, putting down, picking up, when you're basically just doing the same one or two pages of text in a sitting. And it is just a little guy. When you get it you'll be like, "Oh, it's dinky!" It's real thick, though--like a little red brick of goodness. It's covered in thin red plastic for a cover, which may reduce its longevity if you're not careful. But, whatever. Get it!

Yes, in case you're asking yourself, this and the "Biblical Greek" mentioned above are indeed two of those things that are 'must-buys' for the student of Greek, imo. These, plus the BDAG lexicon (3d ed.) and Wallace's "Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics" are the bare minimum for the Greek student. Everything else is just gravy. But what do I know.

Note- Don't fret (if you are so inclined) about the fact that this is issued by Rome and that the scholar is a Jesuit. As a Roman Catholic turned Calvinist, I can tell you that it is my impression that Zerwick goes where he believes the Greek points, period. He's a true scholar, rip.

This book provides a verse by verse analysis of the Greek NT. Greek words are printed in Greek letters throughout, flowed by a short (one word) definition and partial parsings. There is also coding to Biblical Greek's . So if you get one book, it would be best to get the other as well.

The information is helpful but hard to follow. There is just too much information packed in, with lots of abbreviations and notations that have to be remembered. And as with Zerwick's "Biblical Greek," this is an advanced exposition. Beginners will get lost in it. A similar but easier to follow resource is Fritz Rienecker' s New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, The.

I only rarely referred to either of these volumes as I was working on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition (ALT). So I cannot really recommend either. I just think there are easier to use resources available. I present a full list of all of the resources I consulted in working on the ALT in my Companion Volume to the Analytical-Literal Translation: Third Edition, with asterisks indicating the ones I found most helpful.

It should also be noted that Zerwick's theological orientation is Catholic. This can be seen in his attempt to get around the clear meaning of Matt 1:25, where it says of Joseph and Mary, "and he was not knowing her [fig., was not having sexual relations with her] until she gave birth to her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus" (ALT3). The natural reading of this is that after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary began having sex like any normal married couple. This is then confirmed by Jesus having four brothers and at least two sisters (Matt 13:55,56).

But Zerwick comments, "... until (the time when) but not excluding the continuation of action beyond the time indicated; author only concerned here to indicate virginal conception."

Notice that Zerwick does not give any examples of when "until" (Gr., eos ou) does not exclude the continuation of the action. But compare the other places where this Greek phrase occurs in Matthew: 13:33; 14:22; 17:9; 18:30,34; 26:36. In all six of these verses this phrase does exclude the continuation of the action after the time period indicated.

To be clear, this means the phrase indicates a change in behavior after the time period indicated. So in Matt 13:33, the woman mixes yeast into flour; but once it is thoroughly mixed, she stops mixing. Here, Joseph was not having sex with Mary; but once Jesus was born, he began having sex with her.

The meaning of the Greek phraseology is clear, but Zerwick is allowing his pre-conceived theology, not Greek word studies, to color his comments. This is yet another reason I cannot recommend this book.

I fell upon this book while in graduate school. Though this book was not required for any course I was taking at the time, i bought it anyways for my own persnoal knowledge (for the price you can not go wrong). At the time, I was working in a psychiatric hospital and wanted to learn as much as possible about psychotropic medications, the disorders they treat and the neurobilological aspects of people. I used this book as one of many reference for a 2 hour presentation on psychotropic medications for a school project. I found this book indespensible then and now in clinical practice. Thank you to the authors for being able to create a concise, yet in-depth review of this subject matter.

I teach a psychopharm class to graduate students, and this book has been wonderful. The chapters align themselves very well to the DSM-IV-TR and the psychopathology class students ususally take in conjunction to this class. It is easy to read and the graphs helps the reader to better understand the materials. I've used several books in the past, but I, along with my students, think this one is great.

Good Book. Helpful. I come from a nursing background and I found this book quite helpful.

The book was recommened for an into class in Psychopharmacology. I read through all of it! The information is presented in easy to ready formats. It aslo includes practical case studies to help demonstrate concepts. It stresses that the information presented is in basic overview and some topics can be further researched. Yet, the material covered is indepth for most work in family therapy. The most commonly used psychotropic drugs, their primary uses and side effects are given in easy to use format. This is a great reference book for anyone going into counseling/therapy.

The book is written in clear practical way for clinicians across many disciplines to use easily.
I will certainly recommend it to anyone who wants a simple yet thorough coverage of the material for clinical puposes.


R. S. Ellecom, Psy.D, Dr.P.H

I am a beginning weaving student and purchased this book for a class project in which I needed to weave 3 distinctly different scarves from one warp....a challenge. This book shows many possibilities....some over my beginner level ...but certainly enough to use as a beginner and then look forward to as I progress. Lots of other vital information as well in the front of the book and great explainations. Don't know how helpful it would be without prior weaving instruction...but I learn better by seeing someone do the actual process. Photos are great and book lies flat with a spiral binding...love that it doesn't flop all over the place....pages are heavy and glossy and will hold up over time. I will use this over and over as a reference.

Seeing the patterns in color is absolutely wonderful and so helpful. I have a popular book, which I love and use constantly, but with the black and white photos of the patterns you don't get the real 'picture'! This book is an invaluable addition to my reference library of weaving books.
Thanks,
Happy Weaver

A must have for all weavers using 4-shaft loom patterns. It has all the patterns in color which allows you to see the beauty in the different patterns. Easy pattern instructions. If you are buying only one book, THIS IS THE BOOK!! Great Price.

An excellent book, for all stages, for weavers using 4-shafts.
Clear diagrams with photographs of the actual weaving item.
A must-have book at one's elbow when weaving.

An excellent guide to weaving and 600 patterns. The first part of the book is dedicated to weaving terms and techniques, with illustrations. The bulk of the book is treadle and heddle diagrams and color photos of the patterns created. A beautiful, lush and textural book.

I've used this valuable reference for years and it has never failed to enlighten and answer any questions that I encounter relative to theory or practice. A wonderful resource for any musician or music lover and a beautiful volume to enhance any home library.,

_The Harvard Dictionary of Music_ is easy to use and very helpful. The articles are usually short but thorough, and they often contain cross references, bibliography, and signed entries.

The Harvard Dictionary is a staple with serious musicians - I bought this for a student of mine that was graduating. Amazons service is so fast that I'm spoiled! I expect everyone else to mail my purchases this quickly!

The Harvard Dictionary of Music is a MUST for all college music students. It will be of great interest to all who love music.
Highly recommended!

Back around 1987 (or so), I walked into a local mega-bookstore to find a music dictionary that would help me navigate a couple of Renaissance and Medieval music books I was trying to read through. I'd written down various terms that I would use as the litmus test to gauge how effectively (clearly, concisely and thoroughly) each dictionary would be able to tell me what I needed and wanted to know, and/or how well it defined things I already knew well. So once I'd entered the store, I grabbed their three or four music dictionaries off the shelf and started comparing their enties for each of 8 or 10 musical terms/ideas. I found that the Harvard version was unsurpassed, and in fact rarely equaled in the quality of its entries. Oftentimes the other dictionaries flung around jargon; or their explanations were superficial, or would skirt some of the issues, assuming that I, for one, would already know what THEY were supposed to be explaining to me.
I remember after having bought the book, that whenever I needed to find out something, it would give me what I needed almost without fail. One example of this occurred on the day I wanted/needed to learn how to read and understand figured bass (having never looked into this before). I was doubting that the Harvard would give me what I needed, as it seemed on the surface to be so very complicated. Was I ever wrong! After reading the Harvard entry, I was reading through and playing Corelli on my keyboard sequencer (albeit slowly) within about 15 minutes. Although I had also conversed with a friend who was a composition major, that was for no more than a minute or so.

i have'nt read the whole book let but i will be buying it because the sample stories were so great i am setting tears rolling jusst over that so i know this book has to be great.

What can I say to make you want to buy this book? If I tell you I'm the author of "My Little Brother" which is included in this book - would that make you order it? Probably not. If I say it's one of the best collection of short stories I've ever read - would that make you order it? Again, probably not. So why should you order this book? You'll know the answer to that question after reading just one or two stories. I promise you will experience the joy of laughter and the healing of tears. This is one book that will be talked about for a very long time. But hey, don't take my word for it. Take a chance and buy it. This is one book you won't want to put down!

What can I say to make you want to buy this book? If I tell you I'm the author of "My Little Brother" which is included in this book - would that make you order it? Probably not. If I say it's one of the best collection of short stories I've ever read - would that make you order it? Again, probably not. So why should you order this book? You'll know the answer to that question after reading just one or two stories. I promise you will experience the joy of laughter and the healing of tears. This is one book that will be talked about for a very long time. But hey, don't take my word for it. Take a chance and buy it. You won't want to put it down!

The book is perfect (in content and size!) When I joined Heartwarmers.com some months ago, I figured, why not, it's free, what do I have to lose? Well, it has actually changed my life. Now I wake up and look forward to my days, rather than getting hit with the usual negative news. When I heard Heartwarmers.com was coming out with a book, I was so happy. Now I could share these wonderful stories with friends who were not on the Internet. When I got the book, I was thrilled and got several more. Oh, this would make a great Mother's Day gift too! (My mom already has hers, I couldn't wait.) I hope they come out with more books soon. I want to start a collection. Brenda

I am one of many authors who donated some of their best stories to this book (for free) so that people might be inspired by the goodness of others. Be ready to laugh, cry and feel good while reading this book. There are stories that can make you laugh. There are stories that can make you cry. But this is the book that can make you laugh and cry at the same time....

I read this book years ago when I was a freelancer. One of the most helpful things to me then was Appelbaum saying that acquisitions editors WANT to find work to publish. I had always thought of editors as fussy people who want to find any excuse to turn you down. Appelbaum gave me hope.

Now that I actually am an editor, I know that what she says is true. Editors and publishers really do want to find good materials for their company to publish. They are not the enemy.

Really, this is a very helpful and encouraging book for writers.

This is the best book I've ever read on getting published. It's instructive, no-nonsense, and remarkably wide-ranging. Plus it doesn't waste time making digressions and idiotic "jokes." It sticks to the point, is witty and straight-talking. Ms. Appelbaum is knowledgeable and sympathetic to the business of writing. This is a book worth studying, not merely reading once. Thank you.

Then you MUST buy this book.

Judith really knows her stuff. This is an excellent place to start brainstorming, even if you think that you have "seen it all". Kudos to Judith for sharing her knowledge. As a published author of several books I KNOW the challenge of marketing to the public - and publishers - that each book brings. Keep a copy of this close by and reread it often. You won't be disappointed.

Dusty White
Author of How to Get ANY MAN to do ANYTHING You Want!

I am still reading the how to self publish section. I am a complete novice writer attempting to write a first non-fiction book. The book has opened my eyes to the pitfalls and made me aware of many details I would otherwise miss. Marketing being one of the details I needed to be more aware of.
I recommend the book highly.

I earn extra money as a contract reviewer for a number of publishers, periodicals, etc. It's always a pleasure to review a piece written by someone that has educated themselves on the process of publication. This book has it all!

Of particular note, Judith writes in her introduction (Initiation, p.7) "There's only one kind of help you shouldn't hire: A vanity press" -- and further explains this on page 88 under the title "Danger: Dead Ends".

This book is also a great resource for reviewers like myself. You will find many prospective clients.

Dr. Mardy Grothe has written yet another book that will delight linguaphiles. In fact in his introduction Grothe says, " This book is aimed at readers who have a deep interest in seeing language used in creative ways." This latest volume, _I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes_, includes nearly 2,000 quotations.

Since Grothe became a voracious reader more than four decades ago, he has collected hundreds of thousands of quotations, some of which appeared in his earlier works: _Viva la Repartee_, _Oxymoronica_, and _Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You_.

_I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like_ follows the same format as Grothe's previous books. The introduction acquaints readers with the figures of speech included in the book. Grothe clearly explains the similarities and differences between analogies, similes, and metaphors, and he recounts their earliest known appearance in history. His explanation is perfectly seasoned with illustrative quotations.

The body of the book is divided into fifteen chapters, each of which includes analogies, similes, and metaphors on a particular theme, such as definitions, relationships, stages of life, stage and screen, politics, sports, and -- of course -- the literary life. Again in the format of his earlier books, quotations included in the first part of each chapter are enhanced by discussion and historical anecdotes. It is interesting to see nearly identical quotations from widely separated contemporaries or to see various ways that a similar idea is expressed -- the idea, for example, that love is mental illness. Equally fascinating is to see the wide range of things to which one other thing can be compared. Love, for example, is compared to a cigar, a snowmobile, measles, a game of poker, and dozens of other things. The latter part of each chapter presents additional quotations, usually without explanation. The book concludes with an author index.

Grothe advises readers to read the book slowly, as one would amble through an art museum, "taking the time to savor the observations and to admire the skill that was required to create them." Once we have tasted these morsels, it's nearly impossible to resist the desire to share them. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. --Victor Borge

Modern English is the Wal-Mart of languages: convenient, huge, hard to avoid, superficially friendly, and devouring all rivals in its eagerness to expand. --Mark Abley

Grothe's explanations and quotations would serve to instruct and inspire writers; however, parents and teachers might want to monitor young people's use of the book since -- especially in the "sex" chapter -- some body parts and functions are named and described.

I am glad that Dr. Grothe has found such an effective way to share his collection of quotations with the world!

Yes, relationships seem dangerous or at least irritating at times. And our choices often appear murky. Want a surprisingly quick and satisfying exercise for making wiser decisions next time? Try it by opening to any page in this witty new book by Dr. Mardy Grothe. (Relationship Is Like a Shark is one of his chapter titles.)

Once a Big Man on Campus (BMOC) Dr. Mardy Grothe took a dramatic approach to self-discovery. Seeking deeper meaning for his life, he abruptly resigned as president of his fraternity, vice-president of the student-senate and from several social clubs. He even moved off campus and spent all his spare moments, not in dating or with friends but in reading Emerson, Thoreau, Camus and more.

"Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."
- Charles M. Schulz, writing for Charlie Brown

To reinforce his self-discovery, Grothe thumb-tacked to the wall of his room his favorite quotations. That practice morphed into typing them onto his computer and continues to this day, a habit for which thousands of us are grateful. His newsletter of quotations and the remarkable stories of the people behind them is the mental candy break for many of us.

"Life is like a cobweb, not an organization chart."
- H. Ross Perot

After devouring Grothe's first three books, Never Let a Fool Kiss You or Let a Kiss Fool You, Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee, I dove into his fourth "intellectual smorgasbord" I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, and you will too.

"Assumptions are the termites of relationships."
- Henry Winkler

With chapters on wit, sex, stages of life, humor and the human condition, this may become the book you open to try my college professor's suggested exercise - figuring out what you really want to do. Or, more deeply, what you are about in this life you are living. His droll chapter titles include The Lights May Be on, But Nobody's Home (Insults & Criticism), An Actor is a God in Captivity (Stage & Screen).

"Luck is the residue of design"
- Branch Rickey

"Love is a kind of dementia with very precise and oft-repeated clinical symptoms."
- Louis de Bernieres, Corelli's Mandolin

By the way, my favorite story in his book begins the chapter, Humor Is the Shock Absorber of Life.

"Gratitude, like love, is never a dependable international emotion"
- Joseph W. Alsop, Jr.

The quotes in this post are culled from over 2,000 gems in his book. For those much-needed mental vacations, keep this book within easy reach on your bed stand or in your bathroom, study or kitchen.

Mardy Grothe's new book, I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, is a first class meal in the back row of the plane. It's a waterfall after three weeks in the Sahara. It's a brand new Beatles album at an estate sale. It's....it's....you see why I like this book? I need help with my metaphors!

Seriously, this book is a gem. The historical and literary references make it more than a book of great quotes. It's fascinating reading and a terrific tool for would-be writers. Pick it up and start reading anywhere. It's harder to let go of than a hot date at the prom.

-- Greg Tamblyn, Motivational Humorist, recording artist, author of "Atilla The Gate Agent." [...]

Atilla The Gate Agent (Travel Tales and Life Lessons from a Musical Laf-ologist

Saving the World from Whiny Victim Love Songs

I could peruse this latest book by Dr. Mardy for hours and never tire of it. As a writer who enjoys quotations of all sorts I have long been a big fan of Dr. Mardy Grothe's weekly column. With i never metaphor i didn't like, he has so won my heart that it is now and always the first place I will ever look to discover helpful quotations to illustrate or embellish my thoughts. So long Bartlett's, you've been replaced. Simply reading the pages of this book is a vastly entertaining experience. Like many who enjoy cooking, I appreciate perusing cookbooks. For a writer, a book of quotations is not unlike a compilation of recipes, and just as worth reading for the stimulation it provides. I especially appreciate the further explanations he appends to the quotations as they do much to help me to learn more about a variety of interesting things. All hail the Master Chef of Cordon Blue wordsmithery: Dr. Mardy Grothe and his wonderful i never metaphor i didn't like.
Tasha Halpert author of Heartwings: Love Notes for a Joyous Life.

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.