{"product_id":"oxymoronica-paradoxical-wit-and-wisdom-from-historys-greatest-wordsmiths-isbn-9780060537005","title":"Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom from History's Greatest Wordsmiths","description":"\u003cp\u003eA must-have for language lovers, this compendium contains hundreds of mind-stretching observations that are contradictory or illogical on one level, yet true, witty, and often profound on another.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eox-y-mor-on-i-ca (OK-se-mor-ON-uh-ca) noun: Any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are profoundly true.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor example:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—Victor Hugo\u003cp\u003e\"To lead the people, walk behind them.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—Lao-tzu\u003cp\u003e\"You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—Dolly Parton\u003cp\u003eFor over a decade Dr. Mardy Grothe has delighted readers with this collection of 1,400 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers like Confucius, Aristotle and Saint Augustine, to great writers like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and G. B. Shaw, to modern social observers like Woody Allen and Lily Tomlin, Oxymoronica celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking. All areas of human activity are explored, including love, sex, romance, politics, the arts, marriage and family, and, of course, the literary life. Sure to grab the attention of language lovers everywhere, the wise and witty observations in this book are as entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one-of-a-kind collection of oxymorons and paradoxes explores:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWitty Observations:\u003c\/b\u003e Discover why Dolly Parton claimed, \"You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap,\" and explore hundreds of other zingers from Oscar Wilde, G. B. Shaw, and Woody Allen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eProfound Truths:\u003c\/b\u003e Unpack the wisdom in ancient paradoxes like Lao-tzu’s \"To lead the people, walk behind them,\" from thinkers as diverse as Confucius and Saint Augustine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eContradictions in Terms:\u003c\/b\u003e Delve into the \"sweet sorrow\" and \"happy agony\" of the oxymoron, the rhetorical device that packs a punch by revealing truth through contradiction.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFor Language Lovers:\u003c\/b\u003e A mind-stretching journey through 1,400 of history’s most provocative quotations, exploring everything from politics and love to the literary life itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003eox-y-mor-on-i-ca (OK-see-mor-ON-uh-kuh) \u003cem\u003enoun\u003c\/em\u003e: Any variety of self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are profoundly true.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor more than a decade Dr. Mardy Grothe has delighted readers with this collection of 1,500 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers and great writers to modern social observers, \u003cem\u003eOxymoronica\u003c\/em\u003e celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this new and updated edition, Dr. Mardy has added 130 classic and unforgettable turns of phrase, bringing the joy of oxymoronica to new audiences. Exploring all facets of life, the wise and witty observations in this book are sure to inspire readers, writers, and language lovers everywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Truly the most comprehensible collection of contradictions around.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eErin McKean, Editor of Verbatim: The Language Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou don’t need military intelligence to enjoy this quirky, surprising, and educational tour through a previously uncharted region of the English language. - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRobert Byrne, compiler of The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The quintessential collection of memorable, push-me-pull-you, yin-yang statements.  Mardy Grothe has labored lovingly in the words yards of paradoxology.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRichard Lederer, from the Foreword\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“As addictive as a bowl of peanuts--you can’t stop after just one paradox from Oxymoronica!” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA. Ross Eckler, author of Making the Alphabet Dance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePromises to engage you for long moments -- or short hours -- in its paradoxical simplicity. - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMilwaukee Journal Sentinel\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGot a passion for paradox? A weakness for wordplay? If so, put the good doctor’s latest on your must-read list. - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGotham Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Good clean fun-with a bit of an edge.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Paperbacks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44887592730853,"sku":"NP9780060537005","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780060537005.jpg?v=1730227029","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/oxymoronica-paradoxical-wit-and-wisdom-from-historys-greatest-wordsmiths-isbn-9780060537005","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}