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Metaphors We Live By Paperback – 15 Apr 2003

by
George Lakoff (Author)
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George Lakoff (Author),
Mark Johnson (Contributor)
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Mark Johnson (Contributor)
3.9 out of 5 stars 20 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 292 pages
  • Publisher: University of Chicago Press; New edition edition (15 April 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0226468011
  • ISBN-13: 978-0226468013
  • Product Dimensions: 14 x 2.5 x 21.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 14,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

About the Author

George Lakoff is a professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of, among other books, "Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things" and "Moral Politics," both published by the University of Chicago Press. Mark Johnson is the Knight Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. He is the author of "The Body in the Mind" and "Moral Imagination," both published by the University of Chicago Press. Johnson and Lakoff have also coauthored "Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought."

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThinking metaphorically
By tomsk77 on 27 July 2008
Format: Paperback
This is one of those books that manages to crystallize half-thought-out ideas and insights that you have but never really manage to develop. And once you get your head around the central ideas you can see how applicable these are in many different bits of the world. Obviously, it all about metaphors, and the early chapters of the book look at the types of metaphors we use and how prevalent they are. This stuff alone is really worth a read just to make yourself aware of just how often we use metaphors, but also how we use many different expressions of the same underlying metaphor. Take the following example from the book:

"Theories (and arguments) are buildings:

"Is that the foundation for your theory? The theory needs more support. We need some more facts or the argument will fall apart. We need to construct a strong argument for that. I haven't figured out yet what the form of the argument will be. Here are some more facts to shore up the theory. We need to buttress the theory with solid arguments. The theory will stand or fall on the strength of that argument. The argument collapsed. They exploded his latest theory. We will show his theory to be without foundation. So far we have put together only the framework of the theory."

Surprising isn't it that we use lots of different expressions based around one metaphor? That leads on to one of the fundamental arguments in the book - that metaphors are not merely linguistic devices, they are conceptual. We don't just use the 'theories are buildings' metaphor to get across our message, we actually think and act in those terms too.Read more ›
1 Comment 35 of 36 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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3.0 out of 5 starsA new understanding
By Alberto on 17 May 2009
Format: Paperback
This book provides a new and interesting approach to the study of metaphors, which are seen as deeply rooted in our cultural background and not just simple linguistic devices.

The book is intended for the general public, since it's easy to understand, well presented, and concise. However, this feature cannot appeal to a more informed audience, since the author does not provide any footnotes or cross-references to delve more deeply into this interesting matter.

For those who want to get a wider picture, there is the following book by the same author: Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought.
1 Comment 6 of 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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4.0 out of 5 starsMetaphors we think by.
By A Customer on 6 Dec. 1998
Format: Paperback
Metaphor is usually seen as an aspect of words, a linguistic trick we use to increase the effect of our words. Lakoff sets out to show that metaphors are a fundamental part of our thought processes whenever we try to think abstractly. His book does not provide a rigorous scientific proof, but it does present a lot of evidence in favor of the thesis. However, a full treatment of the issue would take a much thicker and less readable book than this one.
Lakoff gives examples from life for various metaphors, for example, TIME IS MONEY (or TIME IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY), and shows how we use these metaphors in our everyday thoughts and actions ("Spending time", "wasting time", "saving time", etc). He shows how many different ideas can be expressed with simlar metaphors, ie HAPPINESS IS UP / SADNESS IS DOWN, HEALTH IS UP / SICKNESS IS DOWN, and so on.
Lakoff sets forth his case clearly and coherently, and with some of his examples, quite entertainingly. If you want some insight into how we think, buy this book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsBooks that have changed my life
By Great Uncle Cedric on 20 Sept. 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
There are some books that are just so 'right' you immediately click with them.
This is one such.
The idea is that we live by metaphors - 'war', 'sex', 'up is good' etc etc. This is a trans-national, trans-cultural truth that holds true for the whole species. That as the brain recognises what is going on neural paths are activated, and where the same thing is recognised, the same neural paths are triggered, until they get 'hard-wired' into our consciousness and behaviour.
This was penned back in the '80s, but stays fresh and true in the noughties.
To be honest, it goes a bit funny at the end where they try to guess where future research may take them, as far as I can see wrongly, but the first 90% is so good you can forgive them that!
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5.0 out of 5 starsLife-altering stuff
By S. J. Merrick on 6 May 2005
Format: Paperback
If you didn't realise just how much of what we understand is achieved by metaphor, this book will leave you reeling, as it did me. Start here, then follow up with "Philosophy in the flesh".
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5.0 out of 5 starsA seminal linguistics book on metaphor - for students, teachers and a wider readership interested in language
By Alex Quigley on 19 Oct. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
A superb book that is seminal in this field of linguistics. Lakoff presents his argument about how metaphor pervades every aspect of language and our world in a very accessible and engaging way.
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3.0 out of 5 starsHeavy but insightful review of our use of metaphors
By Paul Sloane on 27 Jan. 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
In this book the authors show how metaphors are much more than we at first suppose. They are not just aids to language; they are fundamental concepts that underpin much of our thinking. There are some powerful ideas and good examples in the book but its style is very heavy, arcane and academic. It is tough work getting through the book and the key ideas could be expressed much more concisely.
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1.0 out of 5 starsBeware KINDLE version
By Tout en chantant on 19 Jan. 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
The kindle version of this book (Metaphors we live by) is NOT the updated, new edition of 1981 BUT the 1980 edition, even though Amazon misleadingly shows the new cover on it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

As received a great introduction read

Published 29 days ago by VB24
4.0 out of 5 starsAn interesting read about the langue we use to communicate the...

A great read for the linguist and anyone else interested in writing, culture and how we communicate the abstract.

Published 2 months ago by Geoman
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Fascinating and persuasive!

Published 2 months ago by Maria Rhode
2.0 out of 5 starsI thought the book would look at some metaphors we ...

I thought the book would look at some metaphors we use and suggest how changing the metaphor may affect the way we communicate with each other. Read more

Published 6 months ago by A Reader
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Book looks great but it was a little bit damaged when it arrived

Published 14 months ago by maddy
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent all round service from world of books as usual

Published 18 months ago by Ogundayo O.
1.0 out of 5 starsOne to miss

Although I'm quite well versed in reading psychology books I found this publication a dry, inaccessible read. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Tangible D
4.0 out of 5 starsFundamental and debatable

This book has become a classic and some will even say some kind of pioneering gospel in the field of the study of metaphors. Read more

Published on 3 Oct. 2011 by Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
5.0 out of 5 starslovely

the book was in good condition and the delivery was very quick with nothing to complain about! well done you! :)

Published on 17 Sept. 2011 by Phoenix xD
5.0 out of 5 starsConceptual ingredients

Densely packed well labeled and competitively argued.
A compelling read but best consumed in small quantities.

Published on 19 Oct. 2010 by Reader

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