Ifferisms: An Anthology of Aphorisms That Begin with the Word "IF" – Wit, Wisdom, and Hypothetical Thinking for Linguaphiles

by Mardy Grothe

Perfect for linguaphiles and lovers of quotes, Ifferisms is a lively compendium of wit, wisdom, and wordplay from Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like, Viva La Repartee, and Oxymoronica. A collection of aphorisms—pithy observations that communicate some kind of truth about the human experience—Ifferisms contains those that begin with “if.” From “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade” to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the sayings in Ifferisms demonstrate how hypothetical thinking helps people contemplate their lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Humor, Philosophy, Language

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ashok Krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're also a quote collector like me, then you'll find this book to be a treasure trove! ❤️

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can understand that not everyone has a love of English like I do or loves to immerse themselves in a book containing thought-provoking quotes. If this appeals to you, you will enjoy this book. You can't read it in one sitting and effectively appreciate it (part of the reason it took me over two months to finish). Some quotes were great by themselves, while some really achieved their effectiveness when you read who originally said it.

The author gives some history behind some of the quotes' authors and the surrounding circumstances, which I felt should have been extended. I can understand that due to space constraints there's only so much you can expand, but I think less quotes and more explanation would be preferable.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my to-read list for quite some time, and, although it wasn’t quite what I expected, I’m glad I finally read it. As the title indicates, it is essentially a collection of sayings that being with “If...,” which I expected. I did not expect the brief explanations that followed some of these sayings – explanations of the situation, the interpretation and even (occasionally) the originator of the phrase. While some of these were interesting, most simply disrupted the flow of the book.

Some of these phrases are humorous, others logical, and still others could be inspirational. The book is divided into sections according to according to overall theme. Some examples: the human condition, not-so-iffy advice and wit & wordplay. I started bookmarking the phrases that I wanted to remember, but there were too many of them, so I stopped after the first section.

This author has several additional books dealing with language and words, which I have added to my ever-growing to-read list.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty collection of conditional quotations with insightful introductions often made me smile and sigh. It's a quick guide to some pesky problems and classic debates. This book is a fine gift for recent graduates of high school, college, or graduate school.

[Argentina Lamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love knowing the origin of quotes and or their backstory, you will enjoy this book. It’s fascinating to see how quotes have evolved over time. I loved how he categorized his collection of ifferisms.

[Anna Juline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda skimmed through this, and I found a lot of quotes I liked!

[Revanth Ukkalam]

Some noteworthy quotes.

[Richard Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ifferisms are aphorisms beginning with "If." The book should be classified as philosophy as evidenced by such chapter subtitles as "The Human Condition," "Words to Live By," and "Ages and Stages of Life." Each chapter begins with a historical anecdote. The author then provides a few examples with discussion followed by many examples that illustrate the concept. The index lists the names of those attributed.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the dog hadn't stop

I enjoy books of quotations and this is a great book of quotations. Some of these I have read before, but what the heck. If it was good once then it is good the second time. I just have to say if you like books of quotes that make you laugh, maybe agree, or just think about what you have just read then by all means get this book.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good competent collection of aphorisms that begin with the word "If . . ."

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and instructive. I gave a thorough review on my blog:
http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.c...

[Arthi Ramesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such fun!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 IF you need a great quote on most any topic, these books are great. I always find new authors/books/biographies that I now want to investigate.

[Kathy McC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for information to be used in my forensics class.