Many of the examples over simplify. The authors Provide no formal empirical basis for Their Claims. HOWEVER, upon reading this book, a sense of recognition sets in. They have succeeded in illuminating as much as one can through discourse alone, the cognitive underpinnings of our language and the way we think. Very little if anything in the way of ideological bias clouds the mirror through Which the reader can recognize the authors' thesis. Although not Explicitly written for purposes of self-development or consciousness raising, the very act of consciously Recognizing thesis metaphorical cognitive mechanisms may give the reader a greater sensitivity to and command of the language. It has Certainly for me. The authors later went on to write '' Philosophy in the Flesh. '' If you are a stickler for more formal empirical verification, in fact tome you will find good discussions about, and references to some empirical confirmation Which Followed on the thesis developed in this book. In '' Philosophy in the Flesh '' However, de authors Inevitably allow more play with Their ideological leanings (liberal) Which may prove a distraction to some readers who would find '' Metaphors We Live By '' much freer from ideological thesis musings , Clearly the revelations we find in '' Metaphors We Live By ', transcend ideology, Including the authors' ideologies. The implications of widespread cognitive metaphor Throughout our language, culture, and even our sciences, presents us with The Landmark tip of an iceberg, Whose deeper implications Spread Far Beyond and below the more obviously poetical uses did we Typically recognize When We think of the metaphorical , This causes us to rethink everything in Ways Which I am sure even exceed the authors' scope of speculation, though theyhave done an excellent job in pointing the way. The ideas developed here, cry out for - even demand - Further elaboration. This book itself only points to the tip of the iceberg and calls it what it is - to iceberg. In this job, it Proves remarkably easy to read, explanatory, to-the-point, and no longer than Necessary. Anyone literate can read and understand it, though exploring and understanding all of its ramifications Could Easily become a whole science yet to be born. If you have Either a professional or lay on intense interest in cognitive science, this book Provides an excellent introduction to '' Philosophy in the Flesh ', though' 'Philosophy. , . '' Certainly Does not Provide a conclusion to '' Metaphors We Live By. '' If you find '' Philosophy '' a difficult read, you may try this instead. If you find this book intriguing, then more illuminating speculations lie ahead in '' Philosophy '', but do not expect a grand satisfying conclusion. The authors try for too much there, overshooting Themselves and THUS occasionally slipping into more ideological speculations where the empirical presentation leaves off. I highly recommend Both books, but this one first and foremost. I would give it six stars if Amazon permitted.
