Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Metaphors We Live By summary
George Lakoff
Mark Johnson
Brief summary
Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson explores the profound impact of metaphors on our everyday lives, revealing how they shape our thoughts, actions, and language. It offers a thought-provoking perspective on the power of metaphorical thinking.
Table of Contents
Metaphors We Live By
Summary of key ideas
Understanding Metaphors in Our Daily Lives
In Metaphors We Live By, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson explore the pervasive role of metaphors in our everyday language and thought processes. They argue that metaphors are not just a literary device, but a fundamental part of our cognition, shaping our understanding of the world. The authors begin by challenging the traditional view of metaphors as mere linguistic decorations, suggesting that they are instead a reflection of our conceptual system.
Lakoff and Johnson introduce the concept of 'metaphorical thought', which suggests that our understanding of abstract concepts is largely based on our understanding of more concrete concepts. They illustrate this idea with the example of the metaphor 'argument is war', showing how it structures our understanding of disagreements and influences our behavior during conflicts.
Metaphors and Embodied Cognition
The authors then delve into the idea of 'embodied cognition', which posits that our conceptual system is grounded in our physical experiences. They argue that many of our abstract concepts are metaphorically structured in terms of our bodily experiences, such as up-down, in-out, and front-back. For instance, the metaphor 'more is up' is reflected in expressions like 'prices are rising' and 'spirits are high'.
Building on this, Lakoff and Johnson propose that our understanding of time is also metaphorically structured. They introduce the concept of the 'time is money' metaphor, which is reflected in expressions like 'spend time' and 'waste time'. They argue that these metaphors are not just linguistic quirks, but are deeply ingrained in our conceptual system, shaping our perception and understanding of time.
Metaphors and Cultural Variation
Next, the authors explore the idea that metaphors are not universal, but can vary across different cultures. They argue that cultural differences in metaphorical expressions reflect deeper differences in conceptual systems. For example, while English speakers often use the metaphor 'argument is war', speakers of other languages might use different metaphors to express the same concept.
Lakoff and Johnson also discuss the role of metaphors in shaping cultural values and ideologies. They argue that metaphors can be used to reinforce certain worldviews and justify particular social practices. For instance, the metaphor 'the nation is a family' can be used to justify hierarchical social structures and obedience to authority.
Metaphors and Social Change
In the final section of Metaphors We Live By, the authors discuss the potential of metaphors to influence social and political change. They argue that by challenging and changing the metaphors we use, we can challenge and change the conceptual structures that underlie them. For example, they suggest that changing the metaphor from 'argument is war' to 'argument is dance' could lead to a more cooperative and less confrontational approach to disagreements.
In conclusion, Metaphors We Live By presents a compelling argument for the pervasive influence of metaphors on our language, thought, and culture. By highlighting the embodied and cultural nature of metaphors, the authors challenge us to critically examine the metaphors we use and consider their implications for our understanding of the world.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Metaphors We Live By about?
Metaphors We Live By (1980) challenges the way we think about language and its relationship to our everyday lives. Authors George Lakoff and Mark Johnson argue that metaphor is not just a literary device, but a fundamental part of human thought. They explore how our use of metaphor shapes our perceptions, actions, and understanding of the world around us.
Metaphors We Live By Review
Metaphors We Live By (1980) delves into the cognitive science of metaphors and their influence on our everyday thinking. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Eye-opening exploration of how metaphors shape our understanding of the world, revealing their pervasive presence in our thoughts and language.
- Challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting metaphors as more than just figures of speech, but as fundamental tools for structuring our thoughts and experiences.
- Accessible and thought-provoking, it invites readers to critically examine their own metaphoric thinking, fostering a deeper understanding of our connection to language and thought.
Who should read Metaphors We Live By?
- Anyone interested in understanding the profound impact of metaphors on our everyday lives
- Individuals looking for insights into how language shapes our thoughts and actions
- Readers who want to explore the connection between metaphors and cognition
Categories with Metaphors We Live By
Book summaries like Metaphors We Live By
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Metaphors We Live By FAQs
What is the main message of Metaphors We Live By?
Metaphors We Live By explores how metaphors shape our understanding of the world and argues that they are fundamental to our everyday language and thought.
How long does it take to read Metaphors We Live By?
The reading time for Metaphors We Live By varies depending on the reader's pace, but it typically takes several hours. You can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is Metaphors We Live By a good book? Is it worth reading?
Metaphors We Live By is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a new perspective on the role of metaphors in our lives. It's definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Metaphors We Live By?
George Lakoff and Mark Johnson are the authors of Metaphors We Live By.
What to read after Metaphors We Live By?
If you're wondering what to read next after Metaphors We Live By, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- The Now Habit by Neil Fiore
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susann Jeffers
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
- Incognito by David Eagleman
- Quiet by Susan Cain
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Happiness by Richard Layard
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini