Overview

At one time, this nation held a profound and simple faith in the power of words. Today we have become so engulfed in public cynicism that the whole notion of ""words to live by"" seems to us impossibly naive. Brian Burrell's splendid collection shows that many of the phrases we once lived by can still have resonance today. A comprehensive, fascinating treasure trove of American common sense and whimsy, The Words We Live By presents a sentimental rediscovery of a lost era in American history. From fraternal loyalty oaths to marriage vows, corporate mottoes to monument inscriptions, Ben Franklin to Henry Ford, Americans for generations have committed their most cherished ideals to print, often in charming and plain-spoken language that perfectly represents our provincial, pragmatic, and romantic national character. Burrell's work was inspired by his father, an obsessive collector of words and a chronic nostalgia buff who traveled widely with his family, introducing them to the landmarks, monuments, and other symbols of America's past. Throughout his life, he clipped or wrote down memorable phrases, quotes, mottoes, and quips, both the silly and the profound, the playful and the maudlin. Burrell has lovingly compiled his father's collection of scrapbooks, complementing them with extraordinary research into the origins of America's civic ethics, to produce a truly memorable and inspirational work of historical reference. More than just a compendium of classic American wit and wisdom, The Words We Live By brings this material to life with poignantly told stories, forgotten anecdotes, and deeply considered meditations on the meaning of the words that have shaped the American nation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Brian Burrell
Publisher:   Simon & Schuster
Imprint:   The Free Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.462kg
ISBN:  

9781451646757

ISBN 10:   1451646755
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   11 June 2011
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

CONTENTSPrefaceIntroductionReady-made opinions in American culturePART ONE: THE WORDS1. Do Unto OthersWords of Respect: The Evolution of the Golden Rule2. We Hold These TruthsWords of Belief and Conviction: Creeds and Other Professions of Faith3. So Help Me GodWords of Obedience: Loyalty Oaths and Pledges of Allegiance4. 'Til Death Do Us PartWords of Consent: Oaths of Citizenship, Rites of Secret Initiation, Temperance Pledges, and Wedding Vows5. On My Honor I Will Do My BestWords of Good Intent: Codes of Ethics and Conduct6. To Thine Own Self Be TrueWords of Experience: The Secrets of Success, Advice from Parents, and the Gospel According to Murphy, Parkinson, and Others7. Semper FiFighting Words: Mottoes, Maxims, and Slogans8. In God We TrustWords of Common Currency: The National Mottoes9. Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom of NightWords Set in Stone: Architectural Inscriptions of the American RenaissancePART TWO: THE TEXTSGolden RulesCreedsOaths, Vows, and PledgesCodes of Ethics and ConductAdvice and Rules of LifeMottoes, Maxims, and SlogansInscriptionsSources, Notes, and CommentsAcknowledgmentsIndex

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Author Information

Brian Burrell is a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is author of Merriam Webster's Pocket Guide to Business and Everyday Math. Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, he currently lives in Northampton.

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