Product reviews for The Magic of Metaphor

At first glance anyone looking for a different approach to embed learning could just miss this book.

Its title belies the wealth of material between the covers but which must have hit the spot somewhere as it is already on its third reprint.

The book presents a collection of stories designed to -˜engage, inspire and transform the listener as well as the reader' spouts the book's back cover. Transform is a heavy word but the main thrust behind the book being to touch people with a particularly poignant story may justify the use of the word.

Set around the concept of a metaphor (which to remind those readers reaching back in their memory banks, is a descriptive phrase of something with is not literally applicable) the range of stories and anecdotes refer-red to in the book will connect with readers in a range of different and profound ways.

At first glance the book can appear a little overwhelming with its plethora of material. However by referring to the r-ear section, readers will note that around 15 per cent of the overall book is turned over to understanding how to apply the metaphors and stories referred to in the text.

For the seasoned teacher, using such a resource will help search out new ways of telling old stories. For the trainer who has not been around the block too many times as yet, the book will help with the realisation that stories can assist learning in a number of ways. The book may actually be of more benefit to the thinker though because it provides a wealth of opportunity to reflect and analyse.

Take the anecdote about Picasso toward the middle of the book. Asked by a fellow train traveller why he (Picasso) does not paint people as they are rather than all jumbled up, he feigns ignorance. On production of a photograph of his follow passenger's wife, Picasso appears to understand the question answering -˜your wife is extremely thin and about ten centimeters tall'. The point being that everyone perceives things differently is the theme of most of the other stories told with the differential being how to apply that specific area of learning.

This is actually where the book's content must be put in context. Someone reciting from the tome's content will interpret it in their own way but this contributes to the fun of reading such a varied piece of work.

Someone, who I spoke to recently, had used this book as an aide to her work as a coach. She remarked that she had used it to help her son write a fairy story and which had giver him some inspiration. As the parent of a pre-teen who balks at the thought of writing any more than the bare minimum, it occurred to me that this represents a possible untapped market to be aimed at.

The magic of story telling does come alive in the book which is lent more than a smattering of credibility by the author's own reflections as well as the numerous other references he uses and gives credit to.

One of the, dare I say it, touching elements of the book is how it stirs the reader's emotions. While I did not read every single story in the book. I lingered longer than usual over books I review due to the wide variety of anecdotes. Refer to the section on -˜the secret of success' and I challenge anyone not to have an introspective moment.

My only real criticism of Owen's piece of work is that it would be a great help to readers to have more of a structured index than is provided should someone want to Look for information on a specific subject.

Granted, it might be a little like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack but even just a rough guide pointing to a story for readers who prefer the option for a quick answer to a problem would help.

Everyone likes a good story and even if not strictly true, tales inspire hope in people and makes us believe we can do things.

Although the book touts itself mainly as a resource for those in leadership, it could just be a good read for someone looking for a bit of light relief without actually having to attach too much meaning to what they are reading.