Reviews & Endorsements

This book draws our attention to ‘monster metaphors’ that have gained illegitimate domination of discourse in certain domains, such that our conception of the field is dangerously narrowed. The spheres of public discourse in which the author finds such metaphors reigning are: mental health, economics, the sciences, and gender relations. 

The opening chapter tells an engaging story of how monster metaphors rampage over the discursive landscape, destroying rival metaphors at every turn. Chapter 2 reviews the main theories of metaphor and explains the author’s preference for seeing the connotations of one domain being ‘mapped’ on to another domain. Chapter 3 shows how major metaphors are buttressed by associated instances of synecdoche and metonymy that tie the metaphor into its context. Chapter 4 highlights the creative potential of metaphor for explaining complex topics and stimulating our imaginative faculties, and chapter 5 outlines how a metaphor ‘turns nasty’ and grows, like a cancer, to reign over the whole domain. The first case study (chapter 6) examines the process by which psychological distress has come to be referred to, by analogy with physical illness, as ‘mental illness’ and details the damaging implications this analogy has had for diagnosis, treatment, and how we all, including those who experience them, conceive of a great range of mental conditions. The second case study (chapter 7) recounts the story of how metaphors from hydraulics were introduced into economics in the 1940s to 1960s and were seized on and promoted by neoliberal economists to become the dominant metaphor, with ‘free-flowing’ being specified as the ideal. The third case study (chapter 8) recounts how science has, over the centuries, come to be depicted as ‘the mirror-of-nature’ and has resisted all attempts to unseat it. The use of this metaphor, Adams argues, has legitimized the monster metaphors in psychiatry and economics that he has previously discussed. The last case study, ‘men as naturally superior’ (chapter 9) is rather different, in that it springs from his own research as a clinical psychologist on the justifications that men who have been violent to their partners offer for their behaviour.

In the concluding chapters, he outlines the commercial and social forces that have helped to foster the monsters, including the role of Big Pharma in insisting that ‘mental illness’ can be treated by chemical means as physical illness can. He highlights strategies we may employ to resist them and promote monster-free environments, such as peeling away the synecdoche and metonymy of muscular strength that bolster the ‘men as superior’ metaphor, and adopting plural metaphors around key social topics, which allow multiple perspectives on them. Among the many strengths of the book are: the major social implications of the case studies; the breadth of the author’s knowledge of the fields he explores; the vivid stories he tells about the origins of each monster metaphor; the references to his personal experience (for instance, working in a traditional psychiatric hospital as an eighteen-year-old); the occasional humour; and the vividly engaging style with which it is written.

Dr Michael Hanne (2023), Language and Society, Volume 52(5), pp. 917-18. Read full review.

What questions is the book about? In short, ADAMS is concerned with clarifying why some metaphors flourish and spread and why they work. Or, in other words, how do metaphors succeed in becoming big, in displacing others, in killing and devouring others, and thereby becoming even bigger themselves? Why are metaphors convincing? Are they rooted in our experience? And to what extent have they already penetrated our bodies and become flesh? …

What ADAMS wants with his book, in terms of relativizing the power of metaphors by reflecting on them, is in this sense the reformulation of a statement by NIETZSCHE that truth is the lie that we have forgotten is a lie, “So what is truth? A moving army of metaphors, metonymies, anthropomorphisms, in short a sum of human relations that have been poetically and rhetorically enhanced, transferred, decorated and which, after long use, seem fixed, canonical, and binding to a people: the truths are illusions of which one has forgotten that they are such.” (NIETZSCHE, 1980 [1873], p.314). From the perspective of the sociology of knowledge, one can only agree with this.

Overall, the book is a knowledgeable, exciting, irritating, and also a political book. It is definitely worth reading.

Prof Jo Reichert (2024) (Kulturwissenschaftlichen Institut (KWI) Essen Germany) Forum: Qualitative Social Research, Volume 25(1), Art. 11. Read full review

Peter J. Adams navigates the treacherous waters of metaphorical dominance in our everyday lives. Adams underscores the magnitude of the metaphors we often casually use, illuminating their capacity not just to describe, but to prescribe, mold, and even distort our understanding of the world. It is a powerful examination of how metaphors, when left unchecked, can transform into monstrous entities that cast shadows over alternative viewpoints and shape the course of societal thought.

Monster Metaphors stands as a comprehensive exploration into this nuanced world. The book elucidates how seemingly benign linguistic tools can grow into dominant narratives, wielding profound influence over societal perceptions. What sets this work apart is its interdisciplinary relevance. While rooted in linguistics, its insights resonate across rhetoric and media studies, making it valuable for an array of scholars.

One of the book’s standout features is its empirical approach. Adams harnesses the power of four robust case studies, offering readers tangible examples of metaphors in real-world scenarios. This, paired with a detailed exploration into the interplay of various rhetorical devices, gives the content depth and richness. By providing symbolic diagrams to explain complex rhetorical concepts, Adams ensures that the material remains both engaging and accessible. However, the true brilliance of this book lies in its problem–solution structure. While Adams meticulously outlines the challenges posed by these dominating metaphors, he doesn’t leave the reader in a realm of bleak acceptance. The book provides actionable strategies, delving into how society can challenge, prevent, and even replace these monster metaphors. Particularly noteworthy is the critical analysis of the beneficiaries of these metaphors, offering a keen perspective on underlying power dynamics.

The societal implications of Adams’ work cannot be overstated. By showcasing how metaphors shape perceptions in diverse areas—from mental health to gender relations—the book bridges the gap between academia and real-world impact. Moreover, its forward-looking stance, contemplating a future enriched by diverse understandings, makes Monster Metaphors not just a critique but a beacon of hope and guidance for future discourse.

In sum, Monster Metaphors: When Rhetoric Runs Amok is a compelling examination of the formidable power of metaphors in our lives. It is an urgent call for vigilance, reflection, and active resistance against the behemoth metaphors that threaten to overshadow alternative, often more nuanced, perspectives.

Dr Zilong Zhong (2024) (Beijng Foreign Studies University). Rhetoric Review, Volume 43(3), pp. 223-25. Read full review.