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Book explores how an aphorism often contains 'The World in a Phrase'

WBUR
Published November 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM EST
The cover of "The World in a Phrase" beside author James Geary. (Courtesy of James Geary)
Courtesy of James Geary
The cover of "The World in a Phrase" beside author James Geary. (Courtesy of James Geary)

Author James Geary loves aphorisms, those short, witty statements that often contain profound truths. In 2005, he published “The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism,” which is now out in a second edition.

Geary joins host Lisa Mullins to talk about his lifelong love of the aphorism.

Book excerpt: ‘The World in a Phrase’

By James Geary

Excerpted with permission of the author.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR