This volume introduces social science metaphor analysis and demonstrates how it is embedded in an open analytical methodology that allows for a suspensive attitude towards linguistic-communicative phenomena. The aim is to translate sensitivity to language in general and to metaphors in particular into a methodologically grounded and comprehensible, yet open and thus connectable analytical practice. Metaphor analysis is not positioned as an independent method, but rather as one procedure among various tools for implementing a reconstructive analytical practice. The focus is on the metaphor theory of Lakoff and Johnson, which is presented and contextualized in a clear manner. The introduction concludes with research examples that illustrate the practice of reconstructive metaphor analysis.