Is it me or are these titles going a little too far?
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Completely Insensitive Stupid Idiotic Dummy's Guide to Naming Book Titles
I saw these yesterday in the window of a bookstore. I've always said I would never buy a "for Dummies" book or "Complete Idiot's Guide" to anything, just based on principle.
Is it me or are these titles going a little too far?
Is it me or are these titles going a little too far?
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5 comments:
I give up. What's the picture supposed to be?
Alzheimer's for Dummies!!!! enough said.
Marketing!
But, the books must sell or they wouldn't print them.
The Dummies and Idiot's Guides are a huge series that market well. Some better than others, obviously. But there's just about whatever book you could imagine for Dummies. I think that's their goal, to have a book for everything. Bet there's even a Bloggers Book for Dummies or an Idiot's Guide, which I dare say many people could benefit from . . . Still, I don't think the authors are making any real money off of them.
The "idea" behind these idiot guides is to make US feel safe in starting an investigation on a subject, i think. "gosh I don't know ANYthing about XXX (enter disease of choice / investing / homebuying / child rearing / getting divorced / buying a puppy, etc.), and I sure don't want some big heavy technical book that I won't understand...oh HERE is one that was written in language I can understand, and look at the cute cartoons! maybe THIS will be a good place to start." Sadly, some people read the dummy book and, thinking they now know ALL about it, don't need any more information. Kinda like reading the Cliff's Notes, without actually reading the book
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