October 8th, 2009 / 8:24 pm
 Snippets
—

Bad book titles seem harder than good book titles. What’s the worst title of a book you ever heard?

56 Comments

  1. October 9th, 2009 / 12:42 am Ben Spivey—

      Going Rogue: An American Life, by Sarah Palin

  2. October 8th, 2009 / 8:42 pm Ben Spivey—

      Going Rogue: An American Life, by Sarah Palin

  3. October 9th, 2009 / 12:46 am Rauan Klassnik—

      Whore (actually that’s not so bad… or is it ??)

      and someone’s going to answer “ever heard” with Ever,….

  4. October 9th, 2009 / 12:46 am Nathan (Nate) Tyree—

      Nicely played, sir

  5. October 8th, 2009 / 8:46 pm Rauan Klassnik—

      Whore (actually that’s not so bad… or is it ??)

      and someone’s going to answer “ever heard” with Ever,….

  6. October 8th, 2009 / 8:46 pm Nathan (Nate) Tyree—

      Nicely played, sir

  7. October 9th, 2009 / 12:47 am Rauan Klassnik—

      end of discussion

  8. October 9th, 2009 / 12:47 am Nathan (Nate) Tyree—

      Super Virus: Immortal Sins

      Hands down the worst

  9. October 8th, 2009 / 8:47 pm Rauan Klassnik—

      end of discussion

  10. October 8th, 2009 / 8:47 pm Nathan (Nate) Tyree—

      Super Virus: Immortal Sins

      Hands down the worst

  11. October 9th, 2009 / 12:56 am michael bible—

      Balls by Nancy Kincaid

  12. October 8th, 2009 / 8:56 pm michael bible—

      Balls by Nancy Kincaid

  13. October 9th, 2009 / 1:02 am christian—

      any novel with a subtitle, particularly a subtitle beginning with “a novel of …”

      any work of nonfiction post-dr. strangelove with the phrase “how i learned to stop worrying and love …”

      any book at all including the formulation “the [blank] that changed the world.”

      i’m also not very fond of the [occupation]’s [familial relation] formulation.

  14. October 8th, 2009 / 9:02 pm christian—

      any novel with a subtitle, particularly a subtitle beginning with “a novel of …”

      any work of nonfiction post-dr. strangelove with the phrase “how i learned to stop worrying and love …”

      any book at all including the formulation “the [blank] that changed the world.”

      i’m also not very fond of the [occupation]’s [familial relation] formulation.

  15. October 9th, 2009 / 1:14 am Jac Jemc—

      Uh. Last year I received a galley at the book store, obviously ‘self-published’ on Vantage Press, so you can decide if this counts:

      “Are You Having Sex For Fun or Babies?”

      by Mario Fontain.

      I kid you not. The book goes on to help you make a crucial decision…

  16. October 8th, 2009 / 9:14 pm Jac Jemc—

      Uh. Last year I received a galley at the book store, obviously ‘self-published’ on Vantage Press, so you can decide if this counts:

      “Are You Having Sex For Fun or Babies?”

      by Mario Fontain.

      I kid you not. The book goes on to help you make a crucial decision…

  17. October 9th, 2009 / 1:20 am Ben Spivey—

      Tough choice…

  18. October 8th, 2009 / 9:20 pm Ben Spivey—

      Tough choice…

  19. October 9th, 2009 / 1:35 am cmr—

      definitely with you on the subtitle issue. seems like every book nowadays has a fully composed sentence under the title, detailing exactly what’s detailed on the back of the book.

  20. October 8th, 2009 / 9:35 pm cmr—

      definitely with you on the subtitle issue. seems like every book nowadays has a fully composed sentence under the title, detailing exactly what’s detailed on the back of the book.

  21. October 9th, 2009 / 2:52 am Aaron—

      The Timetraveler’s Wife

  22. October 8th, 2009 / 10:52 pm Aaron—

      The Timetraveler’s Wife

  23. October 9th, 2009 / 3:07 am alan—

      Roseanne: My Life as a Woman, by Roseanne Barr

  24. October 8th, 2009 / 11:07 pm alan—

      Roseanne: My Life as a Woman, by Roseanne Barr

  25. October 9th, 2009 / 3:22 am rion—
  26. October 8th, 2009 / 11:22 pm rion—
  27. October 9th, 2009 / 3:25 am l.w.l.—

      Dead and Berried… and every other fucking mystery book involving a pun.

      Any book with the name of an occupation’s daughter. Gravedigger’s Daughter.

      That’s why Wonder Boys cracked me up the dude’s book was Arsonist’s Daughter.

  28. October 8th, 2009 / 11:25 pm l.w.l.—

      Dead and Berried… and every other fucking mystery book involving a pun.

      Any book with the name of an occupation’s daughter. Gravedigger’s Daughter.

      That’s why Wonder Boys cracked me up the dude’s book was Arsonist’s Daughter.

  29. October 9th, 2009 / 5:09 am Josh—

      What’s the worst title of a GOOD book you’ve ever read?

      …just wonderin’

  30. October 9th, 2009 / 1:09 am Josh—

      What’s the worst title of a GOOD book you’ve ever read?

      …just wonderin’

  31. October 9th, 2009 / 6:08 am Andrew Borgstrom—

      The Red Shoes and Other Tattered Tales by Karen Elizabeth Gordon. Maybe that’s not so bad, but it’s one of my favorite books with one of my least favorite titles. I bought it at Powell’s, and it’s pink, and the only reason I picked it up is because it was published by Dalkey. Also interesting that this is the second title for the book. Originally published by Time Books as Intimate Apparel: A Dictionary of the Senses. Don’t much like that title either. [One of my favorite titles if that’s allowable: Best Selling Jewish Porn Films by Wayne Koestenbaum]

  32. October 9th, 2009 / 2:08 am Andrew Borgstrom—

      The Red Shoes and Other Tattered Tales by Karen Elizabeth Gordon. Maybe that’s not so bad, but it’s one of my favorite books with one of my least favorite titles. I bought it at Powell’s, and it’s pink, and the only reason I picked it up is because it was published by Dalkey. Also interesting that this is the second title for the book. Originally published by Time Books as Intimate Apparel: A Dictionary of the Senses. Don’t much like that title either. [One of my favorite titles if that’s allowable: Best Selling Jewish Porn Films by Wayne Koestenbaum]

  33. October 9th, 2009 / 11:50 am david erlewine—

      (laugh)

      Nice job, Ben.

      Fuck.

  34. October 9th, 2009 / 7:50 am david erlewine—

      (laugh)

      Nice job, Ben.

      Fuck.

  35. October 9th, 2009 / 11:59 am david erlewine—

      Book – Whoopi Goldberg

      Come On People – Bill Cosby, Alvin F. Pouissant, MD

      Cooking With Pooh

      Games You Can Play With Your Pussy (and Lots of Other Stuff Cat Owners Should Know)

      Pooh Gets Stuck – Isabel Gainer

      Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All – Christina Thompson

      Where’s Arthur’s Gerbil – Marc Brown

      Foreskin’s Lament (a memoir)

      There are some great sites out there laying out the worst of the worst.

  36. October 9th, 2009 / 7:59 am david erlewine—

      Book – Whoopi Goldberg

      Come On People – Bill Cosby, Alvin F. Pouissant, MD

      Cooking With Pooh

      Games You Can Play With Your Pussy (and Lots of Other Stuff Cat Owners Should Know)

      Pooh Gets Stuck – Isabel Gainer

      Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All – Christina Thompson

      Where’s Arthur’s Gerbil – Marc Brown

      Foreskin’s Lament (a memoir)

      There are some great sites out there laying out the worst of the worst.

  37. October 9th, 2009 / 12:43 pm carl—

      Pitching My Tent by Anita Diamant

  38. October 9th, 2009 / 8:43 am carl—

      Pitching My Tent by Anita Diamant

  39. October 9th, 2009 / 1:26 pm michael james—

      Games You Can Play With Your Pussy (and Lots of Other Stuff Cat Owners Should Know)

      …. david, that is the best title since Sliced Bread: An existentialist adventure

  40. October 9th, 2009 / 9:26 am michael james—

      Games You Can Play With Your Pussy (and Lots of Other Stuff Cat Owners Should Know)

      …. david, that is the best title since Sliced Bread: An existentialist adventure

  41. October 9th, 2009 / 1:38 pm david erlewine—

      heh, yeah Michael I had to “verify” that book actually existed. I might have to order that for my cat-owner friend. I just hope she’ll take the book w/o making a big deal of the title. I dunno, she’s funny that way. She always imputes things into the nice things I do for her.

  42. October 9th, 2009 / 9:38 am david erlewine—

      heh, yeah Michael I had to “verify” that book actually existed. I might have to order that for my cat-owner friend. I just hope she’ll take the book w/o making a big deal of the title. I dunno, she’s funny that way. She always imputes things into the nice things I do for her.

  43. October 9th, 2009 / 4:40 pm mike—

      google book search reveals it’s actually “Are You Having Sex for Fun and Babies?”, but this is def. a winner, as evidenced by this passage taken from the chapter entitled, “Double Murder”:

      “There have been a lot of double murder cases in the world. These cases involved people who were hired by men to kill their pregnant girlfriend. These cases are very sad and crucial and they are very common. Being involved in hiring a killer to get rid of your pregnant girlfriend is in no way the right solution to deal with such a sensitive problem. How will you be able to live with your conscience for the rest of your life? Knowing that you are responsible for the death of two human beings?”

      link

  44. October 9th, 2009 / 12:40 pm mike—

      google book search reveals it’s actually “Are You Having Sex for Fun and Babies?”, but this is def. a winner, as evidenced by this passage taken from the chapter entitled, “Double Murder”:

      “There have been a lot of double murder cases in the world. These cases involved people who were hired by men to kill their pregnant girlfriend. These cases are very sad and crucial and they are very common. Being involved in hiring a killer to get rid of your pregnant girlfriend is in no way the right solution to deal with such a sensitive problem. How will you be able to live with your conscience for the rest of your life? Knowing that you are responsible for the death of two human beings?”

      link

  45. October 9th, 2009 / 4:46 pm Nathan Tyree—

      I love this one:

      People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It

  46. October 9th, 2009 / 12:46 pm Nathan Tyree—

      I love this one:

      People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It

  47. October 9th, 2009 / 12:53 pm Amber—

      Anything too precious/quirky/twee. My husband and I play a game every time we’re at the bookstore: who can find the most quirky book title. My most hated title in the last few years: An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. (Good book, by the way, but bad title)

  48. October 9th, 2009 / 4:53 pm Amber—

      Anything too precious/quirky/twee. My husband and I play a game every time we’re at the bookstore: who can find the most quirky book title. My most hated title in the last few years: An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. (Good book, by the way, but bad title)

  49. October 9th, 2009 / 4:56 pm mimi—

      This list made me laugh out loud. Especially “Cooking With Pooh” and “Where’s Arthur’s Gerbil”. I’m laughing right now.

  50. October 9th, 2009 / 12:56 pm mimi—

      This list made me laugh out loud. Especially “Cooking With Pooh” and “Where’s Arthur’s Gerbil”. I’m laughing right now.

  51. October 9th, 2009 / 6:17 pm Ryan Call—

      Finnegans Cake by james joyce

  52. October 9th, 2009 / 2:17 pm Ryan Call—

      Finnegans Cake by james joyce

  53. October 9th, 2009 / 10:30 pm Jonny Ross—

      the great gadfly

      the sun also simmers

      on the can

  54. October 10th, 2009 / 2:30 am Jonny Ross—

      the great gadfly

      the sun also simmers

      on the can

  55. October 26th, 2009 / 3:11 am Rauan Klassnik—

      Seth’s the number 1 rated blogger of all time, 1936, pineapples, etc, etc…. and now he’s wasting his talents in the pursuit of tainted money…. come back to real blogging Seth! i know you’re itching to!!

  56. October 25th, 2009 / 11:11 pm Rauan Klassnik—

      Seth’s the number 1 rated blogger of all time, 1936, pineapples, etc, etc…. and now he’s wasting his talents in the pursuit of tainted money…. come back to real blogging Seth! i know you’re itching to!!