The Bookseller Diagram Prize For Oddest Title of the Year

Which Book Title Is the Oddest?

March 25, 2011

We shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but what about its title? That's exactly what publishing trade magazine The Bookseller has done since 1978, when it began awarding its annual prize for oddest book title.

This year's winner, a dentist and author of Managing a Dental Practice: The Genghis Khan Way, can hope for a spike in sales — but probably not patients. Last year's winning title, Crocheting Adventures With Hyperbolic Planes, saw a 1,500 percent spike in sales, despite its hyper-specific subject matter. Below you'll find past winners. Out of all of these titles, which do you think is the oddest?

13 Comments

elizabethsosewn 2 years 7 weeks

Living with crazy ass is something the common reader doesn't understand. It is a serious plague of illfitting clothes, cat-callings of black and hispanic men, and the never ending battle to be taken seriously. I voted crazy buttocks because I just don't know how someone would write a whole book about crazy ass. i hope it's hilarious.

elizabethsosewn 2 years 7 weeks

Living with crazy ass is something the common reader doesn't understand. It is a serious plague of illfitting clothes, cat-callings of black and hispanic men, and the never ending battle to be taken seriously.I voted crazy buttocks because I just don't know how someone would write a whole book about crazy ass. i hope it's hilarious.

2 years 7 weeks

I once read "The Ku Klux Klan: a romantic history" because I wanted to be able to say that I had read the worst book ever written (I had read that it had won that award) I do not know if it was really pro KKK because it was so bad that I could not finish it. (BUT it was really pro Lincoln which was not what I expected)

jazzytummy 2 years 7 weeks

Was just going to say what Anon 2 said. "Bombproof" is a very common description of a safe horse in the horsey lexicon. In truth, though, no horse is really bombproof, but you strive to obtain the safest animal you can for you and your kid. If the third one read "How to Avoid Huge Hips", then I would be on board.

jazzytummy 2 years 7 weeks

Was just going to say what Anon 2 said. "Bombproof" is a very common description of a safe horse in the horsey lexicon. In truth, though, no horse is really bombproof, but you strive to obtain the safest animal you can for you and your kid.If the third one read "How to Avoid Huge Hips", then I would be on board.

postmodernsleaze 2 years 7 weeks

I've always been interested in the cancellation numbers of rural Greek postmen. It's a fascinating subject. ???????????

postmodernsleaze 2 years 7 weeks

I've always been interested in the cancellation numbers of rural Greek postmen. It's a fascinating subject.???????????

fuzzles 2 years 7 weeks

Ahhhh, yes. There is nothing quite like a good old fashioned green shat in the woods.

Natalie Love 2 years 7 weeks

"The Cure for Death by Lightning" Made my boyfriend do a double take when he saw the book title of the book I was reading. Out of this list I like 'Crocheting Adventures With Hyperbolic Planes', haha!

Natalie Love 2 years 7 weeks

"The Cure for Death by Lightning" Made my boyfriend do a double take when he saw the book title of the book I was reading.Out of this list I like 'Crocheting Adventures With Hyperbolic Planes', haha!

2 years 7 weeks

"Bombproof Your Horse" isn't actually as strange a title as it might seem; in the horse world a "bombproof" horse is one you can count on to stay calm in any situation - i.e., not spooky. But "Living With Crazy Buttocks" strikes me as hella odd...