Crucial Beauty Titles for Men and Women

While weeding the Beauty section, I came across two crucial titles for men and women:

Hair Techniques and Alternatives to Baldness
by John Mayhew
Owerri [Nigeria] ; New York : Trado-Medic Books, 1983

and

The Complete Book of Makeup
by Sarah Collins
[New York] : Greenwich House : Distributed by Crown, 1983

Mayhew's book provides integral information on male-hair-care in the advanced years. Perhaps most valuable is the following diagram

For women --- especially for librarians! --- Collins' book provides two exemplary looks for day and evening.

Who Controls Your Mind?!

"Mind Control in the United States" by Steven Jacobson, with an Introduction by Antony C. Sutton (1985), documents the use of hypnotic and subliminal suggestion in advertising and the general media.

Jacobson presents the idea of hypnotic mind control in the context of a ruling class/conspiracy analysis of our society. His information is actually well-researched and referenced. However, looking at the cover alone conjurs up some pretty amusing mental images, and actually works against the author's attempt to create a sense of validity. I'm sure other books have been written that cover the same topic, but, ironically, a less-obvious title (and perhaps an appropriately worded sub-title) likely make them appear to be more reliable -- or at least less sensationalistic...

The Pantyhose Craft Book

Although this book was published in the 70's, I think today's recycling minded world will love it too! Why let those old pantyhose go to waste when you can create useful things like hammocks, rugs and really disturbing dolls! The Kitchy Kitchy Coo site has some great photos.

A new way to read the Bible...

Most of us know that the Bible has been published in many forms and editions. The Gutenberg Bible, Good News for Modern Man and the King James version are familiar to most.

Now there is a new version, The Bible in Limerick Verse. The Reverend Christopher Goodwins has transformed the New Testament, the Old Testament and the Apocrypha into a form he hopes will be more popular.

He describes his book:
An Isleham Vicar called Chris
Wrote Scripture in limericks.
"This should help people read,
About Jesus, indeed,
And enjoy it, - not give Him a miss!"

see his website for more information http://www.limerick-bible.com/

Atomic Bombing: How to Protect Yourself

Published in 1950 by the "Science Service" this book contains helpful information including survival tips such as this one for surviving an atomic bombing:
Stay in a ball for ten seconds. Both the heat and the blast wave will pass over you in that time. Then, if you can, stand up. You will be among the survivors -- provided you can move fast enough to avoid falling rubble and fire.

It is also realistic. I appreciate the up-front way it exposes this topic that is often only discussed in hushed tones:
It is far easier to talk about such weapons as the A-bomb than it is to discuss, realistically, measures that might keep the world at peace and save us from the horrors of atomic war.

Planning a Funeral?

Being Dead is no Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral

"Folks in the Delta have a strong sense of community, and being dead is no impedimpent to belonging to it. Down south, they don't forget you when you've up and died--in fact they visit you more often. But there are quintessential rules and rituals for kicking the bucket tastefully, and having a flawless funeral is one of them." (from inside book cover)

Need to know if "you can be properly buried without tomato aspic? Who prepares tastier funeral fare, the Episcopal ladies or the Methodist ladies? And what does one do when a family gets three sheets to the wind and eats the entire feast the night before a funeral?" (from insed book cover)

If you find yourself in the unexpected situation of planning your funeral don't be caught dead without this book!!

(special thanks to DM for the find!)

Interesting relationships...

When standing in line at the bookstore yesterday I noticed an unusual take on the regular relationship books.

The title?: How to tell if your boyfriend is the Antichrist (and if he is, should you break up with him?) by Patricia Carlin.

According to www.quirkbooks.com, "there’s a fine line between endearing quirks and severe personality disorders. Is he a pedophile or is he simply good with kids?"
This guide will help you decide.

Don't leave home without it!

Perhaps this isn't a bizarre title, but it is very useful for expanding your vocabulary -- especially on a road trip! The dictionary is CB-English and English-CB. It is my personal goal to be able to incorporate CB slang in my every-day conversations once I commit this dictionary to memory. ("Put an eyeball to the quasar driving the Pregnant Roller Skate!")

Strange book titles, new stories

Unusual book titles were used for a contest at the BBC site. Listeners wrote in a few paragraphs for a book using a real (odd) book title. Results were judged by Alexander McCall Smith.

Check it out at BBC Radio Today Reports.

For the Nature Lover:

The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: a Guide to Field Identification by Julian Montague.

If you are interested, the WI State Historical Society owns a copy.

If you can't get enough oddities

http://oddbooks.co.uk/

Includes some book covers and REALLY bad poetry.

I found the section on Webster Edgerly the most interesting - http://oddbooks.co.uk/edgerly/. His magnatism theory bring to mind the latest new-age craze covered in The Secret!

Oddest book titles

Odd titles and topics are interesting--
last year's winner of the Oddest Book Title of the Year was _People who don't know they're dead: How they attach themselves to unsuspecting bystanders and what to do about it_.

Some create an alarming mental picture: _Carnivorous Butterflies_ for example. Who knew that they should worry about that beautiful butterfly taking a chunk out of their arm? And we thought we only had to worry about mosquitos...

Strange titles and topics

I love to find old books that have bizarre topics or dated points of view. I would love to hear other people's favorites too.

One of my all time favorites is _Jogging: the Dance of Death_ by Robert Gene Fineberg.

This book exposes the "dark side" of running. Published in 1980 it clearly is a response to the new fitness craze that was hitting the nation. I have had a difficult time tracking down the authors credentials... This is the only book I have identified by him.