Publisher's Synopsis
Established in 1978 by the Diagram Group as an antidote to the tedium of the Frankfurt Book Fair, and now presided over by the Bookseller magazine, the Diagram is awarded annually to the most bizarre book title. Following the success of its prequel How to Avoid Huge Ships, Baboon Metaphysics proudly presents a further selection of the finest short-listed candidates over previous years, showcasing unique titles such as When Men are Pregnant and Organizing Deviance. Nominees range from the thoughtful Why Replace a Missing Back Tooth? to the alarming Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality and the downright puzzling Children Are Wet Cement. Also featured are self-help titles from further out in left-field than usual, like How to Write While You Sleep and If You Want Closure In Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs. Nowadays international publishers, booksellers and librarians compete fiercely to get titles on to the shortlist, before the final winner is voted for by thousands of people at www.thebookseller.com. While rival literary awards have long since sold out to corporate sponsorship, the Diagram Prize has for over 30 years virtuously refused all such blandishments. The Costa and the Man Booker may receive the lion’s share of media attention, but the Diagram is privately considered the one that really matters. With fifty more of the most intriguing Diagram winners and runners-up now commemorated for posterity in this classic volume, Baboon Metaphysics makes the perfect gift for book-lovers and anyone with a quirky sense of humour.
