Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Oddest Book Title of the Year award: 'Baboon Metaphysics' is on the shortlist, but 'All Dogs Have ADHD' missed out

Miranda Bryant
Saturday 21 February 2009 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The awards season moved into another gear yesterday with the shortlist for the Oddest Book Title of the Year.

Excrement in the Late Middle Ages and All Dogs Have ADHD were rejected, and there were disqualifications for Sketches of Hull Authors and Monumental Beginnings: Archaeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road.

The six to make the cut include texts on ape society, a medical guide to incontinence, a guide to prime numbers and a global perspective on soft cheese packaging. And their titles are:

Baboon Metaphysics, by Dorothy L Cheney and Robert M Seyfarth (University of Chicago Press);

Curbside Consultation of the Colon, by Brooks D Cash (SLACK Inc);

The Large Sieve and its Applications, by Emmanuel Kowalski (Cambridge University Press);

Strip and Knit with Style, by Mark Hordyszynski (C&T);

Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring, by Lietai Yang (Woodhead);

The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais, by Professor Philip M Parker (Icon Group Int).

The winner will be chosen by an internet vote at www.thebookseller.com.

Hall of fame: The previous winners

1978: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice (University of Tokyo Press)

1979: The Madam as Entrepreneur: Career Management in House Prostitution (Transaction Press)

1980: The Joy of Chickens (Prentice Hall)

1981: Last Chance at Love: Terminal Romances

1982: Population and Other Problems (China National Publications)

1983: The Theory of Lengthwise Rolling (MIR)

1984: The Book of Marmalade: Its Antecedents, Its History and Its Role in the World Today (Constable)

1985: Natural Bust Enlargement with Total Power: How to Increase the Other 90% of Your Mind to Increase the Size of Your Breasts (Westwood Publishing Co)

1986: Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality (Brunner/Mazel)

1987: No Award

1988: Versailles: The View From Sweden (University of Chicago Press)

1989: How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art (Ten Speed Press)

1990: Lesbian Sadomasochism Safety Manual (Lace Publications)

1991: No Award

1992: How to Avoid Huge Ships (Cornwell Maritime Press)

1993: American Bottom Archaeology (University of Illinois Press)

1994: Highlights in the History of Concrete (British Cement Association)

1995: Reusing Old Graves (Shaw & Son)

1996: Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers (Hellenic Philatelic Society)

1997: The Joy of Sex: Pocket Edition (Mitchell Beazley)

1998: Development in Dairy Cow Breeding and Management: and New Opportunities to Widen the Uses of Straw (Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust)

1999: Weeds in a Changing World (Crop Protection Council)

2000: High Performance Stiffened Structures (Professional Engineering Publishing)

2001: Butterworths Corporate Manslaughter Service (Butterworths)

2002: Living With Crazy Buttocks (Penguin US/Australia)

2003: The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories (Kensington Publishing)

2004: Bombproof Your Horse (J A Allen)

2005: People Who Don't Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to do About It (Red Wheel/Weiser Books)

2006: The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification (Harry N Abrams)

2007: If You Want Closure In Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs (Simon & Schuster US)

2008 (Special 30th Anniversary Prize): Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers (Hellenic Philatelic Society)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in