Philip Poburka on sat 11 jan 03
Oh...yea...
...who was it wrote "Steal this Book"?
Huey Newton? or...?
Anyway...cool title...
I never liked the 'dummies' titles either.
Much better 'titles' may be imagined...and emloyed.
A couple generations earlier, it would have been "A
Volkswagon Mechanic's Primer". ( subtitled:) Or, "A
practical
explication of Vee-dubya Maintenance and Repairs, made
practical and clear for those as may not have Studied
Automobile Mechanics"
"Two Hundred and Fifty Illustrations"
etc....
Them days are sure 'gone'...or gone is the presumption of a
publisher to suppose an audience or readership as would be
'comfortable' with it...
Anyway..in the Printing Trades, the example or mock-up of a
Book's size, coalation and pagination, placement of types of
Illustrations etc was (is?) sometimes called the 'Printer's
Dummy'...
As well as that a 'dummy' was and remains a manequin for
fitting and display of Garments...or an imitation human
form.
"Crash Test Dummies"
Mock-ups for prospective designs or assemblies are sometimes
called 'Dummies'...
Firearms Cartridges as are not intended to fire nor to
discharge a projectile, are known as 'Dumies' or
'Dummy-Rounds'
Many sorts of 'dummies'...
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hendley"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 7:14 PM
Subject: History of the "Dummies" books
As some other oldsters may remember, the first "For Dummies"
book was published 30-some years ago and showed people how
to
repair their Volkswagen Beetles.
It was actually quite a milestone in publishing. Kind of a
"Power
to the People" anti-consumerism, anti-establishment, '60's
kind of thing.
I think the first edition was self-published by the author.
As with many good ideas, the original theme has now become a
corporate money-making gimmick.
I hate it. I would not buy any book with the words "Dummies"
or
"Chicken Soup" in the title.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
____________________________________________________________
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David Hendley on sat 11 jan 03
As some other oldsters may remember, the first "For Dummies"
book was published 30-some years ago and showed people how to
repair their Volkswagen Beetles.
It was actually quite a milestone in publishing. Kind of a "Power
to the People" anti-consumerism, anti-establishment, '60's kind of thing.
I think the first edition was self-published by the author.
As with many good ideas, the original theme has now become a
corporate money-making gimmick.
I hate it. I would not buy any book with the words "Dummies" or
"Chicken Soup" in the title.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
Anne Wellings on sun 12 jan 03
Actually, the title was How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step
by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. The author was John Muir, and
yes, it was self-published. I still have a copy. It has great drawings.
Anne
On Sat, 11 Jan 2003 21:14:12 -0600, David Hendley wrote:
>As some other oldsters may remember, the first "For Dummies"
>book was published 30-some years ago and showed people how to
>repair their Volkswagen Beetles.
>It was actually quite a milestone in publishing. Kind of a "Power
>to the People" anti-consumerism, anti-establishment, '60's kind of thing.
>I think the first edition was self-published by the author.
>As with many good ideas, the original theme has now become a
>corporate money-making gimmick.
>
>I hate it. I would not buy any book with the words "Dummies" or
>"Chicken Soup" in the title.
>
>David Hendley
>Maydelle, Texas
>hendley@tyler.net
>http://www.farmpots.com
>
Elca Branman on sun 12 jan 03
Great title idea, Dave Hendley!!
Chicken Soup for Dummies!
Elca Branman,in Sarasota Florida
elcab1@juno.com
http://www.elcabranman.com
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Roger Korn on mon 13 jan 03
Anne Wellings wrote:
>Actually, the title was How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step
>by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. The author was John Muir, ...
>
... (not the naturalist) who also wrote "The Velvet Monkey Wrench",
describing a scenario for disrupting the destruction of the environment,
thereby
introducing the concept of "monkey-wrenching" to fight corporate
irresponsibility, further amplified in Edward Abbey's writings such as
"The Monkey Wrench Gang." "How to Keep your Volswagen Alive.." is, to
me, the epitome of good technical writing - I wish I could do as well.
Roger
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
Arnold Howard on tue 14 jan 03
I bought Muir's book when I was a teenager. I still have it. The
cover is gone and the pages are greasy. I used the book to
successfully rebuild a VW engine. Before I read the book, I didn't
know a cam follower from a valve.
Arnold Howard
--- Anne Wellings wrote:
> Yes, I should have mentioned the writing and not just the
> drawings; not
> only is it easy for a novice mechanic to follow, but it is darn
> funny...
> It would be nice to see a book on pottery technique written and
> illustrated
> as well and as humorously....
>
> Anne
>
> >Anne Wellings wrote:
> >
> >>Actually, the title was How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A
> Manual of
> Step
> >>by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. The author was John
> Muir, ...
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Anne Wellings on tue 14 jan 03
Yes, I should have mentioned the writing and not just the drawings; not
only is it easy for a novice mechanic to follow, but it is darn funny...
It would be nice to see a book on pottery technique written and illustrated
as well and as humorously....
Anne
On Mon, 13 Jan 2003 13:13:20 -0800, Roger Korn
wrote:
>Anne Wellings wrote:
>
>>Actually, the title was How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of
Step
>>by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. The author was John Muir, ...
>>
>... (not the naturalist) who also wrote "The Velvet Monkey Wrench",
>describing a scenario for disrupting the destruction of the environment,
>thereby
>introducing the concept of "monkey-wrenching" to fight corporate
>irresponsibility, further amplified in Edward Abbey's writings such as
>"The Monkey Wrench Gang." "How to Keep your Volswagen Alive.." is, to
>me, the epitome of good technical writing - I wish I could do as well.
>
>Roger
>
>>
>>__________________________________________________________________________
____
>>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>>
>>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>>
>>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>>
>
>--
>Roger Korn
>McKay Creek Ceramics
>In AZ: PO Box 463
> 4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
> Rimrock, AZ 86335
> 928-567-5699 <-
>In OR: PO Box 436
> 31330 NW Pacific Ave.
> North Plains, OR 97133
> 503-647-5464
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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