Every year, the book industry weekly The Bookseller awards one lucky book the coveted Diagram Prize, which “celebrates the very best in books with odd titles published around the world.” Well, perhaps it’s not so coveted, but it’s certainly amusing. Recently, the magazine released their shortlist for the oddest book titles of 2011, and there are certainly some serious contenders — the list is even one entry longer than is traditional, “in recognition of the high standard of oddity witnessed in publishing last year.” That may be true, but we don’t know if any stack up to the prize’s first winner, Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice. Simply brilliant.
Since we’re fans of all things odd here at Flavorpill, we obviously love the Diagram Prize, and we’re definitely going to go vote for our favorite. Click through to have a nice chuckle over the contenders, and let us know which book you think should take home top honors in the comments.
A Century of Sand Dredging in the Bristol Channel: Volume Two by Peter Gosson
Cooking with Poo by Saiyuud Diwong
In case you’re wondering: “Poo” is Thai for “crab” and also happens to be Diwong’s nickname.
Estonian Sock Patterns All Around the World by Aino Praakli
The Great Singapore Penis Panic: And the Future of American Mass Hysteria by Scott D Mendelson
Mr. Andoh’s Pennine Diary: Memoirs of a Japanese Chicken Sexer in 1935 Hebden Bridge by Stephen Curry and Takayoshi Andoh
A Taxonomy of Office Chairs by Jonathan Olivares
The Mushroom in Christian Art by John A Rush
