September 25, 2011

[Aikin, Lucy; adapted from original by Daniel Defoe]:
ROBINSON CRUSOE IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE
American News Company, New York, 1869.

An interesting technical achievement, and further evidence that monosyllabilism is a legitimate literary genre. But why didn't they call it "Rob Crue and His Man Fri"?

<-- front cover

Lundbäck, Maja, and Märta Rinde-Ramsbäck:
SMALL WEBS
ICA-Publishing Company, Västerås, Sweden, [ca. 1959].

The beauty of these Scandinavian weavings is calm, almost sedative; so it comes as no surprise that they were originally designed for use in occupational therapy. Text in English.

<-- pp. 60-61

Simics, Mihály:
A REVIEW OF BEE VENOM COLLECTING AND MORE
Apitronic Services, Calgary, 1994.

Basically, you electrocute the bees until they're angry enough to sting a glass plate; then you scrape off the poison, and sell it to a homeopath.

<-- front cover

[Dance Guild, Inc.]:
THE EASY WAY TO GOOD DANCING
Book Guild of America, New York, [ca. 1956].

The book alone might suffice; but if you're truly serious about learning, you can detach the perforated "dancing footprints" folded inside, and lay them out on the dancefloor as a guide. 

<-- front cover, with dancing footprints

Head, Gay:
HI THERE, HIGH SCHOOL!
Teen Age Books, Inc., New York, 1958.

Relentless gee-whiz idioms; campy illustrations; and a sophomoric double entendre in the author's name. Like high school itself, not suitable for subtle minds.

<-- front cover


Jacobs, Morris B.:
WAR GASES: THEIR IDENTIFICATION AND DECONTAMINATION
Interscience Publishers, New York, 1972.

We laugh that we do not cry. For example, Table 13 (food spoilage caused by non-arsinical vesicants) indicates that mustard gas will absorb readily into sausage meat.

<-- front cover