The Diagram Prize: Vote for the weirdest book title of the year
Past winners include Cooking With Poo and How to Avoid Huge Ships


Since the late 1970s, the Diagram Prize has been awarded to the weirdest book title of the year, shining a spotlight on such oddities as Cooking With Poo, Managing a Dental Practice: The Genghis Khan Way, and The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories. (Just so no one is alarmed, "Poo" is a nickname for a Thai chef that also means "crab.") On Friday, the contenders for this year's prize were unveiled, and readers can vote for their favorite at We Love This Book.
The nominees are:
Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop, by Reginald Bakeley
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
God's Doodle: The Life and Times of the Penis, by Tom Hickman
How Tea Cosies Changed the World, by Loani Prior
How to Sharpen Pencils, by David Rees
Lofts of North America: Pigeon Lofts, by Jerry Gagne
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Was Hitler Ill?, by Hans-Joachim Neumann and Henrik Eberle
For what it's worth, Philip Stone, the coordinator of the prize, has already weighed in. "I am particularly fond of How to Sharpen Pencils," he said. "Not only because of its oddity, but because I find something beautiful in the fact a publisher has been brave enough to publish a book concerning a centuries-old implement in hardback in the digital age. Upon my next trip to my local independent bookshop, I hope to see it alongside all the pornographic literature that appears to be keeping the entire book industry in rude health."
How does the latest batch compare with past winners, including How to Avoid Huge Ships, Versailles: The View From Sweden, and If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs? See a full list of winners here.
(via Paris Review)
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease
Speed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas