Book for Men

Stag Lines!

Life, Death, Love, and Marriage 18 comments

Bert Bacharach’s Book For Men
Bert Bacharach
1953

Isn’t this a hoot?  Thanks to anonymous submitter! This book is clearly before my time, so I was trying to figure out the meaning of “stag lines” for every occasion.  (I have heard of  stag films.) I am thinking this is a 50’s version of pickup lines or anecdotes–maybe to impress women?  I also thought that maybe the author was composer Burt Bacharach.  Not so ALB music fans.  According to WorldCat, our man BERT is an author of all things hip and cool for the 1950’s and not a composer.  Anyone with insider info on this title please enlighten us to the real meaning of stag lines. 

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Hanging Out

Hanging Out

Sports, Games, and Exercise 16 comments

Hanging Out: The Upside Down Exercise Book
Jay & Rappaport
1983

I’m not a doctor, and I’m not a trainer.  Doing inversion exercises might just be the best thing ever.  This book still has a ridiculous cover.  You have to admit, it’s dated in a really funny way.  If these exercises are still considered by health professionals to be beneficial, it’s time for a new book on the subject.

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Dee Snider's Teenage Survival Guide

House of Hair

Feelings and Self Help, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 23 comments

Dee Snider’s Teenage Survival Guide
Snider
1987

It’s confession time, ALB fans.  I, Holly Hibner, am a closet metal head.  Actually, not so closet.  I have been to several heavy metal concerts and been known to “bang my head” while driving.  Are you shocked?  Just doing my part to break the librarian stereotype…

Ok, now that true confession time is over, let’s talk about this book.  Dee Snider was the lead singer of Twisted Sister in the ’80s.  This was a cool book in my day!  It’s still a good book message-wise, but if you gave this book to a teenager today they would probably laugh hysterically and ask who the clown on the cover is.  It’s definitely time for an upgrade!

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When Children Invite Child Abuse

A great choice for a parenting collection!

Parent/Teacher Collection 21 comments

When Children Invite Child Abuse: A search for answers when love is not enough
Gold
1986

A fellow Michigan ALB spy has given us this gem! I am speechless just on the title alone! Who on earth is the target market for this book? Abusers looking for an “out”? Question to the public library with this holding: are child abusers one of your major patron groups that you feel are being under served by the public library?

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Creative Recreation for the Mentally Retarded

OMG…Really??

Parent/Teacher Collection 20 comments

Creative Recreation for the Mentally Retarded
Amary
1975

Thank you to the anonymous submitter for this one!  Wow.  I’m going to assume that most librarians do not think this is a good choice for today’s shelves. Here’s a great example of how if you don’t keep up with weeding, when you finally get around to it you’ll realize how many ridiculous books like this you still have on the shelves.   What must the public think??   There are lots of better, more current choices for books on this topic.

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ripped cover of diary of anne frank

RIP Anne Frank

Condition/Processing Fail 16 comments

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Frank
This edition: 1993

Here’s a good example of a book that every public library should have, regardless of its copyright date.  There is no question as to its usefulness to patrons.  When you find an item like this on your shelves, though, it needs to be replaced.  It is quite literally falling apart.  The pictures here only show the front and back cover, but the pages were stained and brown and falling out too.  I’m embarrassed to admit that this example is from my very own, beloved library.   That’s right, folks, we’ve got skeletons in our closet too.  We weed regularly, and we lay hands on our items through physical inventory regularly, too.

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