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November 30, 2011

The Worst Book Ever Written

Gabe Habash at the Publishers Weekly blog PWxyz:

1qb4hBefore you get all riled up about how we’ve previously called two other books (How to Avoid Huge Ships and Dildo Cay) the Worst Book Ever, you should know that sometimes PWxyz makes mistakes. Please forgive us our mis-pronouncement and come, walk with us down the hallowed halls of literary infamy, for we have a whopper of a book to show you.

In 1987, The Book Services Ltd published a slim, 144-page cookbook called Microwave for One. The book is by Sonia Allison, who has quite a few publications under her belt. But she’s best known for her masterpiece of tragedy, a book whose title and cover is so rife with sadness that one almost has the urge to brush the invisible tears from Ms. Allison’s face as she leans over her microwave and her food spread.

Very little is known about the contents of the book, except for the few that have been lucky enough to chance upon a copy. Let’s turn to these Amazon customer reviews for some insight.

“After the divorce” by Benjamin L. Hamilton

After the divorce my diet consisted primarily of uncooked ramen and whiskey. Occasionally I wondered aloud if I’d ever have another home cooked meal again.

Then I discovered “Microwave for One” and everything changed.

My favorite chapters were:

Chapter 1: Plugging in your Microwave and You

Chapter 4: How to Wait 3 Minutes

Chapter 11 [BONUS CHAPTER]: Eating with Cats

In closing, I give this book 2 thumbs up (and a paw!). Thanks Sonia Allison!

More here.  [Thanks to Charles J. Shields.]

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 09:48 AM | Permalink

Comments

When I left home, my mother gave me a book entitled 101 ways with mince meat. It is definitely the worst cookbook ever.

Posted by: John S. Wilkins | Nov 30, 2011 9:53:23 AM

Well that is fairly awful true, but I recently stumbled upon a book that is actually worse... no really! I bought it on LULU and I wish I had used the money for dental surgery as it would have been less painful. the title is "Interzone Incorporated" written by some guy named Dr. Adam Ireland. The book made me physically ill, I have read some bad work in my time but this... oh this was beyond bad, the rude sex and violence churned my stomach, the supposed "beat" style of the writing gave me a migraine and I actually suffered from night mares after reading it.

Posted by: Jeff | Feb 23, 2012 3:29:57 AM

I don't understand. Is the humor about how some people live lonely lives?

Posted by: prasad | Feb 23, 2012 6:56:29 AM

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