Mar

29

So You Want To…

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 29, 2007 |

A librarian recently told me he was placing an order for the book So You Want To Learn Coptic? (Kirrawee, 2005). He was tickled that there was a book with such a catchy title about a relatively obscure subject. Coptic is a late form of the ancient Egyptian language and was spoken from about the Second Century AD. He added that a simple search for book titles starting with “So you want to…” produced an amazing profusion of results. Here are some of the most surprising ones I found.

So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana-.(Oxbridge Applications, 2005) This one got my attention solely because of the subtitle. Bananas apparently have as much to do with Oxbridge as the price of eggs in China.

So you want to be a brain surgeon? : a medical careers guide By Simon Eccles and Christopher Ward (Oxford University Press, 2001)

So you want to build a live steam locomotive By Joseph Foster Nelson (Village Press, 2000)

So, you share your life with a llama: what now? A primer for old, new, and want-to-be llama owners By Susan Peterson (Pine Grove Publishing Company, 2002)

Just between us, I happen to believe you should do your research before you get a llama.
So, you want to be a super power? By Marc Snyder (Fiji Island Mermaid Press, 2002)
One can only wonder whether this was originally intended as a guide for the Fijian government.

So, you want to be Canadian: all about the most fascinating people in the world and the magical place that they call home By Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen
(Chronicle Books, 2004)
Pretty good reading, eh? And if you’re not quite up to moving to Canada, try the next best thing:

So you want to play in the NHL: a guide for young players By Dan Bylsma and Jay M. Bylsma
(Contemporary Books, 2001)

So– you want to make a double bass By Peter Chandler (Bosco Violin Supply, 2001)

I was unable to find anything about making a single.

So you want to be a wizard By Diane Duane (Harcourt Press, 2003)

I hate to disappoint anyone, but this is a work of fiction–not a how-to guide. The first book in a series.

So– you want to be an innkeeper : the definitive guide to operating a successful bed-and-breakfast or country inn By Susan Brown (Chronicle Books, 2004)

So you want to be a spy By Kate Walker and Elaine Argaet (Smart Apple Media, 2004)

So, ye want to be a reenactor? A living history handbook By Brenton C. Kemmer and Karen L. Kemmer (Heritage Books, 2001)

And, finally, because sometimes the unexpected can happen:

So you were elected!
By Virginia Bailard and Harry C. McKown
(McGraw Hill, 1966)

Just in case you didn’t, you know, actually plan to win.


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. bosco violin supply on May 24, 2008 10:16 am

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