Sophie Howarth on Highlights in the History of Concrete and other important publications

Just in case you missed the coverage of this year’s "Diagram of Diagrams" award, the winner, announced on 5^th September, was Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers. The Bookseller/Diagram Prize is awarded for the oddest book title of the year, and every fifteen years a "Diagram of Diagrams" award is offered to the most outstanding title among the recent winners.

 

In 1993, the winner of the 15th anniversary award was Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice. This year, Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers only just beat Gary Leon Hill’s People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead and John Trimmer’s How to Avoid Huge Ships.  

 

Personally I’d have been torn between David Benetar’s Better Never To Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence and Christopher C. Stanley’s Highlights in the History of Concrete. But I was lazy and didn’t vote, so I can’t gripe now.

 

Take a look at the Guardian's online exhibition of competing titles and read more about the prize here.

 

Sophie Howarth is Director of The School of Life.

Comments

[emma townshend]

I have to say for me it's not just the title, it's the whole cover design which is stunning. Look at its fancy Strictly Come Dancing style italics!