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Author Aptronyms and Inaptronyms
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Part 1. Author Aptronyms
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The word "aptronym" was coined by columnist Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) to denote a person whose name matched their profession or character.
Here in the world of books I sometimes find authors whose names are aptly suitable to their book titles. Since I handle mostly nonfiction most of the ones I find are from history and science books. The following is just a smattering from my collection. (Collected by Gwen Foss, new items added December 2011)
Yes, these are real books and authors.
The Mad Dictator, by Bonker
Quantity Cookery, by Treat
The Indianapolis News 500-Mile Race Record Book, by Pittman
As Others See Us, by Visson
The History of the Gold Discoveries of the Southern Mines of California’s Mother Lode Gold Belt, by Swindle
The Alchemy Stones: Use the Wisdom of the Ancient Alchemists to Transform Your Life, by Warlick
Better Small Boat Sailing, by Fisher
Birth Control and the Christian, co-edited by Saylor, with a chapter by Scorer
Hatches (a book on fly fishing), introduction by Art Flick
Fishing the Midge (another book on fly fishing), introduction by Brooks
Theology in America, by Holifield
Teaching in Secondary Schools, by Bossing
The Tote Board is Alive and Well (on gambling success), by Gaines
Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910, by Grant Carpenter Manson
California Architecture, by Woodbridge
Inscriptions of a Nation: Collected Quotations from Washington Monuments, by Ensign
Martial Arts, the Spiritual Dimension, by Payne
Chinese Herbal, an Introduction (on herbal medicine), by Pang
Hit Medicine, Chinese Medicine in Injury Management, by Flaws
Handbook of Mimeograph Technique, by Stencil (thanks to bookseller Brian Cassidy for sending this one in)
Neoplastic Development, by Foulds
The American Myth and the European Mind, by Skard
A Chorus Line, music direction and vocal arrangements by Don Pippin
Gilbert and Sullivan (a biography), by Brahms
The Book of Angels, by Carolyn Trickey-Bapty
Democratic Schools, co-edited by Apple
Birds in our Lives, with a chapter by Gardiner Bump
English Pleasure Gardens, by Rose Nichols
Hatching the American Eagle, by John Finch Barnhill
Your Money or Your Life: Why We Must Abolish the Income Tax, by Richman
The Canaller's Songbook, by Hullfish
Extraordinary Automobiles, by Vann
British Orders and Decorations, by Risk
The Day of the Americans (World War 2 history), by Gun
Petrochemicals: The Rise of an Industry, by Spitz
Chuck Wagon Cookbook, by McElfresh
Banned Books, by Haight
Ruskin Lace and Linen Work, by Prickett
Vaccinations: Deception and Tragedy, by Dye
Archery, the Family Sport, co-authored by Tracy Stalker, published by Archie Smith
Yellow Garden, by Gasse
Stepping Up to the Creator, by Shepard
Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys, by Mack
American Guerrilla in the Philippines (a war memoir), by Wolfert
Christ Jesus our King, a Eucharistic Prayer Book, by Lord
Studebaker Toys and Models, by Geary
Sing to Me of Heaven (a study of early American hymn tunes), by Horn
The Art of Fine Tools, by Sandor Nabyszalanczy (thanks to bookdealer Peggy Herr for sending this one in)
Spanish Cooking, by Pepita Aris
Pirates of Cayman, by Marina Carter
Bloodroot, by Dyer
Undercover Investigation, by Barefoot
Dictionary of Beer and Brewing, co-authored by Forget
Groton School Sing-Song Book, edited by Twining Lynes (this sounds like a punny pseudonym but he was really the music teacher at Groton School, Groton, Mass.)
Player Piano Treasury, by Roehl
Hymns in New Form for Common Worship, co-edited by Nave
Gospel Hymnal for Sunday School and Church Work, by Excell
The Waterfowl of North America: The Complete Ducks, Geese and Swans, by Robin Hill
Knowing Your Trees, by Collingwood and Brush
Machine Tool Operation, co-authored by Axelrod
Die Kunst des Autos (Arts of the Automobile), with a foreword by Karmann
Flora Domestica: A History of British Flower Arranging, by Mary Rose Blacker
Misery, by Heller
Creative Embroidery Techniques Using Color Through Gold, co-authored by Woolsey
Visionary Cities, by Wall
Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook, illustrated by Sweet
The Naked Detective: A Novel, by Shames
The Spiral Ascent: A Trilogy of Novels, by Upward
Legal Directory for Lawyers, Merchants and All Business Men (several editions from 1880s to 1910s), by Graft
Numerical Analysis, by Burden
Our Corrupt Congress, by Hoar
Race Horses at Risk: Overnutrition, Drugs, Breakdowns, by Krook
Criminal Life: Forty-two Years as a Police Officer, by Bent
Treatise on Madness, by Battie (1758)
Credit River Valley, co-authored by Hudson
Surviving Hitler And Mussolini, by Warring
At the Crossroads: Michilimackinac During the American Revolution (wartime history of a northern Michigan fort), by Armour
Why Men Rebel, by Gurr
Jet Bombers, by Gunston
History of the Electrochemical Society, by Burns
Silken Threads, by Stitch
849 Traditional Patchwork Patterns, by Mills
A Pictorial Guide to American Spinning Wheels, co-authored by Taylor
Bad Hair, co-authored by Webb
Mummies, Disease, and Ancient Cultures, by Cockburn
The Standard Manual of Soda and Other Beverages, by Hiss
Thermodynamics: An Introduction, co-authored by Wood
Glacial and Quaternary Geology, by Flint
History of Experimental Psychology, by Boring
Marketing Concepts and Strategies, co-authored by Pride
Chicago and Northwestern-Milwaukee Road Pictorial (a railroad history), by Porter
Automotive Antifreezes, co-authored by Streets
Sixteenth Biennial Report of the Michigan State Highway Commissioner, 1936, edited by Van Wagoner
Christmas Traditions, by Auld
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Part 2. Author Inaptronyms
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To finish up, I present a few books authored by individuals with utterly inappropriate names. Such poorly matched monikers could be called inaptronyms, malronyms, malaptronyms, antinyms, or even anti-aptronyms.
Michigan's Timber Battleground, by Meek
The Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Book (on gardening), by Fizzell
Concept Cars from the 1930s to the Present, by Edsall
Sports Cars and Hot Rods, by Horsley
Amber: The Golden Gem of the Ages, by Rice
Violence and Aggression in the History of Ideas, by Wiener
Nuclear Weapons and the World Court, co-authored by Krieger (the author is president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Krieger is German for warrior)
Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, edited by Loetscher (pronounced lecher)
Desert War in North Africa, consultant: Maj. Gen. I. S. O. Playfair
The Flood of 1993, by Burnett
Introduction to Computer Science, by Gear
Teaching with Charisma, by Duck
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