As a librarian, every day I see people who need to learn a little about a subject that is completely new to them. Probate comes to mind. Home repairs. In these cases, you want a book that spells things out carefully and without assuming any prior knowledge of, say, law, or plumbing.
However: 1. Calling the book "for Dummies" or "for the Complete Idiot" seems unnecessarily judgemental. 2. Homeschooling is just not one of those subjects.
I am in total agreement. Who would buy a book that calls them names and if it is true, then you need more than that book.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I am no fan of the Dummies series in general, but this one takes the cake. Wonder what it would take to get a For Dummies proposal rejected?
ReplyDeleteAs a librarian, every day I see people who need to learn a little about a subject that is completely new to them. Probate comes to mind. Home repairs.
ReplyDeleteIn these cases, you want a book that spells things out carefully and without assuming any prior knowledge of, say, law, or plumbing.
However:
1. Calling the book "for Dummies" or "for the Complete Idiot" seems unnecessarily judgemental.
2. Homeschooling is just not one of those subjects.
i always used to apologize to patrons if i wound up showing them a 'dummies' book.
ReplyDeleteperhaps in this title's case, 'for dummies' addressing the readership and the product of their homeschooling efforts....
I still do. Nobody's ever taken offense though, I guess that's the key to the success of these series.
ReplyDelete