The Humor of Author Aptronyms

 

 

Collected by Gwen Foss, Alan's Used Books

 

(New items added, October 2009.)

 

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. (Yes, these are real books and authors!)

 

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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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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.

 

 

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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See more witty pages by Gwen Foss

 

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