I was perhaps unduly stunned to learn that there is actually a book called of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Intelligent Design. It reminded me of another unintentionally amusing volume in the series: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Home Schooling. The marketing of these books is a bit puzzling. Do people interested in “intelligent design” really want to be reminded that they are complete idiots? Is it really a good idea to encourage complete idiots to home school their children?
Debris
«chaque notaire porte en soi les débris d’un poète.»7 Comments »
Scruggs wrote @
I’ll say that the marketing is perfect. Tactical, belligerent stupidity is a powerful political technique, but mastering it ordinarily takes a lot of work. Not many people are gifted enough to acquire it effortlessly. It can take years. It’s shameful and difficult. Seekers can get discouraged, give up and yield to the blandishments of a cause or a faith that does not require so much cognitive dissonance. Some may settle for the fecklessness of mere ignorance. The authors recognized that this creates a niche market for easy to follow, aggression through self-cretinization manuals. They know their target demographic well.
Dana wrote @
Do you feel the same way about “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Evolution?” Just curious. : )
And Scruggs, the only point of this very large series covering a wide array of topics is to make a series of handbooks accessible to the layman.
From their website:
“You’re smart, curious, at ease with yourself, and interested in learning. And learning is what idiotsguides.com is all about. Explore our hundreds of books-from home repair to religion, health to hobbies, investing to parenting, and everything in between.”
I would assume the target audience is not the creationist just as the Idiot’s Guide to the Bible is not targeted at the devout Christian. Rather it is for the person who has heard the term because of the debates surrounding it who would like to know more.
Admitting there is something you do not know much about and seeking information is not a bad thing, nor is it “self-cretinization.”
a very public sociologist wrote @
Either that, or people buy these things to look ironic, or something. I decided to buy the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Communism. It remains a mystery why I did as I’m well read when it comes to my Marx and have studied the history of Stalinism, etc.
Incidentally, I don’t recommend it at all. Basically it’s right wing garbage.
eric wrote @
In a similar vein to AVPS, I have a copy of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Law” prominently on display in my office. I’ve been disappointed that nobody has commented on it. Perhaps they are afraid it isn’t a joke?
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Would it be appropriate to send these books as Christmas gifts?