# I obviously didn't want you to see the title of my book... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312 "2003-07-14T04:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/1 "2003-07-14T04:26:01Z")
…that’s why I placed it face down on my lap as soon as I took it out of my bookbag and opened it from the back. But no, you\* looked under at the title anyway, and _asked_ me what the title was! I told showed you, too, because I didn’t want to seem crazy. Now you know _all_ my secrets, _thank you_! Ah, well. You were drunk anyway, so hopefully you’ll forget all about it. \*you=some stranger on the subway ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/2 "2003-07-14T05:05:08Z")
Wasn’t [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375421726/cm_aya_asin.title/104-7572522-9617536?v=glance&s=books) by any chance, now was it? I felt the same way, sometimes, when I was reading it. I figure it was either that one, or a Danielle Steel novel. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/3 "2003-07-14T05:20:22Z")
You know, one of the best purchases I ever made was a paperback book cover. Now any time I go anywhere in public – including my subway-riding days – I can put that on whatever book I’m reading and voila! No more stupid questions from stupid people. I highly recommend investing in one iof you want to be left alone to read in peace. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/4 "2003-07-14T06:04:21Z")
I just use a headset and a nasty look, personally, keeps the idiots away. Doesn’t work on the homeless, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/5 "2003-07-14T06:48:46Z")
I suggest using the cover, and should anyone be so determined to ask, I’d tell them it was the Good Book and start earnestly inquiring into whether they’ve found Jesus or not. It’s a conversation which will end in a hurry, I guarantee you. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/6 "2003-07-14T07:26:21Z")
Depends on where she is, **Lissa** , if she does it down South here, she may wind up in a conversation about Jesus… ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/7 "2003-07-14T07:34:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*I suggest using the cover, and should anyone be so determined to ask, I’d tell them it was the Good Book and start earnestly inquiring into whether they’ve found Jesus or not. It’s a conversation which will end in a hurry, I guarantee you. \*\* Yup. You might just sit down next to JerseyDiamond. Next stop: Regret. ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/8 "2003-07-14T11:51:59Z")
Like the time I was reading Small Gods in the kosher restaurant. Girl: _looking at Terry Pratchett’s picture in his black hat with the beard_ Oh, who’s the rabbi? Me: Er, uh, um… he’s not a rabbi, it’s just a… yeah. _praying suddenly that she doesn’t ask what the title means_ ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/9 "2003-07-14T12:03:57Z")
I will confess that I’m always dying of curiousity when I see someone reading on the subway. I try to be discreet about it, but I like trying to guess the reading material from the person’s outward appearance. I can report with some authority that the Good Book still tops the reading list with Ms. Steel a close second. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/10 "2003-07-14T12:16:41Z")
So? What WERE you reading that was so embarrassing anyway? C’mon…'fess up. We’re all friends here. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/11 "2003-07-14T12:17:55Z")
Hey, I see you got one of those fancy covers on that book. What you reading that you don’t want other people to see what it is? Is it porn? Is it? Where’d you get the cover? Was it expensive? Do they have any other colours? What are you getting off here for? Is it your stop? ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/12 "2003-07-14T12:27:09Z")
I bought one of those little book weights to hold the book open so I can read hands-free. It could also double as the librarian version of nunchaks–toss that baby around and I’m sure people will stop interrupting you when you’re reading. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/13 "2003-07-14T12:28:11Z")
I’m just impressed by the thought of talking on the subway - on the London Underground it’s bad enough making eye contact with strangers, let alone having any conversation! ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/14 "2003-07-14T12:33:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Martiju \* > \*\*I’m just impressed by the thought of talking on the subway - on the London Underground it’s bad enough making eye contact with strangers, let alone having any conversation! \*\* There is a legal minimum of one drunk/mental patient/plain weirdo per 50 passengers on any form of public transport. The reason strangers on the tube won’t make eye contact with you is that they’re worried you’re the one. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/15 "2003-07-14T12:40:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WotNot \* > \*\*There is a legal minimum of one drunk/mental patient/plain weirdo per 50 passengers on any form of public transport. \*\* Not where I live there ain’t. After ‘peak’ hour, the ratio is 1:4 Pension day is a doozie especially. The breakdown on every second Thursday is prolly the other way round. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/16 "2003-07-14T12:47:17Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > …that’s why I placed it face down on my lap as soon as I took it out of my bookbag and opened it from the back. But no, you_ looked under at the title anyway, and _asked_ me what the title was! I told showed you, too, because I didn’t want to seem crazy. Now you know _all_ my secrets, _thank you_! Ah, well. You were drunk anyway, so hopefully you’ll forget all about it. The stranger probably had read advice to make small talk about books, etc., as a way to pick up a date. It’s not his/her fault that you were reading something embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/17 "2003-07-14T13:43:22Z")
I like reading a book on the subway and the line I take to work also stops at the Natural History museum. So frequently a group of school kids get on and crowd around and are usually a bit noisy but hey, they’re kids. But boy did I get some strange looks from the teachers/parents of that girls school group when I got off the train when I had been reading[Lolita](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679723161/qid=1058190603/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-5713637-5413567). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/18 "2003-07-14T14:48:50Z")
> [@](#): > > I can report with some authority that the Good Book still tops the reading list with Ms. Steel a close second. _partial hijack_ There are exactly four books I’ve seen, more than once, being read on the metro. They are the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, and _Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix_. I’m not sure what this means, but definitely something. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/19 "2003-07-14T14:55:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Martiju \* > \*\*I’m just impressed by the thought of talking on the subway - on the London Underground it’s bad enough making eye contact with strangers, let alone having any conversation! \*\* That kind of describes sex in England as well, doesn’t it? \ -Joe ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312/20 "2003-07-14T15:02:10Z")
I wasn’t reading anything particularly embarassing, it was just my special book for me, and I didn’t want anyone to know about unless they discovered it on their own. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-obviously-didnt-want-you-to-see-the-title-of-my-book/188312.md?page=2)