# Would you buy a "Complete Idiot's" guide to something? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818 "2007-10-24T14:34:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/1 "2007-10-24T14:34:34Z")
So I was standing in the stupid long line at the grocery store last night among all soap opera and gossip mags and I see “The Complete Idiots Guide to (something).” And I thought to myself, "Who would buy that book, therefore calling themselves a complete idiot? I object to the title, there’s a difference between being an idiot and just ignorant. Anybody else feel that way? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/2 "2007-10-24T14:37:42Z")
I have 6 or 8 of the Dummies books. Take that as you will.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/3 "2007-10-24T14:37:55Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] So I was standing in the stupid long line at the grocery store last night among all soap opera and gossip mags and I see “The Complete Idiots Guide to (something).” And I thought to myself, "Who would buy that book, therefore calling themselves a complete idiot? I object to the title, there’s a difference between being an idiot and just ignorant. Anybody else feel that way? [/QUOTE] I’ve bought some, untroubled by the title. I don’t think it’s meant to be taken literally, but that they are aimed at people with no previous knowledge of the subject. Buying one doesn’t mean that you are a complete idiot literally, but that you may be a figuratively complete idiot on the subject of the book. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/4 "2007-10-24T14:44:34Z")
I recently noticed “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tantric Sex” on a lover’s bedside table. Dunno if he’s read it or not, but he definitely isn’t a complete idiot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/5 "2007-10-24T14:48:47Z")
I might. I would tend to assume that it’s both an incredibly basic guide to something, and a guide which maybe doesn’t take itself terribly seriously. I also have the impression that the quality varies a good bit between different titles in the series–caused in part by authorship by different people. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/6 "2007-10-24T14:53:22Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] I recently noticed “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tantric Sex” on a lover’s bedside table. Dunno if he’s read it or not, but he definitely isn’t a complete idiot. 😃 [/QUOTE] Maybe he was before reading the book! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/7 "2007-10-24T14:56:41Z")
No, I’d get it at the library. I’m not a complete idiot, you know! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/8 "2007-10-24T15:04:28Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Maybe he was before reading the book! [/QUOTE] That war’nt no book-learnin’! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/9 "2007-10-24T15:07:57Z")
^Cite? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/10 "2007-10-24T15:09:01Z")
So, no interest in a copy of _[Web Publishing for Smelly, Impotent Pedophiles](http://www.soaprope.com/d/19970924.html)_ then? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/11 "2007-10-24T15:13:28Z")
Look around for **The Dummies Guide To Not Taking Yourself So Seriously!**. It’s an easy read. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/12 "2007-10-24T15:14:22Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] ^Cite? 😃 [/QUOTE] My (immense) satisfaction is my cite. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/13 "2007-10-24T15:15:08Z")
I’d never buy one but one was bought for me as a gift. I felt a little insulted. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/14 "2007-10-24T15:19:12Z")
I have a few “for dummies” books. I don’t really care what the title says, if the content is there. If I am looking to learn about something, I go down to Borders and scope out a handful of books and take the best couple home. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/15 "2007-10-24T15:29:13Z")
I have the bass guitar one; it’s a good book. My wife has a couple of “Dummies” books. I don’t like them, because I find the layout distracting. Titles don’t make me no never mind, though. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/16 "2007-10-24T15:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Look around for **The Dummies Guide To Not Taking Yourself So Seriously!**. It’s an easy read. [/QUOTE] Haha! I’d probably buy a “\ for Dummies” book, with the attractive black and yellow color scheme and all. I guess another part of my objection to “Complete Idiot’s” books is they’re a ripoff of the “for Dummies” series. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/17 "2007-10-24T15:32:48Z")
I have one on knitting and crocheting. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/18 "2007-10-24T15:49:17Z")
Actually, I think [this](http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101) was the original “complete idiot’s guide”. The current Dummies and Idiots books are all ripoffs of the concept. Absolutely terrific book, I knew several people (both experienced and not) that swore by it. I’ve seen some of the ‘For Dummies’ and ‘Idiot Guides’ that I thought were fairly good. Others, not so much. I don’t really care about the name if it’s got what I need. I _am_ a complete idiot on some subjects. But I do remember thinking much the same thing about the titles when I first saw them, lo these many years ago. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/19 "2007-10-24T15:54:41Z")
I think they are getting a little carried away with the whole thing. The other day I saw “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Commodity Futures Tradings” or something of the sort. There are some things that complete idiots should probably leave be. ---
**Author:** ![muzzynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@muzzynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muzzynyc)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818/20 "2007-10-24T16:09:17Z")
Well, I work for Wiley – the company that publishes the Dummies books – and let me tell ya, PLENTY of people buy those books. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-complete-idiots-guide-to-something/423818.md?page=2)