The 2005 Diagram Prize for the Oddest Title of the Year

The winner of the 2005 prize has just been announced.

My favourite competition of the year is run by columnist Horace Bent in the Bookseller (the UK book trade weekly) with input from dedicated odd title hunters from all over the world. The prize, set up in association with the Diagram Group, has been running since 1978 and is a joyous celebration of the barmy side of publishing.

The shortlist included some memorably odd titles, but all had to be guaranteed to be authentic.

The winner is the completely classic:

How People Who Don't Know They're Dead Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It

As you can see, it had some serious competition from the other contenders.

The rest of the 2005 shortlist

Bullying and Sexual Harassment: A Practical Handbook

Rhino Horn Stockpile Management: Minimum Standards and Best Practice from East and Southern Africa

Ancient Starch Research

Soil Nailing: Best Practice Guidance

Nessus, Snort and Ethereal Powertools

The 2004 Winner

Bombproof Your Horse

So how do you think this year's winner, Bombproof Your Horse, lines up alongside this year's champ, and the glorious winners of the past, such as 2002's wonderful Living with Crazy Buttocks and the original classis Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice?

(Please note that, contrary to what you may think, all entries for the Prize must be genuine titles of books actually being published - no cheating allowed)

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