The Paranoid's Pocket Guide

by Cameron Tuttle

Are you worried sick? If not, maybe you should be. Because a pair of drawstring sweatpants could bring about your most embarrassing moment. And a toothpick in your sandwich can be the deadliest of weapons. Including hundreds of bizarre-but-true things that can get you, this compact volume will induce nervous page flipping and make even the most snug and secure folks bonafide paranoiacs. Chilling black and white photographs document the everyday items that menace your safety. But whether it's archibutyrophobia (the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) or phobophobia (the fear of fear itself) that eventually gets you, don't be afraid to buy this book. You never know what might happen to you if you don't.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Trivia

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 2012

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I let myself read this.

[Zee Weasel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is an interesting concept and some of the little tidbits were interesting enough for me to look further into them. I would have loved more information inside the book, rather than the excessive use of large font and bland photos to fill the already limited space.

20 years after its publication many of the datums in it are now known to be incorrect or are simply out of date and it's impossible to tell where the author was getting his information from since there are no sources cited.

I think they were intended as a fun little gift for your hypochondriac relative or friend, rather than be taken seriously.

[Jonathan]

very fulfilling book to read not quite scary for me but a lot of information about the world and people around the whole world. For me it felt like it was a fact book more than a paranoid book. I did at first catch the paranoid feeling then for some reason it left for me but for you it might be different.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a lot better the first time I read it, 20 years ago. For some reason, it just didn't age well. There are probably a lot of new fears that should be included. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid.

[Shellina]

My husband bought this book home one day. I did looked through it. I just started reading it. Sounds kind of interesting. I would have to come back and leave another review once I am done reading the book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is pretty much absolutely perfect for what it is. Although I would have liked references for some of the statements, or preferred for them to be phrased in a more scientific manner, I know that most people have not completed graduate level work in understanding and explaining statistics, as I have. The other thing that bugged me is that the random fears running along the bottoms of the pages would break for several pages at a time, and I think it could have been formatted better.

Overall, it's a cute and fun book. Good for leaving in the bathroom or by your bedside table.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would at the start, possibly because I started viewing it as a window into what paranoias were in 1997. There were several worries (of people interviewed during the course of research for this book) listed that I have actually experienced, which amused me greatly. My main issue is that there are no citations for me to go and look up the source for the assertions in this book (though that might have just ended up making me more paranoid).

[Rowan MacBean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main reason I enjoyed this is that it disabused me of the belief that I'm paranoid about/afraid of just about everything! The publication date (over fifteen years ago) makes me wonder what an updated version of this book would look like, though. Statistics in pre-9/11 books give me mixed feelings.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in case there was something you forgot to paranoid about, don't worry -- it's in here. Everything you were afraid of, and more. Don't leave home without this book. In fact, don't leave home.

[Maigen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it would be funny, and it kind of is... But if you are actually paranoid, all it does is justify your paranoia and give you more to be paranoid about!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little book of facts that you should not read if you are TRULY paranoid but it did confirm my suspicians

[Kate Woods Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded an ebook copy of this silly little book of factoids to keep me company when a "real" book was too much. And it did the trick.

[Dara Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny stuff.

[Pastor Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this short book. Everything was funny but also "what did I just read?" all at once. Could not put it down!
Christ's peace!!!

[Bianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would have a narrative take on people's paranoia. Instead it is snippets that to be honest are just mostly stupid things.

[Victoria Drob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awkward format and no mind blowing facts, but cute for what it is: a fun gag gift for the special paranoic in your life.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book that informed me of all the things which I never before knew to fear.