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Dictionary of Personal Problems
Everyone has a personal problem - or seven. So don't be shy. Buy this book, take it home, lock yourself in the lavatory and make use of the clever alphabetical filing system to track down your unpleasant personal problem! You'll feel relief wash over you as your 'difficulty' pales into insignificance when compared to impotence; fear of toasters; over-eating; marriage and much, much more...
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
17 people want to read
About the author
Steven Appleby
50 books22 followersSteven Appleby is a British and Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, writer and visual artist based in London, whose comic strips are best known for their absurdist humour.
Appleby studied graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (1978–1981), then illustration at the Royal College of Art of London (1981–1984), where they met future major collaborators George Mole and Malcolm Garrett.
Appleby cartooning work first appeared in the magazine 'New Musical Express' in 1984 with the Rockets Passing Overhead comic strip about the character Captain Star, later featured also in 'The Observer', as well as other newspapers and comic magazines in Europe and America. Other comic strips followed in many publications, including 'The Times', the 'Sunday Telegraph' and 'The Guardian'. In particular, the strip series Steven Appleby's Normal Life made into a radio series for the BBC. Appleby's debut graphic novel Dragman (2020) was awarded the Jury Special Prize at the Angoulême Comic Festival, in 2021 and the award for Best International Comic Book at the Erlangen Comic Salon, Germany in 2022.
Appleby’s illustrations and paintings have appeared in numerous exhibitions and on a number of album covers for pop-rock bands, such as Duran Duran and Pixies.
In 2008 Appleby came out as transgender. In 2021, Appleby stated to be "relaxed about pronouns," going by both "Steven" & "he" and "Nancy" & "she."
Appleby studied graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (1978–1981), then illustration at the Royal College of Art of London (1981–1984), where they met future major collaborators George Mole and Malcolm Garrett.
Appleby cartooning work first appeared in the magazine 'New Musical Express' in 1984 with the Rockets Passing Overhead comic strip about the character Captain Star, later featured also in 'The Observer', as well as other newspapers and comic magazines in Europe and America. Other comic strips followed in many publications, including 'The Times', the 'Sunday Telegraph' and 'The Guardian'. In particular, the strip series Steven Appleby's Normal Life made into a radio series for the BBC. Appleby's debut graphic novel Dragman (2020) was awarded the Jury Special Prize at the Angoulême Comic Festival, in 2021 and the award for Best International Comic Book at the Erlangen Comic Salon, Germany in 2022.
Appleby’s illustrations and paintings have appeared in numerous exhibitions and on a number of album covers for pop-rock bands, such as Duran Duran and Pixies.
In 2008 Appleby came out as transgender. In 2021, Appleby stated to be "relaxed about pronouns," going by both "Steven" & "he" and "Nancy" & "she."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 25, 2017
This book was alright. It had many silly funny moments that I think many will get a good laugh over.
The book was one of those books that was just plain goofy, but not in a bad way. It certainly will make you smile often. It's a quick read so can easily be read all at once, but it can also be read a little at a time which might be just as good a way to read it. There are a lot of jokes about genitalia and other things of a more mature nature in it so it's not so much a young child friendly book, but quite suitable for older teens and adults.
All in all, a funny little book by a very unique author!
The book was one of those books that was just plain goofy, but not in a bad way. It certainly will make you smile often. It's a quick read so can easily be read all at once, but it can also be read a little at a time which might be just as good a way to read it. There are a lot of jokes about genitalia and other things of a more mature nature in it so it's not so much a young child friendly book, but quite suitable for older teens and adults.
All in all, a funny little book by a very unique author!
January 9, 2025
It's humorous in an unexpected way. I didn’t realize this was meant for adults—it's an absurdist cartoon drawn by the writer himself. If you're dealing with personal problems and want to laugh a little, this could be the book for you. Though, at times, it doesn't always make sense. I didn't quite vibe with it, but maybe that’s just another problem of mine listed in the book, haha. Still, I laughed, so it definitely earns some extra stars!
December 24, 2016
I’m always so happy when my preconceived notions about a book turn out to be wrong and the book turns out to be so much more than I thought. (Like when I assumed “Three Junes” was about three women…)
By the title and the cover I assumed this book was at least bordering on the “chic lit” genre. But it is much more than that.
The entire story is told in a series of letters and e-mails written by a young Hollywood producer named Olivia. Through these letters we learn that her sister, Maddie, who lives the “perfect” life back in the Midwest, has been diagnosed with cancer, that she is trying to sort out her relationship with this sister and her recent break-up with her boyfriend she’s not sure she wanted to lose, and that she’s trying to attend to her sister while trying to get her latest movie project up and running (incl
uding personal meetings with Robin Williams and John Cleese, and frantic negotiations with directors, financial backers, studio heads - all fictitious, of course, but unmistakably Hollywood).
All this takes place as she commutes between Hollywood and Ohio, where her sister is desperately ill and her family is coming and going with varying degrees of helpfulness. This is a funny story, and very touching, and very hard to put down, especially since the letter/e-mail format really moves it along.
By the title and the cover I assumed this book was at least bordering on the “chic lit” genre. But it is much more than that.
The entire story is told in a series of letters and e-mails written by a young Hollywood producer named Olivia. Through these letters we learn that her sister, Maddie, who lives the “perfect” life back in the Midwest, has been diagnosed with cancer, that she is trying to sort out her relationship with this sister and her recent break-up with her boyfriend she’s not sure she wanted to lose, and that she’s trying to attend to her sister while trying to get her latest movie project up and running (incl
uding personal meetings with Robin Williams and John Cleese, and frantic negotiations with directors, financial backers, studio heads - all fictitious, of course, but unmistakably Hollywood).
All this takes place as she commutes between Hollywood and Ohio, where her sister is desperately ill and her family is coming and going with varying degrees of helpfulness. This is a funny story, and very touching, and very hard to put down, especially since the letter/e-mail format really moves it along.
January 23, 2015
Very straightforward! My all-time favourite. Remember not to let your parents read this :p
August 19, 2013
I enjoyed it for a while. the idea was novel, it was a fun read, and liked how he used his humour to link up words. however after a while it got repetitive.
October 22, 2015
super funny. pun-tastic. penis jokes galore. read it and share with friends. :)
April 17, 2008
Funny, quick read. Not for those who shy away from fart jokes.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews