The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares

by Gary Greenberg, Matthew Reinhart, Charles Melcher

They're gripping, they're realistic, and they're universal--those primal scream-creating nightmares that every reader has had at one time or another. The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares brings them vividly to life with ten richly illustrated, over-the-top pop-ups that put the reader right in the center of a world gone mad. Which one of these nightmares did you have last night?

--Being unprepared for a final exam
--Going for a midnight snack and finding a refrigerator teeming with rats
--Giving birth to a baby that's anything but normal
--Being chased by a menace that seems to be everywhere at once
--Free falling with no hope of a safe landing

The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to mine the psychological riches of their deepest slumber.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Psychology, Horror, Humor

22 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Billy Batz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun way to explain bad dreams.

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful rendition of your worst nightmares; what's not to love?

The scenes are arranged so that you (as the dreamer) are placed directly into the analyzed dreamscape. For example, in the "failed examination" the desk pops up to put the blue book in front of your chest, and the proctors hand looms over your shoulder, his eyes boring into yours. Delightful!

The text is brief, but accurate, and the dream scenario pop-ups are ingenious.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pop ups were sweet. The nightmare descriptions, not so sweet.

[R. Wimmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pop ups are AMAZING!!!

Writer is horrible. Follows the worst type of psychology twisted Sigmund Freud.
Relates every nightmare to the same strange, twisted, and overly adult interpretations to very common dreams.
Simple themes like falling or losing control of a car are twisted into deeper meanings that feel forced inappropriate, especially since many experience these dreams since childhood (can’t relate at all to the life experiences mentioned)

It would’ve been far more effective to stick/ leave it at factual interpretations of fear, loss of control or common emotional experiences.

I guess the easy way out was to”let’s make it all sexual”

Adding a 3rd star for the last few that actually had great and realistic explanations.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to check if this was based on Freud since everything was sexual. The author is actually a comedian so all of the ‘explanations’ are just for fun. Was disappointed this book about nightmares didn’t actually provide any clarity or reasoning for certain dreams. The pop ups are excellent but don’t expect to learn anything.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thumbing through it on a coffee table, the dolls at night are appropriately terrifying and it’s a fun book.

[Ivy Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love pop up books but this one is terrifying

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

See The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. Ditto.