Re: [Harp-L] Remarks and questions regarding Blues Harmonica for dummies

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dummies readers are considered to be people of normal intelligence who are new to a subject. Anyone who ventures into an unfamiliar subject area is likely to feel a bit vulnerable and like a dummy. Dummies books take these factors into account. 

Because the reader does not have background information or acquaintance with the jargon, or special terminology  of a subject, the author takes special care to start from the beginning, explain all new terms, and so on. Dummies books are not "dumbed down" and the author is never allowed by the editors to talk down to the reader.

Conforming to the rather thick style guide for Dummies authors has in many ways made me a better writer. I've been able to infuse my Dummies writing with the humor and tone that I'm accustomed to using in my other writing, while also making it clearer and more direct, although some of the elliptical style and sophisticated constructions to which I'm naturally inclined are sacrificed in the process.

While some folks are put off by the idea of reading a book for dummies, the brand is enormously popular, in part because of its editorial standards.

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
President, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Producer, the Spring 2014 Harmonica Collective
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
(trimming my signature line on conformity with harp-l-owner's recent missive)

________________________________
 From: The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Remarks and questions regarding Blues Harmonica for	dummies
 

The "for Dummies" line is brand recognition. It has nothing to do with the quality or lack thereof of the contents of this series of books.




-----Original Message-----
From: Burke Trieschmann <burket@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Apr 13, 2014 10:07 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Remarks and questions regarding Blues Harmonica for dummies



Hi Peter:

"* This is the first "dummies" book I bought, because I do not consider  mayself 
a dummie and think most "dummie" books are very basic -- while in  fact your 
book is very detailed and sure not meant for dummies (even when  it starts from 
scratch)... :-o"