Dan Phillips was musing on the blurbs that might show up on the back cover of his forthcoming book, and he came up with some gems that no author would ever want to see:
- “Nice try! Really… nice!” (Dr. Heinrich Borfmann, Bogotron Seminary)
- “Moments of true semi-adequacy!” (Edie Contralto, Cupboard-Keepers Ministries)
- “We had such hopes for little Danny. And now, this. Oh dear. Well, at least he’s not in prison. …He’s not, is he?” (Verna Fleebner, Glenoaks Elementary School [retired])
- “Ambitious, but… well, ambitious!” (Pastor Eulie Lapidary, Church of Holy Perpetuity)
- “Brings to mind the greats. Longingly. By way of contrast.” (Varf Konkelman, talk show host)
- “This one part was terrific!” (Bob Fernbern, mechanic)
Note for those, like myself, who struggle with gullibility and overly literal interpretive habits: These are fictional blurbs that Phillips made up.
For His Renown 
I was always wanted to see an acknowledgements page that went like this:
“I want to thank Drs. So-and-so for reading a draft copy of this book and offering their critical feedback. Of course, I can’t be held responsible for the bad advice they gave me, but I take full credit for all the good stuff in my book.”
“Note for those, like myself, who struggle with gullibility and overly literal interpretive habits.”
Jim,
You said it, I didn’t! 🙂
Hope you know I couldn’t resist and my comment is made with a light heart. I appreciate your perspectives even if we rarely see things the same.
Blessings!
RD
Hope
“A great book–if “great” meant awful.”