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What was the first "for Dummies" book ever published?

Question #68515. Asked by Allergic2Life.
Last updated Oct 24 2023.

Related Trivia Topics: Literature  
gdec1
Answer has 4 votes
gdec1
21 year member
485 replies

Answer has 4 votes.
DOS for Dummies in November 1991

link http://www.answers.com/topic/for-dummies

Jul 20 2006, 11:14 AM
Arpeggionist
Answer has 7 votes
Currently Best Answer
Arpeggionist
21 year member
2173 replies

Answer has 7 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
A book titled "Ventriloquism for the Total Dummy" existed in the 1980s,
by Dan Ritchard.


link https://www.abebooks.com/Ventriloquism-Total-Dummy-Dan-Ritchard-Villard/31416293751/bd




Response last updated by gtho4 on Oct 24 2023.
Jul 20 2006, 11:45 AM
avatar
zbeckabee
Answer has 7 votes
zbeckabee
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 7 votes.
The "For Dummies" series of how-to books was started by John Kilcullen for book publisher IDG Books with the book DOS for Dummies in November 1991, written by Dan Gookin about the computer operating system DOS. The story goes that a customer back in 1987 wanted a book that was simple and easy to use, as he considered computer books at the time dull and dreary reading. Next came PCs For Dummies, by Gookin and Andy Rathbone, propelling the series' popularity, along with The Internet For Dummies, by John Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...For_Dummies

Jul 20 2006, 9:34 PM
intergalactic9
Answer has 3 votes
intergalactic9
17 year member
91 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
The For Dummies series began during 1991 with DOS for Dummies, written by Dan Gookin and published by IDG Books.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_dummies_books#History

Jul 06 2008, 10:42 AM
Ventertainer
Answer has 6 votes
Ventertainer

Answer has 6 votes.
Dan Ritchard here --
Arpeggionist is correct.

The title of the book was based on a request by my publisher, Villard. They planned to include a puppet, in a bag, tied onto the book. They wanted a title similar to the book, "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" which also had an attachment, juggling balls. Based on limited words/sounds in English, I suggested the working title. Nothing better came up, so they kept it. I also suggested including a mirror, which was to be adhered to the book, and that was added to the bag, but without instructions on peeling and sticking it inside the cover.
I did a 9 city tour when my book came out for the gift season in early December 1987, and shortly thereafter the For Dummies series ran with the concept.

Jul 31 2008, 3:29 PM
queproblema
Answer has 3 votes
queproblema
19 year member
2119 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
Here's a link for Ventertainer's answer.
link https://www.amazon.com/Ventriloquism-Total-Dummy-Dan-Ritchard/dp/039475638X

However, I suppose the question refers to the series gdec1 and Zb mention.

Response last updated by satguru on Dec 17 2016.
Jul 31 2008, 6:31 PM
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