This title comes from “V is for vanity,” relating to vanity books, those books published in tribute of the author's ego, rather than his talents. Evidently, Masters of Stupidity is a great title for a book by Maxwell Landon, though he probably did not mean it to be an autobiographical one. It is a 1962 account of his experiences in Los Angeles after the war, combined with his intense red scare phobias. ReadInk describes it as, “...a nearly incoherent mash-up of the author's obnoxious personality, utter lack of writing ability, and infantile level of political knowledge/sophistication.” If that isn't a compelling sales pitch, I don't know what is. $85.

“K is for Keepers” brings us a classic in proper behavior, a book as timely today as it was then. Well, not quite. The concept of good manners is still timely, though the rules as to what constitutes proper behavior have changed some since 1924. This is Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home. Emily Post first published her guide to proper etiquette in 1922, and it became an enormously popular book, as Americans with increasing incomes tried to learn proper behavior for upward social mobility. This is a tenth printing (though styled “Tenth Edition”), identical to the first. $850.

“D is for deranged,” and that cover you see in the image above certainly fits that description. This is Stark Corridors, by Cash Asher, published in 1939. It is described as a work that “takes you inside the walls of insane asylums,” but ReadInk explains that it's really a promo for chiropractic. Apparently, the various mentally ill people in those stark corridors were cured by chiropractic hospitals, though I am not sure how that happened. The author goes on to rant about the anti-chiropractic conspiracies of the medical community, along with the government, drug companies, insurance companies, medical schools, churches, the press, and whoever else did not accept his claims. $50.

You may reach ReadInk at 323-734-4323 or hprouty@LABridge.com. Their website is found at www.readinkbooks.com.