The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World. [Paperback]

Zachary Kanin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2007

Long on laughs and never short on anecdotes, facts, and lore, The Short Book is the last word on all things small—and the perfect stocking-stuffer for diminutive friends and loved ones.

Short people everywhere, stand up and be counted! Oh...you ARE standing up? Then this funny, information-packed little book is for you!

Eighty percent of people in the world consider themselves "short"—and yet the world belongs to the tall. (They get the girl, win the election, get paid more, and even live longer.) So what do short people get? They get THIS BOOK, by a shorty and devoted to all that is fascinating and fabulous—and funny—about being short. Written with humor but filled with "true facts" and entertaining stories, The Short Book covers such topics as the science of shortness; short criminals, celebrities, and superheroes; shortness in literature, film, sports, and the arts; short job options and "smallotry" in the workplace; short dating, dancing, and romance; short nicknames (and how to answer back); short songs; short clothing—and much more.

Witty illustrations, charts, and photos throughout add visual humor and appeal. How tall are you compared to Napoleon, Danny DeVito, Tom Cruise...? Take a look! What is the Napoleon Complex, and do you have it? Is there any truth to the rumor that the taller candidate always wins the election, and if so—why? What are some of the tricks Hollywood uses to make short actors appear taller than they are—and can you use them in your own life? The facts and fun just keep on coming.

Also included are comments from famous shorties including Will Shortz, Martin Short, Jon Stewart, Dennis Kucinich, and others. Short is beautiful!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sit back in your high chair, toss back a few tall-boys, kick off your ten-inch heels, and enjoy. Being short has never had it so tall.

Short people of the world, stand up and be counted! Oh...you are standing up? Well then this book is definitely for you. Painstakingly researched and written by a giant among short humorists, The Short Book is filled with facts (some of them true) and stories (most of them unbelievable) on such topics as the science of shortness; short criminals, celebrities, and superheroes; shorness in literature, film, and the arts; short job options; short dating, dancing, and sex; short nicknames (and how to answer back); short songs; short clothing—and much more.

Here are just a few of the things you'll find in The Short Book

• Fancy scientific explanations and factoids about shortness
• Heights around the world and throughout history
• The tallest and shortest of everyone and everything
• "Smallotry" in the workplace—and how to strike back
• Short jokes (and why they're actually funny sometimes)
• Short conquerors: Attila vs. Napoleon—who wins?
• Short Oscar winners, artists, sports stars, politicians
• Some great advice about "living la vida poca."

About the Author

Zachary Kanin, 5'3", is a writer and cartoonist. His cartoons and humor piees have appeared in The New Yorker, where he worked until recently. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579127517
• ISBN-13: 978-1579127510
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Trivia
  • #71 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > United States > 20th Century

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun!, October 5, 2007

By 

Polly McGarrity (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World. (Paperback)

I DUG this book! I myself am a gangly giantess, but I picked this up because I thought it would be a fun gift for my little nephew. It is! It's full of fun stories and neat facts, really a great present for our small but great loved ones. And it teaches us tallies a little humility!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book sure isn't "short" on fascinating anecdotes! Or fun!, October 4, 2007

By 

Jack Gallagher (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World. (Paperback)

This was a terrific book, both funny and heartfelt. I got it as a gift for my uncle who is a short man, and he says the book has meant a lot to him. My wife and I were able to enjoy it even though we are both of average height for our country (the United States). Beat the Christmas rush and buy this book in October!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being six foot tall is not a prerequisite for success..., February 17, 2008

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World. (Paperback)

When I saw the book The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World by Zachary Kanin, I figured it was a must-read for me. Being a statuesque 5' 4", I would say I resemble this title. Short Book is a fun read that has plenty of laughs while also pointing out that being six feet tall is not a prerequisite for success in today's society.

Contents:
Forward; Shortspective; Smallotry; Profiles in Shortage; Suppshort; A Neat Little Package

This is one of those books that is a mix of off-beat humor, facts, and outright fiction that doesn't give any indicator of where the author might go next. For instance, the reason you're short is that your parents didn't love you and would do anything to make sure you weren't happy in life (fiction!). Job interviews are far different if you're short than if you're tall (humor). There are actual surgical procedures to make you taller (fact), but it doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to have your legs broken and continually stretched as new bone forms. I'll take my current height, thank you very much... Profiles in Shortage is probably one of the more interesting chapters, where Kanin lists a number of people from various walks of life who are aren't known for their vertical superiority. All in all (which isn't much at our height), you'll find that "being short" is far more normal than the common view that the media leads you to believe.

Other than for the fun of reading the book, this might be a nice choice for someone who is overly fixated on their height. While it doesn't bother me now, I know it was difficult growing up as the shortest person at school. This book wouldn't have changed that, but it would have gone far to give me role models to look up to (or over at)... Then when you finally grow up (or just get old), you can choose to ignore all those giant freaks of nature. :)