Robin Ince's Bad Book Club: One Man's Quest to Uncover the Books that Time Forgot

by Robin Ince

Is hideous prose and ghastly poetry more fabulous than great literature? Determined to find out, award-winning comedian Robin Ince has spent most of the 21st century rummaging through charity shops, jumble sales, and even the odd skip to compile the defining collection of the world's worst-inadvertently hilarious-books. Among the many genres it explores, the book will guide you through the hinterland of celebrity autobiography, unearthing underappreciated classics such as those by It Ain't Half Hot Mum's Don Estelle and the brother of a former PM (Major Major). It offers a detailed study of romance sub-genres, from the equine (Diamond Stud) to the gynaecological (Sign Of The Speculum). And it will prove invaluable to anyone who wants to know The Secrets Of Picking Up Sexy Girls. Above all, the Book Club is a manual-almost a life guide-training you up for membership of the Grand Order of Curators of Books That Should Never Have Been. Join the club.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Books About Books, Comedy, Literary Criticism

335 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2010

About the author

Robin Ince is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for presenting the BBC radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage with physicist Brian Cox.

In 2005, Ince began running the Book Club night at The Albany, London, where acts are encouraged to perform turns of new and experimental material. The club gets its name from Ince's attempts to read aloud from, and humorously criticise, various second-hand books which the audience brought in for the occasion. The Book Club proved to be so successful that Ince took it on a full UK tour in 2006. In 2010, Ince published a book entitled Robin Ince's Bad Book Club about his favourite books that he has used for his shows.

~Wikipedia

Reviews

[Alex Sarll]

An interesting case of a book whose problems mostly stem from a single word. Right there in the title, it is - 'bad'. I know plenty of people who went to Robin Ince's Book Club nights, and I don't entirely know why I wasn't among them. I was always given to understand that they took the piss out of the books addressed, but not without a certain affection. And I can quite understand why you might need a less ambiguous name for the mass-market spin-off, but wouldn't Odd Book Club have sufficed? Make no mistake, there are plenty of bad books here - weirdly moralistic animal-attack horror, Peter Hitchens' collected journalism, John Norman's 'MRA the Barbarian' Gor series. But there are also plenty which are just harmlessly deluded, misguided or outdated. Lumping them all together as 'books that should not be' suggests a horribly prescriptive and proscriptive attitude to literature. And it doesn't help that the first chapter covers sex, always a topic where the British risk being unveiled as the snickering prudes responsible for instituting the Bad Sex Award but no flattering equivalent. Herein, Ince covers what sounds like a genuinely disturbing 1970s (in all the wrong ways) guide to picking up 'sexy ladies', which is fair enough - then moves on to Nancy Friday's eye-opening compendia of female fantasies as if the two were much the same thing, which they're really not. For sure, many of the fantasies she collected may seem alarming or absurd to people other than the fantasists, especially uptight straight men, but then that was pretty much the point of the exercise. And in general this slight skewing of the tone means that the book is very funny when it's taking on deserving targets - the religious, the pompous celebs, the self-help-nonsense-merchants - but skirts far too close to bullying when it takes on less pernicious authors.

There is a subsidiary issue - Ince is happy to poke fun at poor proofreading in the books he covers, while his own is far from great. To be fair, he does acknowledge this possibility in a footnote - but still, he has the callback about being proofread by Don Estelle before he has the joke about Don Estelle's autobiography apparently having been proofread in a bus shelter*. Taken together with the main flaw, this contributes to the impression of a slightly rushed and underfunded project, a publisher keen to fit a generally brilliant comedian into the then-lucrative Grumpy Old Men mode. And it's such a waste. Ince has much better than this in him, and I look forward to reading it one day.

*As it happens, I once did a little proofreading in a bus shelter. Genuinely. Professional work and all. And you know what? It was fine. And although I realise it would be in keeping with the spirit of the age to use this as grounds for denouncing Ince's gag as hate speech, I'm big enough to let it pass.

[Eva Müller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is gold for people like me who occasionally can't resist reading certain books even though they know in advance that they will hate them. This book spares you the work of having to read them yourself as Robin Ince goes through them, summs them up and quotes the most horrible paragraphs.
Oh, and I should point out that by 'Bad books' he doesn't mean some shallow romances or cheesy fantasy-novels, no this book is about Christian gynecological romances, self-help books that suggest you should learn to repair boats in order to find men and an Elvis-biography written in rhyme.
Let me repeat that.
A Biography. Of Elvis. In Rhyme.
The world is a far stranger place than we give it credit for.

I guess the book is best enjoyed in small doses so that you can let the sheer insanity of all these works sink in but once I had started I just couldn't stop. It was like a car-crash (or possibly rather a crash involving a plane, a train and several cars), I just had to look, had to read on to see what came after the horror-novels involving giant crabs (as it turns out: lots of other horror-novels involving giant animals, one of which was written by a die-hard Christian).
Occasionally found that Ince crammed a bit too much horribleness in too little space and together with the jumping back and forth between the different books it could get a bit confusing (Wait! By what mutated animal are they eaten right now? Is that the lady who can't decide if she should get off with the Norwegian or the Dutchman or the lady who has the hots for the Arctic explorer?)

Did I mention the rhyming Elvis-biography?

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like it is written by the 90’s edition of Robin Ince

[Anthony Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable romp through the murky waters of the charity shop bookshelf, from self-help con-artists to the sublime and sadly neglected works of Guy N. Smith who did for the mutant giant animal horror genre what George RR Martin did for epic fantasy.

[Kirsty (alkalinekiwi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past I have had people make comments on my collection of books. Aside from the 'You have too many books' comments I get from loved ones (friends seem to understand my bibliomania more than family) there are some who find some books in my collection 'weird'.
I seem to enjoy seeking out the quirky and unusual books at opshops (that's charity shops or thrift stores for those from other places), book sales and library sales.

This book caught my eye at the BookCrossing UnConvention in Wellington last year and was later recommended to me by a friend.
The author has the gift or curse of finding some of the oddest books out there and 'recommends' them in this book which is split up into chapters like 'sex', 'religion', 'self-help', 'poetry' and 'thriller'.
Some of the books seem interesting/disturbing/odd enough that if I found a copy of them around I might just want to read them.
I could relate to the author's obsession - I also bring masses of books into an already book-packed house, I can't go past the book section in an opshop and I consider Mills & Boon novels once of my guiltiest pleasures (I like the racy 'Blaze' ones though I prefer other publishers when it comes to my romance novels).

I laughed out loud at many bits of this book and I have already recommended it to some friends.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mildly amusing...

[Marcus Gipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another humour book that I picked up because I was still ploughing through the Dying Earth anthology and wanted something a bit lighter, both in tone and actual weight. Robin Ince is a stalwart of the Latitude festival literary tent, and when we were up there selling books this year I caught bits of him doing his ‘Bad Book Club’ a number of times, and it sounded funny enough to be worth having a look at the book. We sold out at the festival, however, so when I got back I nabbed a copy from the shop and blasted through it. The book is certainly entertaining enough in its own way, although I suspect it works better as a live show. Essentially it’s just a collection of musings and diatribes based on and around the terrible books that Inca has picked up in charity shops, jumble sales and so on.

Clearly there are some terrible books out there, although Ince’s fondness for them means that the book doesn’t seem too cynical or aggressive. Although the books are divided into sections – Self Help, Thriller, Romance and so on – there are some entertaining running jokes, and I was left with the urge to a) find some of these books and read them for myself and b) send Ince some of the more hilarious things I’ve found myself, so clearly the book had an impact on me. Fun enough, but I couldn’t help but feel that there was something missing – Ince doesn’t claim anything for his book other than entertainment, but bits of it did feel like they’d been transcribed from his live show, and perhaps don’t work on the page quite as well. Basically, go and see him if you can, but you could quite happily pass an hour or two reading the book instead.

I read the trade paperback, ISBN: 9781847442697, at work during the end of July.

[Alan Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. At times embarassingly funny as it provoked laughter that was impossible to suppress - milk through the nose type of laughter 

Excellent and also educational, providing a service by signposting books to avoid, well recommended

Is hideous prose and ghastly poetry more fabulous than great literature? Determined to find out, award-winning comedian Robin Ince has spent most of the 21st century rummaging through charity shops, jumble sales, and even the odd skip to compile the defining collection of the world's worst - inadvertently hilarious - books. Among the many genres it explores, the book will guide you through the hinterland of celebrity autobiography, unearthing underappreciated classics such as those by It Ain't Half Hot Mum's Don Estelle and the brother of a former PM (MAJOR MAJOR). It offers a detailed study of romance sub-genres, from the equine (DIAMOND STUD) to the gynaecological (SIGN OF THE SPECULUM). And it will prove invaluable to anyone who wants to know THE SECRETS OF PICKING UP SEXY GIRLS. Above all, the Book Club is a manual - almost a life guide - training you up for membership of the Grand Order of Curators of Books That Should Never Have Been. Join the club.

[Steve Gillway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this on the strength of seeing him live at a festival and this feels like the voice I heard. He seems to be able to move from the trivial to namecheck the great and the good in the echelons of science and literature. It is laugh out loud stuff as he earnestly and dilligently evaluates the flotsam and jetsam of "literature" avialble in your local charity shop - gems if you only knew. You have to admire this - he's made a living using some of these texts in his act and then turns it into a book -masterful recycling. The only thing missing is his voice, which he uses to get more laughs. In my experience there are 3 voices - the book, Robin himself and some otherworldly Robin who is able to see the reality of what he is doing.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for you if you have piles of paperbacks at the side of your bed and you love buying old, weird books at car boot sales and in charity shops. Robin impressed me by rescuing a book from a skip. If the thought of books being abandoned in skips (or anywhere) worries you then you’ll be right at home in this book. There are strange titles, genres that you may not have read from, and clumsily beautiful lines that’ll have you keen to get down to your local shops to see just what eclectic treasures you can unearth. At the start of the book I was afraid I had written a bad book, by the end I hoped I had written a bad book and that it would be featured in a future sequel to Bad Book Club.

[Thomas Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious from the first few pages. English stand-up comic Robin Ince describes his journey through the obscure, infuriating and baffling world of literature. Exclusively bought second-hand (or in one case, found in a skip) he catalogues a wide range of titles, from Guy N. Smith's Crabs series (about giant, murderous crustaceans) to the literary offal of Ann Coulter and Richard Littlejohn. I work in a bookshop myself, and was strangely intrigued to find we had a few of the titles he covers in stock.

[Phil Hume-Hopper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a boring read if I'm being honest. It was hard to get Ince's dull voice put of my head while reading it, and his constant Carl Sagan impressions too.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club is a funny and interesting tour through some of the books you will never find in Waterstones, hidden as they are inside charity and secondhand shops. Robin Ince has made a habit of collecting these books – the more esoteric or eccentric, the better – and reading them so that we don’t have to. Taking us into a world of ‘celebrity’ autobiographies (with those on the lower end of the fame scale and yet high on ego providing the more entertaining entries), specialist animal care books, pick-up tips for men, women’s secret fantasies, pseudo-science, New Age claptrap, and many more, Ince is always entertaining – I spent quite a large part of time reading chunks aloud to my boyfriend (who no doubt would have preferred to have just watched the football instead).

Funnily enough, I have actually read some of the books talked about within, thanks to a combination of living in a part of the country which seems to think that dreamcatchers and crystals are the answer to all of life’s ills, and the editors picks my dad was sent in the 80s when he constantly forgot to cancel his postal book club memberships. I’ve also been the beneficiary of lots of the strangest books my friends can find (they’re always asking me to take one for the team and read them for them, which is how I’ve found myself reading things like dinosaur erotica and self-help books for young Victorian ladies), but I’ve much preferred reading about Robin Ince reading them than I did in experiencing them for myself.

Bad Book Club is perfect for uber-bookworms and lovers of cosy chuckles.

**Also posted at Cannoball Read 11**

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subjects that are covered in this volume are wide-ranging. I found some more engaging than others, but that's more about my interest in the actual subject than the writing. Robin Ince writes brilliantly and hilariously on all the weird books he's happened upon in his travels.

It's fitting that I picked up this signed copy in the Ely branch of the Wood Green Animal Shelter charity shop (a great place to find weird books). I've half a mind to ask the author if he'd alter the dedication in favour of my own name, as Lee and Leonie are close enough for it to work seamlessly. I'd happily pay all the postage, both to him and back again. Seems a bit too cheeky, though!

In conclusion: an entertaining read that would be the perfect distraction on a long train journey or while sitting in a waiting room. Be prepared to stifle your giggles.

[Scott Benowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes we come across books which make us wonder just exactly what the people who work at publishing companies could possibly have been thinking when they decided to approve publication of some of the books that they've published.
And fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), the British comedian Robin Ince not only collects books which make us wonder why publishing firms would opt to waste paper, ink and bindings printing them, he's written about his collection of books which probably should be upcycled into papier mâché projects.
This is a novelty topic, few humorists and zero literary historians write about the kinds of books that Robin Ince has collected. If you're looking to read a book which will make you laugh, "Robin Ince's Bad Book Club" will accomplish this goal !!

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lot of fun. As a bibliophile who enjoys rummaging through second hand booksales and charity shops, I can relate to the author's compulsions. But where I just skim bad and/or dodgey books, it seems Ince actually reads them. (Though having said that, I have actually read one or two of the books he reviews here.)
I found myself laughing out loud by page 8 and but was a bit lost in the chapters about autobiographies and columnists, as they were mostly British centric, and so a mystery to me.

[George Kingsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love rummaging around second hand book shops like myself, Robin's book is a real treat. Highlighting some of the most questionable books to ever hit the shelves, it's a fun look at the world of bad books, ranging from the bizarre animal horror books of the 70's, testosterone-fuelled thrillers of the 50's, questionable self-help guides and shamelessly bitter memoirs.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering that by definition the subject matter of the book is bad, this is really good read. I have even read some of the books that got a mention within the pages and enjoy watching Ancient Aliens for the laughs, so feel an affinity with Robin’s view of the bad books on his shelves. I’ll have to look for my copy of “Our Mysterious Spaceship Moon” in the near future

[Chris Orme · Rating 5 out of 5]

28/100 (2019 Reading Challenge)

A funny tour through some of the terrible books that you can find out there. Or ones with some very bizarre content. Put into sections for example: Horror, self help, Romance etc. An enjoyable read, a few bits that actually made me laugh out loud.

[Richard Luck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that I feel like a tit for not checking it out sooner. As someone else who put a helluva lot of stock in Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World, it's a pleasure to spend 300+ pages in Mr Ince's impeccable company.

[Lynne Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A suitably amusing way of passing a few reading sessions. Bought the book after seeing some of Ince's show at a festival. I feel the show was probably more entertaining than the book but, still, I was entertained nonetheless.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange hobby. Just be grateful he's found and read these books so you don't have to. Even my reading about his reading of them became a bit of a trial for me after half of this book. The biggest unanswered question of all though remains "why?".

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessively researched investigation into all genres of bad charity shop books written with wit and knowledge.

[Tara Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute gold. Robin Ince may be my spiritual animal. I love a weird, dated, or obscure book and this has filled my to-read-if-you-can-find-it list beautifully.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny book about terrible books!

[P.A. Latter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but probably works better as stand-up than in book form.

[Stover 75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me laughing aloud many times. I like the cut of Robin Ince's gib.
Ok its now 14 years old and out of date but it's very funny.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable - even if you don't agree with Mr. Ince about the awfulness of all the books - I am sorry I never knew that there was a time you could go to a gathering of aficionados of bad books - I would have loved that - but for all of us who missed it this book will give a great deal of pleasure.

(I read it a second time - still great fun)

[Nemi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars