A little post about the little book of calm

Who else remembers when 'The Little Book Of' advice books were everywhere?

I'm not sure if it was their size, the fact that they were books you could just flick through whenever you felt like you needed some advice, or because they were an easy stocking filler type of present, but for a minute there they were hugely popular.

While I can't remember if I bought it for myself, it was bought for me, or if it belonged to my parents and I ended up 'borrowing' it, but I do have the original little book of calm.

I also own two more written by Paul Wilson

Yes it did actually come with essential oil!

and one other that was written by someone else, but still published by Penguin.

There were also the random non Penguin offshoots that just used 'the little book of' part to cash in.

I think I also had the take care of yourself one, but at the time of writing this post I wasn't able to find it. If I do end up coming across it though I'll update this post with a photo of it.

And now, in no particular order, here's a few examples of the kinds of advice these books contained:

My OCD is cured!

I feel like I'm getting mixed signals here

I guess if you already live in the countryside and
can't afford a boat you're out of luck!

Friendship is about making everyone around
you feel as miserable as you do, got it

No one can sleep because some idiot won't stop
howling all night!

Stay calm by passing the stress onto someone else
instead

Yeah peasant, be thankful you're overworked!

If I ever end up in getting sucked into a wormhole
that brings me to an earth where time goes backwards,
I will indeed bear that in mind thank you...

Preeeetty sure doing this at work will get you fired...

The question is, were they actually helpful? Well in my case no, at least not that I remember. I just found the books to be a fun little novelty that I'd occasionally flick through. To this day I still enjoy picking a page or two at random from one of the books and reading the advice out to my partner for funsies, while slipping in the occasional Manny quote from the Black Books episode featuring the little book of calm (which does make me wonder if people who watched that episode years later know that there was such a thing as the little book of calm, or if they think it was made up for the show).

I find it interesting certain things that are everywhere one minute can be pretty much forgotten the next, while the memories of others manage to stick around. Let me know if these books still pop up in your mind from time to time, if you'd completely forgotten about them until this post jogged your memory, or you've never heard of them until now, as I'd be interested to see how remembered (or forgotten) they really are.