- Complete Idiot's Guides
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The Complete Idiot's Guides is an Alpha Books product line of how-to and other reference books that each seek to provide a basic understanding of a complex and popular topic. The term "idiot" is used as hyperbole in claiming ensured comprehension. The approach relies on explaining a topic via very basic terminology. Definitions of words, profiles of people, and a synopsis of events for context are also provided in many cases.
The line parallels the For Dummies books.
Contents
Origins
The guide that brought the series to popularity was The Complete Idiot's Guide to DOS ("Idiot's DOS" for short, because the original cover made "Idiot's" and "DOS" huge in comparison to the rest of the title) much as DOS For Dummies popularized the Dummies series.
The titles and approach of the series both echo How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, A Guide for the Compleat Idiot, a notable 1969 guide by John Muir that used humor to make car repair less intimidating, and was popular in the American heyday of the Volkswagen.
In popular culture
- In a scene from Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, Goofy is seen reading a book called "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Musketeering".
- In the film of 1998 year "Waterboy" with Adam Sandler in main role, the Bobbie Bouche's trainer Klaine was read a book "Complete Idiot's Guide to Football".
See also
- For Dummies, a similar series of books and movies
References
External links
Categories:- Series of books
- Handbooks and manuals
- Media franchises
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