Like a passionate call to arms about a mundane pet peeve!!

I’m officially asking for a colon ban.

Don’t be coy.  You know what I mean.

[Punchy Book Title] [COLON] [Incredibly Long Subtitle of What The Book's About, in Case the Reader Doesn't Get Our Pun]

The majority of titles on the NYTimes Non-Fiction Bestseller List follow this format.  Yes, it’s helpful when you’re not sure what the book really covers, but it’s a little out of control and frankly predictable.

Examples:

Game Change:  Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime

Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves

Open: An Autobiography

and holy hell:

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

By the way, Non-Fiction isn’t the only group being a little ridiculous.  I’m looking at you [Fiction Title] [COLON] ["A Novel"].

The Burning Land:  A Novel

Under The Dome:  A Novel

The Swan Thieves: A Novel

and my favorite…

I, Sniper: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel (Bob Lee Swagger Novels)

Indeed, Bob has swagger.  I say our book titles need a little linguistic strut as well.

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