what are the worst books ever published and why?

Question

The dumber the better.

Answer 1

There are children's books that are published because they know they will sell...they are based on a popular toy or TV character. Some of the writing is truly awful. Our kids had a set of "Care Bear Cousins" books when they were toddlers that they always wanted us to read to them, but ugh...they were awful. I edited as I read.

The books about Lizzie McGuire or Mary Kate and Ashley et al, are so contrived as to barely qualify for writing.

To me those are the worst, the books written with a sale in mind rather than a story worth telling.

Answer 2

Any book with the following words in the title: "millionaire", "retire early", "foolproof diet", "quit smoking". They hold out hope for poor, misguided people who believe that riches and fulfillment can come through a book. In order to achieve anything in this world requires hard work and dedication. Authors and publishers who write these books should be required to forfeit half their profits. Because the only ones getting rich on these books are the authors. Here's a book that's yet to written, but would be a huge best seller: "How to get rich, lose weight and quit smoking in 10 days."

Answer 3

I do not remember the title because it was 40 years ago. The book was about eye care and it advised people to look at the sun because your eyes need a tan too. "Ophthalmologists grow tired of seeing pale retinas" was a quote in it I recall. I often wondered how many people ever followed that wisdom.
May be it was a good book for me in that I question the validity that is "scientifically proven". But how it could ever be allowed to printed and distributed is beyond me.

Answer 4

Paul Preuss's "Starfire" was so awful that I put it down 60 pages in and never picked it back up--one of the few times in my life that I've intentionally done that to a novel.

Answer 5

Anything by Danielle Steel. Her grasp on grammar is tenuous, and her form is atrocious. Add formulaic contrived plots and one dimensional characters and you have a best seller. Serious writers weep blood.

Answer 6

i hate "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck! it's completely pointless. i needed to read it for school. it was so bad. the main character was so rude and mean. he killed animals for NO reason! and he hurt his own dog and it didn't even do anything! each chapter of the book begins talking about a new idea, forgetting the things that came before. it was really bad. i haven't heard anyone in my school disagree! :)