CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "https://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd"><html> <head><title>The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self | LibraryThing</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.librarything.com/work/88126" /><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="LibraryThing" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Click to read more about The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers" /> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SS250_SS250_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self" /> <meta property="og:type" content="book" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.librarything.com/work/88126" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SS250_SS250_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="250" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="250" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="LibraryThing.com" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="79305890602" /> <meta property="books:isbn" content="0679750940" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Click to read more about The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers" /> <META NAME="description" CONTENT="All about The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers"> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="All about The Quantity Theory of Insanity by Will Self, librarything, library, thing, catalog your books, catalogue your books, book cataloging, library, free book catalog, catalogue"> <META NAME="apple-itunes-app" CONTENT="app-id=948824489"> <META NAME="language" CONTENT="en"> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/main2.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/bootstrap-3.4.1-buttons_only.min.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/newdesign.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/bookreviews.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/work.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/customcover.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/editionpick.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/simplelb.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/mediareviews.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/bookservices.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/sprites.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/menuBuilder.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/blasts.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com//commonknowledge/fwiki.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/population.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com//css/population_extended.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/talktable.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/catalogandworkpage.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/recommendation_rating.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/jqui/jquery-ui-1.11.2.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/bsplay.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/circulation_edit.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/bookinformation_edit.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/editionrecord.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/font-awesome.min.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/lt1_bridge.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/lt1_popuplist_bridge.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/notifier_control.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/chrome-1.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/menuBuilder.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/lt2_vars.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/dasboot-forms-buttons-3.4.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/base_2013_1.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/shared.css?5301" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com/css/base_olddesign.css?5301" type="text/css"> <style type="text/css"> #maincover i.icon, #maincover img.icon { display: none; position: absolute; bottom: 10px; right: 15px; z-index: 1000; } #maincover:hover i.icon, #maincover:hover img.icon { display: block; background-color: #fff; padding: 6px; border: 1px solid #0000006b; font-size: 200%; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px #0005; height: 20px; width: 20px; } div#lb_externalresources p { margin-bottom: 10px; } table.pop { table-layout:fixed; } table.startedfinished td { white-space: nowrap; } table.bookstats img.ui-datepicker-trigger { vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 10px 3px 0; } #shareid { max-width: 500px !important; } </style> <script defer data-bundle="translated_js" type="text/javascript" version="5301"> try { var LibraryThing = LibraryThing || {}; } catch(er){} LibraryThing.translated_vars_key = ""; LibraryThing._isLT2 = 0; LibraryThing.lt2_popup_style = "legacy"; LibraryThing.is_signed_in = 0; LibraryThing.isDevBox = 0; LibraryThing.loaded_translated_vars = 1; LibraryThing.servers = LibraryThing.servers || {}; LibraryThing.servers.image = "https://image.librarything.com"; LibraryThing.servers.pics = "https://pics.cdn.librarything.com/"; LibraryThing.ltstrings = LibraryThing.ltstrings || {}; LibraryThing.ltstrings.yes = "Yes"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.no = "No"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.save = "Save"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.cancel = "Cancel"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.savereview = "Save Review"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.saving = "saving"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.loading = "Loading..."; LibraryThing.ltstrings.confirm = "Confirm?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.rejectAndDeleteAuthor = "Reject and delete this author?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.referrer = ""; LibraryThing.ltstrings.areyousure = "Are you sure?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.areyousure_immediate = "This item will be deleted immediately. Are you sure you want to delete this item?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.getting_help = "Getting help..."; LibraryThing.ltstrings.alt_cover_image = "Cover Image"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.close = "Close"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.show_more_elipses = "Show more..."; LibraryThing.ltstrings.show_more = "Show More"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.show_less = "Show Less"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.show_all = "Show All"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.see_more_elipses = "See more..."; LibraryThing.ltstrings.see_more = "See More"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.see_less = "See Less"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.see_all = "See All"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.attempting_size_calc = "Attempting to calculate size"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.approximately = "approximately"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.deleteinventory = "Clear all inventory information for this collection?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.abx_addbook = "Add Book"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.genre_flag_confirmation = "Flag this genre as egregiously wrong?"; LibraryThing.ltstrings.loader_messagesA = [ "Still Loading...", "A lot of thinking happening...", "It seems we may be here a while...", "Maybe you should start a book...", "In fact, maybe you should start writing a book...", "We have hit a writers block but we are still working on it..." ]; LibraryThing.ltstrings.datatables = { "emptyTable": "No data available in table", "info": "Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ entries", "infoEmpty": "Showing 0 to 0 of 0 entries", "infoFiltered": "(filtered from _MAX_ total entries)", "lengthMenu": "Show _MENU_ entries", "loadingRecords": "Loading...", "processing": "Processing...", "search": "Search:", "zeroRecords": "No matching records found", "paginate": { "first": "First", "last": "Last", "next": "Next", "previous": "Previous" }, "aria": { "sortAscending": ": activate to sort column ascending", "sortDescending": ": activate to sort column descending" } }; LibraryThing.ltstrings.recs = { "filter": { "tagRemove": "Are you sure you want to enter tag remove mode?", "tagReset": "Are you sure you want to reset your default tags?", } }; </script> <script src="https://image.librarything.com/js/jquery-1.8.0.min.js?v=2" type="text/javascript" flag_fte="1" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/mmlog.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.0.0/prototype.js" type="text/javascript" flag_fte="1" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/scriptaculous/1.8.1/scriptaculous.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/scriptaculous/1.8.1/effects.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/scriptaculous/1.8.1/dragdrop.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/scriptaculous/1.8.1/controls.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js/lt_utility.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/menuBuilder.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/basics1.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/basicajax.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/lt_lightbox.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/hack_base_2013_1.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">if (window.jQuery && (typeof $J == 'undefined')) { $J = jQuery.noConflict();} </script><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_fonts" rel="stylesheet" href="https://image.librarything.com/css/fontawesome6.4.2/css/all.min.css?v=3" type="text/css" /><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_fonts" rel="stylesheet" href="https://image.librarything.com/css/lticon_fonts.css?v=3" type="text/css" /><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_addbooks_express" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com//css/addbooks_express.css?v=5301" type="text/css"><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_addbooks_express" src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/addbooks_express.js?v=5301" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_addbooks_express" src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/collections.js?v=5301" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_addbooks_express" src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/ratings.js?v=5301" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_toast_notifications" rel="stylesheet" href="https://image.librarything.com/css/toastify.css?v=3" type="text/css" /><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_toast_notifications" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com//css/lt2_toastify.css?v=5301" type="text/css"><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_toast_notifications" src="https://image.librarything.com/js2/toastify.js?v=2" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><link data-bundle="ind_bundle_lightbox" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.librarything.com//css/lt_lightbox2020.css?v=5301" type="text/css"><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_lightbox" src="https://image.librarything.com/js2/imagesloaded.pkgd.js?v=2" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_lightbox" src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/lt_lightbox2020.js?v=5301" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script><script data-bundle="ind_bundle_lightbox" src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/lt_maxbox.js?v=5301" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> if (!LibraryThing) { var LibraryThing = {}; //new function() {}; } LibraryThing.divotUp = '<span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">►</span>'; LibraryThing.divotDown = '<span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span>'; LibraryThing.workpage = {}; LibraryThing.workpage.work = 88126; LibraryThing.workpage.bookID = 0; LibraryThing.workpage.confirmDelete = "Delete this book?"; LibraryThing.workpage.confirmDeleteAll = "Delete this book from all collections?"; LibraryThing.workpage.saving = "saving"; LibraryThing.workpage.loading = "Loading..."; LibraryThing.workpage.confirm = "Confirm?"; LibraryThing.workpage.coversOff = false; LibraryThing.workpage.confirmCoverChoice = "Choose this cover? This will change your book's ISBN."; LibraryThing.workpage.confirmCoverSimple = "Choose this cover?"; LibraryThing.workpage.coverChangeGoto = ""; LibraryThing.workpage.rejectAndDeleteAuthor = "Reject and delete this author?"; LibraryThing.workpage.workCRC = "2701194921"; LibraryThing.workpage.referrer = ""; var removeRelationshipConfirm = "Are you sure?"; var oscchoice = 0; var work = 88126; var bookID = 0; var urltogoto = null; var hoverTimer = null; var selectedCoverID = null; // ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN MOVED TO work.js function load_externalresources( theid ) { var params = { height: 600, width: 700 }; var url = '/ajax_externalresources.php?id=' + theid; LibraryThing.lightbox.ajax(url, params); return false; } function si_info( coverid ) { if (typeof coverid === 'undefined') { var myArray = selectedCoverID.split('_'); } else { var myArray = coverid.split('_'); } covertype = myArray[0]; theid = myArray[1]; var params = { height: 700, width: 975 }; var url = '/ajax_coverinfo.php?covertype='+covertype+'&id=' + theid + '&book=' + bookID + '&work=' + work; LibraryThing.lightbox.ajax(url, params); return false; } function positionclosebox() { LBlocation = $('LT_LB').cumulativeOffset(); LBsize = $('LT_LB').getDimensions(); $('closeboxicon').style.left = (LBlocation[0] + LBsize.width - 16) + 'px'; $('closeboxicon').style.top = (LBlocation[1] - 11) + 'px'; $('closeboxicon').show(); } function si_choose( optionalid ) { if (typeof optionalid === 'undefined') { var myArray = selectedCoverID.split('_'); } else { var myArray = optionalid.split('_'); } if( myArray[0] == 'cc' ) { changeCover(0, myArray[1], bookID); } if( myArray[0] == 'am' ) { changeCover(1, myArray[1], bookID); } } function book_deletebook(bookid) { //return confirm('Delete this book?'); if (confirm("Delete this book from all collections?")) { var tabs = $('book_bookInformationSection'); if (tabs) { LTSetOpacity(tabs, 0.3); } window.location = '/deletebook.php?deleteid='+bookid+'&referpage='; } } function changeCover(amazon,changeto,book) { if(amazon) { var confirmmsg = "Choose this cover? This will change your book's ISBN."; } else { var confirmmsg = "Choose this cover?"; } if (confirm(confirmmsg)) { window.location = '/changecover.php?amazon='+amazon+'&changeto=' + changeto + '&book=' + book + '&return=%2Fwork%2F88126%2F'; } } function showTopicTable(mode,sort,offset) { currentid = 'topictable'; if (!currentMode) { currentMode = 'all'; } if (!currentSort) { currentSort = 0; } if (mode != currentMode) { //document.getElementById(currentMode).style.fontWeight = 'normal'; //document.getElementById(mode).style.fontWeight = 'bold'; setCookie("cookie_talkmode", mode, false); currentMode = mode; } if ((sort != currentSort) && (sort > -1)) { setCookie("cookie_talksort", sort, false); currentSort = sort; } createXMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleStateChange; var URL = "/ajaxinc_topictable.php?mode="+mode; URL = URL + '&w=88126'; if (sort > -1) { URL = URL + "&sort=" + sort; } URL = URL + "&offset=" + offset; URL = URL + "&obeysort=1"; xmlHttp.open("GET", URL, true); xmlHttp.send(null); idtohide = "loading"; document.getElementById("loading").style.display = 'block'; } function showall(lang) { $('relatedtagsarea'+lang).innerHTML = ''; if (!lang) { $('loader').show(); } var url = "/ajaxinc_showbooktags.php"; var params = "work=88126&all=1&print=1&doit=1&lang="+lang; basic_ajax( url, params, function(r) { $('relatedtagsarea'+lang).innerHTML = r.responseText; if (!lang) { $('loader').hide(); } }); } function change_swapcolumnpreference(checkbox) { currentid = 'swapspan'; createXMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleStateChange; if (checkbox.checked) { var URL = "/ajax_changeswapcolumnprefs.php?checked=1" } else { var URL = "/ajax_changeswapcolumnprefs.php?checked=0"; } xmlHttp.open("GET", URL, true); xmlHttp.send(null); document.getElementById("swapspan").innerHTML = " (saving)"; } // following added csd because it got left out of redesign of works page. function loadlanguages(lang, lang2, lang_original) { currentid = 'languagediv'; //Ajax thing createXMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleStateChange; xmlHttp.open("GET", "/ajax_cardedit_loadlanguages.php?lang="+lang+"&lang2="+lang2+"&lang_original="+lang_original, true); xmlHttp.send(null); document.getElementById("loading").innerHTML = "Loading..."; } function loadScore(work) { var url = '/ajax_willilikeit.php?work=' + work; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, 'score'); return false; } function ajax_work_makeworkCloud(work, check) { var url = '/ajax_work_makeworkCloud.php?work=' + work + '&check=' + check; basic_ajax_updater( url, null, 'ajax_work_makeworkCloud' ); } var clickedISBN=''; var removeRelationshipConfirm = "Are you sure?"; function sizeImage() { var mainCoverWidth = $J('#mainCover').width(); var mainCoverHeight = $J('#mainCover').height(); if(mainCoverWidth == 1 && mainCoverHeight == 1) { var imageUrl = $J('#mainCover').attr('src'); var url = "/ajax_problemcoverreporter.php?cover="+imageUrl; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, 'problemcoverreporter'); } } function onchange_upgradeauthors() { var upgradeauthors = $('upgradeauthors').getValue(); if(upgradeauthors == 1) { $('otherauthorsnewformat').show(); $('otherauthorsnewformat_warning').show(); } else { $('otherauthorsnewformat').hide(); $('otherauthorsnewformat_warning').hide(); } } function load_popularcovers(work,book) { var url = '/ajaxinc_popularcovers.php?work=' + work + '&book=' + book; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, 'popularcovers'); } function load_coverlist(suffix, showall, work, book) { var theid = 'coverlist' + suffix; var dimensions = $(theid).getDimensions(); var params = { work: work, book: book, width: dimensions.width, showall: showall }; var callback; var url = '/ajaxinc_coverlist' + suffix + '.php'; basic_ajax_updater(url, params, theid, callback); return false; } //Getting the "other" thing working. function onchange_otherauthors_role(id) { var menu = $("role" + id); if (menu.options.selectedIndex == (menu.options.length - 1)) { var userenteredtext = window.prompt("Please enter a role for this person:",""); if (userenteredtext) { var lastoption = menu.options.length; menu.options[lastoption-2] = new Option(userenteredtext,userenteredtext); menu.options[lastoption-1] = new Option('--------------',''); menu.options[lastoption] = new Option('Other...',''); menu.options.selectedIndex = lastoption-2; } } } function otherAuthorDelete(id) { var didconfirm = confirm("Reject and delete this author?"); if (didconfirm) { var url = "/ajax_otherauthors_delete.php?id=" + id + "&check=2701194921"; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, "currentotherauthor"); } return false; } function otherAuthorDelete_primary(id) { var didconfirm = confirm("Reject and delete this author?"); if (didconfirm) { var url = "/ajax_otherauthors_delete_primary.php?id=" + id + "&check=2701194921"; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, "currentotherauthor"); } return false; } function otherAuthorConfirm( work, wtoa_aid, ticktype, status ) { var didconfirm = confirm("Confirm?"); if (didconfirm) { var url = "/ajax_otherauthors_otherAuthorConfirm.php?work="+work+"&wtoa_aid="+wtoa_aid+"&ticktype="+ticktype+"&status="+status; basic_ajax_updater_loading(url, null, "currentotherauthor"); } return false; } </script> </head><body class="workpage cklt2 ie6or7 ie7or8 ie ie7 lt1" onload="sizeImage();"><a class="anchor" name="top"></a><a class="anchor" name="t"></a><div id="masthead" class="ie6or7 ie7or8 ie ie7 lt1 "> <a href="/" target="_top"> <div id="masthead_logo_wordmark"> <img id="masthead_lt_logo" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/LT-logo-square-75-bw-w2.png" alt="LT" height="75px" width="75px"/>   </div> </a> <div id="tabs"> <a class="sitenav_item g1" data-icon="" id="masttab_home" href="/" target="_top">Home</a><a class="sitenav_item g3" id="masttab_groups" href="/ngroups" target="_top">Groups</a><a class="sitenav_item g3 spacer_after" id="masttab_talk" href="/talk" target="_top">Talk</a><a class="sitenav_item g4" id="masttab_more" href="/more" target="_top">More</a><a class="sitenav_item g4" id="masttab_z" href="/zeitgeist" target="_top">Zeitgeist</a> </div> <div id="mast_alt"> <div id="mastsearch"> <form action="/search.php" method="GET" target="_top" id="sbarform" name="sbarform"> <div id="mastsearch_container"> <input type="text" id="mastsearch_query" tabindex="1" placeholder="Search site" name="term"> <img id="mastsearch_glass" title="Search Site" alt="Search Site" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/sbar_4.png" srcset="https://image.librarything.com/pics/sbar_4@2x.png 2x, https://image.librarything.com/pics/sbar_4@3x.png 3x" height="12px" width="12px" onclick="document.sbarform.submit();"/> </div> </form> </div> <div id="mastuser"> <ul> <li class="mastuseritem"><a id="mastheadSigninLink" href="/" target="_top">Sign in / Join</a></li><li class="mastuseritem"><a href="#" onclick="languagelist(0,0,0); return false;"><i class="fa-solid fa-globe"></i> English</a></li><li class="mastuseritem"><a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/HelpThing:Work/" target="_top">Help</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="mast_rule"></div> <ul id="languagechoice" style="display:none;" onmouseover="languagemenu=true;" onmouseout="languagemenu=false;setTimeout(function(){if (!languagemenu) {document.getElementById('languagechoice').style.display='none';}},1000);"></ul></div><div id="gdpr_notice" class=""><button class="btn" id="gdpr_closebutton" onclick="gdpr_notice_clicked();return false;">I Agree</button><div id="gdpr_content">This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our <a href="/privacy" class="alwaysblue">Terms of Service and Privacy Policy</a>. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.</div></div></div> </div><div id="gbss"> <h1>Results from Google Books</h1> <p>Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.</p> <div id="gbss_content"></div> </div><div class="content summary"><input type="hidden" name="cgtag_lb_title" value="CoverGuess Tags" id="cgtag_lb_title" class="" ><input type="hidden" name="work" value="88126" id="work" class="" > <table class="wrapper" width="100%" border=0> <col width="160"> <col> <col width="210"> <tr> <td class="left"><div id="maincover"><a href="#" onclick="si_info('isbn_0679750940'); return false;"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/fugue21/magnifier-left.png" class="icon"></a><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX180_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX360_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX540_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" /></div><div class="leftnav workleftnav alwaysblue noline"><ul><li class="first selected"><a href="/work/88126/summary">Main page</a></li> <li class="gap"><a href="/work/88126/workdetails">Work details</a></li> <li class="gap"><a href="/work/88126/reviews">Reviews</a> <span class="count">(10)</span></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/recommendations">Recommendations</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/members">Members</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/descriptions">Descriptions</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/conversations">Conversations</a> <span class="count">(11)</span></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/commonknowledge">Common Knowledge</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/popularity">Popularity</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/covers">Cover images</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/88126/editions">Editions</a></li></ul></div> </td> <td class="middle" id="middleColumn"> <div id="loading">Loading...</div><div class="headsummary"><h1>The Quantity Theory of Insanity <span class="date">(1991)</span></h1><h2>by <a href="/author/selfwill">Will Self</a><hr></h2><div class="authorsandseries"><h3><b>Other authors:</b> See the <a href="#otherauthors">other authors</a> section.</h3></div></div><div class="wslcontainer"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="wsltable"><tr class="wslheader"><td width="18%" class="firstchild">Members</td><td width="18%">Reviews</td><td width="18%">Popularity</td><td width="22%">Average rating</td><td width="25%" class="lastchild">Mentions</td></tr><tr class="wslcontent"><td valign="middle" class="firstchild"><a href="/work/88126/members">855</a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="/work/88126/reviews">10</a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="/work/88126/popularity">26,992</a></td><td valign="middle"><nobr><a href="/work/88126/members"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss7.gif" style="margin-bottom: -2px;"></a> <span class="dark_hint">(3.58)</span></nobr></td><td valign="middle" class="lastchild"><a href="/work/88126/conversations">11</a></td></tr><tr class="wslcontent wslsummary"><td colspan="7" class="lastchild"><div class="showmore" id="u_528922e8" >What if there is only a limited amount of sanity in the world and the real reason people go mad is because somebody has to? What if a mysterious tribe in the Amazon rainforest turn out to be the most boring people on earth? What if the afterlife is nothing more than a London suburb, where the <u class="showmore_hide">dead get new flats, new jobs, and their own telephone directory? These are the sort of truths that emerge in this collection of stories by one of England's most gifted writers. In The Quantity Theory of Insanity, Will Self tips over the banal surfaces of everyday existence to uncover the hideous, the hilarious, and the bizarre. Psychiatry, anthropology, theology-and literature-will never be the same.</u><span class="showmore_showlink">… (<a href="#" onclick="showMore('u_528922e8');">more</a>)</span></div class="" ></td></tr></table></div><div id="workpagesort_10" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><span style="font-size:9px;font-weight:normal;"><a value="all members" value="all members" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn ltbtn-button-float-right btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" href="/work/88126/members/" ><span class="btntxt">all members</span></a></span></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'members', 'u_cf2f1604', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Members</span><span class="sectionTitleST"></span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_cf2f1604" style="display:block;"><table class="wstable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td class="label memberlistLabel"><span style="white-space:nowrap;text-align:right;">Recently added by</span></td><td class="wide memberlistvalue" id="u_5ac9cf19"><a href="/profile/Gundarz">Gundarz</a>, <a href="/profile/AnthonyJennings">AnthonyJennings</a>, <a href="/profile/tangierbookclub">tangierbookclub</a>, <a href="/profile/azp74">azp74</a>, <a href="/profile/glenneath">glenneath</a>, <a href="/profile/arianonymous">arianonymous</a>, <a href="/profile/melmtp">melmtp</a>, <a href="/profile/HopkinsLibrary">HopkinsLibrary</a></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="workpagesort_20" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><button id="u_a280853d_snb" value="numbers" value="numbers" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn ltbtn-button-float-right btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" onclick="tagcloud_showTagNumbers('u_a280853d'); return false;" style="margin-right: 1em;" ><span class="btntxt">numbers</span></button><button id="u_a280853d_sab" value="show all" value="show all" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn ltbtn-button-float-right btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" onclick="LibraryThing.work.showallTags('u_a280853d', '88126', ''); return false;" ><span class="btntxt">show all</span></button></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'tags', 'u_a280853d', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Tags</span></div><div class="qelcontent tagcloudContainer" id="u_a280853d" style="display:block;font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Sans-serif;"><div id="ajax_work_makeworkCloud"></div></div></div><div id="u_ae41ff4a" class="quickedit light"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><div id="chrome_u_ddade884"><a href="#" onclick="return bsplay.aj('u_58450ead','u_ddade884','combo',0,0,1);"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/bsplay-0-light.png" class="icon1213 iconflip bsplay0"></a><a href="#" onclick="return bsplay.aj('u_58450ead','u_ddade884','combo',1,0,1);"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/bsplay-1-light.png" class="icon1213 iconflip bsplay1"></a></div></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'recs', 'u_ddade884', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>LibraryThing Recommendations</span></div></div><div id="u_ddade884" style="display:block" class="qelcontent_bsplay" ><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/fbloader.gif" class="fbloader"></div><div id="workpagesort_35" class="quickedit light flipped"><a name="memberrecs"></a><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><button id="u_a351ec20_snb" value="refresh" value="refresh" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn ltbtn-button-float-right btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" onclick="ajax_memberrecommendations(88126, 25); return false;" ><span class="btntxt">refresh</span></button></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'memberrecs', 'u_a351ec20', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Member recommendations</span><span class="sectionTitleST"></span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_a351ec20" style="display:block;"><div id="memberrecommendations" class="simpleSection"><ol class="memberrecommendations"><li><div class="thumbvoter" id="vote_6_64217"><span class="main"><i class="far fa-thumbs-up votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span><i class="far fa-thumbs-down votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span></span></div><a href="/work/52701" data-workid="52701" data-title="The-Best-Short-Stories-of-J-G-Ballard" class="" >The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard</a> by <a href="/author/ballardjg">J. G. Ballard</a> <span class="by">(<a href="/profile/KXF">KXF</a>)</span></li></ol></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_37" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'lists', 'u_0a6fea40', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Lists</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_0a6fea40" style="display:block"><div><a href="/list/44807/all/Books-With-the-Most-Memorable-Titles">Books With the Most Memorable Titles</a> <span class="count">(349)</span></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_40" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'willilikeit', 'u_4a88ed4e', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Will you like it?</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_4a88ed4e" style="display:block;"><div id="score"><div class="score "> <div id="lbloading">Loading...</div> <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/score-disabled.gif" width="453" height="15"><div></div><p class="text" style="margin-top: 10px;"><a href="/">Sign up</a> for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.</p></div></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_45" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'abouts', 'u_aa83c9cc', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Conversations (About links)</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_aa83c9cc" style="display:block"><p>No current <a href="/talk">Talk</a> conversations about this book.</p><p><a href="/work/88126/conversations">» See also 11 mentions</a></div></div><div id="workpagesort_50" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'reviews', 'u_35c74b05', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Member reviews</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_35c74b05" style="display:block;"><div id="wp_reviews" name="reviews"><div class="workSection"><div class="review_showing_pages"></div><div id='mainreviews_reviewnav' class='reviewnav'><div class="languagepick"><b><a href="javascript:loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false,'eng', 'profile');">English</a> (9)</b>  <a href="javascript:loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false,'ita', 'profile');">Italian</a> (1)  <a href="javascript:loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false,'all', 'profile');">All languages</a> (10)</div><div class="right"><strong><a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false, null, 'profile');return false;">date<span class="sortArrow"> ▼</span></a></strong> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,2,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false, null, 'profile'); return false;">votes</a></div>Showing 1-5 of 9 (<a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',5,0,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">next</a> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,0,3,'wp_reviews',10000,'','88126','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">show all</a>)</div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_253301058" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/88126" data-workid="88126" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX100_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX300_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>Probably would have enjoyed this more when it came out, but I don't thin kit has aged very well. Comes across now as pretty self-indulgent, and over-weighting some relatively light philosophy and satire. I did enjoy some bits but ultimately it was a slog. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss4.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_253301058" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_253301058"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_253301058" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_253301058" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_253301058"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/thisisstephenbetts" target="_top">thisisstephenbetts</a> | Nov 25, 2023 | <a href="/review/253301058"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_183798845" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/88126" data-workid="88126" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX100_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX300_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>The Quantity Theory of Insanity is Will Self's first book, and although I had previously read Cock and Bull before I picked up this text, I felt as though I was starting over with his oeuvre. Reading Self from the start, in sequence, is not a bad strategy - after all, his fiction is littered with intratextual references, recurring characters, and little in-jokes that build from one book to the next.<br><br>Self is a polarizing writer whose reputation usually precedes him. He tends to be either loved or hated as a consequence, which is unfortunate, because authors should not be judged solely on the emotional reactions they provoke. You see, Self is clever and witty and erudite in a way that only the English seem to be able to pull off. Personally, I was captivated by the stories in The Quantity Theory of Insanity. Self is not merely showing off here: his satire has real teeth, and is grounded in a fierce intellect that attempts to be revolutionary even as it acknowledges such precursors as Kafka and Chekhov.<br><br>My experience of reading the first story in here, "The North London Book of the Dead," is a perfect example of the unsettling yet amusing nature of Self's texts. What appears at first to be a tragic tale of how a man loses his mother to cancer gradually transforms itself into minor pathos. The dead don't go away altogether, the narrator discovers, they merely move to a different part of London. I was, by turns, confused and then amused as I realized the true purpose of the metaphor that Self was creating.<br><br>This biting caricature of the dullness of English life is replicated in other stories, such as "Understanding the Ur-Bororo." The story follows the career of Janner, an aspiring anthropologist who dedicates his career to studying this obscure tribe, the Ur-Bororo, winning a special grant dedicated to this specific purpose. What Janner discovers, however, is that the romance surrounding the tribe derives purely from their obscurity. In reality, they are the most boring people in the world, whose culture shows a remarkable indifference to sex and whose conversations consist of bland observations about the weather. Janner marries one of the tribe and, in a brilliant satirical twist, brings her back to England, where she fits right in.<br><br>The stories in The Quantity Theory of Insanity thus typically explore one of two themes: the unexciting, self-limiting way in which humanity tends to live life, as exemplified by the two stories mentioned already as well as the book's closer, "Waiting," and Self's exploration of madness, rationality, and power. It is in this book, for instance, that we first meet Self's most important recurring character, the experimental psychiatrist Dr. Zack Busner, together with his notorious mentor Alkan (a not-too-subtle but utterly enjoyable caricature of Jacques Lacan). This latter theme is by far the most profound and interesting, and I particularly liked "Ward 9″ (an inversion of Chekhov's "Ward 6″) and the title story, which engages in a brilliant deconstruction of psychology's attempts to legitimize itself through "objective" testing, a message that few will appreciate and even fewer will understand.<br><br>On the whole, I loved The Quantity Theory of Insanity with only a couple of reservations. The first is that I didn't like the story "Mono-Cellular," a testament to the occasional tendency of English fiction writers to overreach their abilities (I'm looking at you, A.S. Byatt). The second is that this book at times felt strangely dated, in the same way that reading literary and critical theory from the same period feels dated. I get a similar feeling when I read Self's other books, too, as if he is still trying to push the boundaries of 1980s postmodernism without realizing that the rest of the world has moved on. Nonetheless, it's wickedly clever stuff, for all its strange anachronisms, and I highly recommend it if you are in the mood for something intelligent and anarchic. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss10.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_183798845" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_183798845"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_183798845" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_183798845" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_183798845"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/vernaye" target="_top">vernaye</a> | May 23, 2020 | <a href="/review/183798845"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_67407489" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/88126" data-workid="88126" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX100_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX300_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>6 racconti, il più riuscito dà anche il titolo al libro in originale: la teoria quantitativa dell'infermità mentale, tradotto insensatamente Cordiali saluti da un mondo insano. Ipotesi rivoluzionaria: in una data società in un dato momento esiste solo una quota fissa di sanità mentale disponibile.<br>Passaggi di umorismo folgorante: ricercatori che scrivevano relazioni su la ricerca del personale per l'industria della ricerca del personale, sulla redazione di riviste interne per Le società di comunicazione.<br> Molti riferimenti comprensibili solo a chi è nato e cresciuto a Oxford. <br>Capire gli Ur-bororo sbeffeggia l'idealizzazione degli uomini primitivi con la scoperta di una tribù in amazzonia dai costumi assolutamente insulsi e noiosi. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss6.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_67407489" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_67407489"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_67407489" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_67407489" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_67407489"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/supersidvicious" target="_top">supersidvicious</a> | Sep 5, 2019 | <a href="/review/67407489"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_115726559" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/88126" data-workid="88126" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX100_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX300_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>Self knows a lot of big, old, underrated and little-used words and seems intent on using them. This collection of six short stories invites you to sample Self's rare intellect, but does so like an invitation to the gallery at the back of an auditorium for a lecture you've heard a lot about but soon realise have little hope of understanding.<br><br>Like the narrator of 'Waiting', you start well, rapt even by the wordplay, wit and intelligence, but soon Self has lost you, the rest of the book an "increasingly involved, turgid and difficult" display. Like Stein's lecture, "the sheer weight of detail eroded my attention... I began to tune out."<br><br>The copy of the book I own has a big fat stain on the back cover, a thick brown ring of coffee-tainted water. I concur that the book probably makes for a better coaster than an insight into anything Self might have to offer. Beyond the first two tales you might consider putting it to stain avoidance duties and consider yourself done with the business of reading.<br><br>If I had the option to give this 1-and-a-half stars, I'd do it. I didn't hate it, but I didn't exactly like it either. I wouldn't recommend it, unless I wanted to put someone off reading Self for life. On the other hand, if I ever read any other books by him and find they raise the bar, I might suggest reading this to really put his brilliance into perspective. 'He can sink this low, yet rise to such incredible heights... Do you see?" <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss4.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_115726559" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_115726559"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_115726559" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_115726559" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_115726559"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/PaulBaldowski" target="_top">PaulBaldowski</a> | Jan 24, 2015 | <a href="/review/115726559"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_91570543" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/88126" data-workid="88126" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX100_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0679750940.01._SX300_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>This is a collection of six short stories set mainly in Britain, in more or less contemporary times, and united by the theme of insanity. They range from the very good ("The Quantity Theory of Insanity", "Understanding the Ur-Bororo", "Ward 9"), the fairly good ("Waiting"), the mediocre ("The North London Book of the Dead"), to the truly awful ("Monocellular").<br>Ward 9, a reference to Chekhov's Ward 6, follows a somewhat similar plot, but in a modern hospital. For those who have read Chekhov's work, the ending might not come as such a surprise, and for those who haven't the turn of events will be unexpected. Also somewhat like Chekhov's short stories, there is a theme of the medical / academic world here, with three of these stories likely to be appreciated especially by those to whom this world is familiar.<br>This was my first time reading Will Self, and I was quite impressed by some of these stories, they had me reading with intent interest, not only for the plots, but for the abstract ideas behind them. Though I was disappointed with 2 of the stories, if he has written whole novels as good as the good short stories then I would be glad to read a lot more from this author. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss8.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_91570543" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_91570543"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_91570543" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_91570543" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_91570543"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/P_S_Patrick" target="_top">P_S_Patrick</a> | Jan 6, 2013 | <a href="/review/91570543"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class='reviewnav'><div class="right"><strong><a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false, null, 'profile');return false;">date<span class="sortArrow"> ▼</span></a></strong> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,2,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','',false, null, 'profile'); return false;">votes</a></div>Showing 1-5 of 9 (<a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',5,0,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','88126','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">next</a> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,0,3,'wp_reviews',10000,'','88126','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">show all</a>)</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_53" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer" style="float: right;"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Published_Reviews" class="blacklink" title="Help"><img style="vertical-align:middle;" class="helpIcon" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/helpq.png" alt="?"></a></span></span></div> <a name="publishedreviews"></a><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'mediareviews', 'u_6d622337', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Published reviews</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_6d622337" style="display:block;"><div id="mediareviews_container"><div id="mediareviews">no reviews | <a href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'workid':'88126'});return false;">add a review</a></div> </div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_56" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><a name="otherauthors"></a><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'otherauthors', 'u_177260b5', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Other authors</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_177260b5" style="display:block;"><div id="otherauthors_container"><p style="margin-top: 5px !important;"><a href="javascript:otherauthors_edit(88126)">» Add other authors (2 possible)</a></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" class="otherauthor"><tr class="head"><td>Author name</td><td>Role</td><td>Type of author</td><td>Work?</td><td>Status</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/selfwill">Will Self</a></td><td>—</td><td>primary author</td><td>all editions</td><td>calculated</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/woolleyjanet">Woolley, Janet</a></td><td>Cover artist</td><td>secondary author</td><td>some editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_57" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'relationships', 'u_8a1719dd', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Series and work relationships</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_8a1719dd" style="display:block;"><div id="seriesforwork_container"><h2>Belongs to Publisher Series</h2><div><a href="/nseries/258230/I-canguri-%5BFeltrinelli%5D" class="" >I canguri [Feltrinelli]</a></div></div><div id="relationships_container"></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_59" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'newaward', 'u_a07993a4', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Awards and Honors</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_a07993a4" style="display:block;"><div id="newawardforwork_container"><h2>Awards</h2><div id="u_97071e92" class="lt_itemlist"><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/1648/Geoffrey-Faber-Memorial-Prize" class="" >Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize</a> (<a href="/award/1648.0.0.1993/Geoffrey-Faber-Memorial-Prize-1993">1993</a>)</div></div></div><h2>Notable Lists</h2><div id="u_f52b64de" class="lt_itemlist"><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/333/St-Marks-additional-100-best-English-language-novels-of-the-XX-century" class="" >St. Mark's additional 100 best English language novels of the XX century</a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_60" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><a value="view history" value="view history" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" href="/commonknowledge/changelog.php?item=88126&type=1" ><span class="btntxt">view history</span></a></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'ck', 'u_0587a3b4', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Common Knowledge</span><span class="sectionTitleST"></span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_0587a3b4" style="display:block;"><div id="fwikiContainerTablediv"><table class="fwikiContainerTable ch1 " fn="inlineWikiItemsContent"> <tr> <td COLSPAN="2"> <div class="fwikiHint fwikiTopHint"><div class="fwikiWarningHint">You must <a href="/">log in</a> to edit Common Knowledge data.</div> For more help see the <a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Common_Knowledge">Common Knowledge help page</a>. </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicaltitle"></a>Canonical title</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_1d08233a' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='21' name='u_1d08233a' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'canonicaltitle' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Authoritative title for a work in the language of the site you are on' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicaltitle'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originaltitle"></a>Original title</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_7effcb88' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='41' name='u_7effcb88' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'originaltitle' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The original title in the original language' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginaltitle'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_alternativetitles"></a>Alternative titles</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_052ee5a5' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='42' name='u_052ee5a5' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'alternativetitles' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Avoid titles already listed as the Canonical or Original titles as well as foreign-language titles available on the "Details" tab.' ><div class='fwikiItem divalternativetitles'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=The+quantity+theory+of+insanity+%3A+together+with+five+supporting+propositions&f=42&exact=1&type=1">The quantity theory of insanity : together with five supporting propositions</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originalpublicationdate"></a>Original publication date</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField fwikiGroup' id='u_63b2ce64' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='16' name='u_63b2ce64' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'originalpublicationdate' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '1952-12-30, 1933-10, 1902, or 120 BCE' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginalpublicationdate'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=1991&f=16&exact=1&type=1">1991</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divoriginalpublicationdate'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=1995&f=16&exact=1&type=1">1995</a> <span class="fwikiAutoLinks">(<a class="fwikiAutoLink" href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=American+Edition">American Edition</a>)</span></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_characternames"></a>People/Characters</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_dfc263a4' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='3' name='u_dfc263a4' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'characternames' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Enter each character's name in a separate box. Examples: Hermione Granger, Andrew Jackson, Oberon, St. Paul of Tarsus, or Zeus (Deity)' ><div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_placesmentioned"></a>Important places</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_4d4dd7e2' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='2' name='u_4d4dd7e2' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'placesmentioned' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '"Boston, Massachusetts, USA", "London, England", "The Plaza Hotel, New York, New York, USA", "Hogwarts", "Alpha Centauri", "Hell"' ><div class='fwikiItem divplacesmentioned'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/place/Crouch+End%2C+London%2C+England%2C+UK">Crouch End, London, England, UK</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_events"></a>Important events</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_7ec4bffb' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='34' name='u_7ec4bffb' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'events' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Great Fire of London (1666), Battle of the Bulge (1944|1945), Assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963-11-22), Battle of Hoth' ><div class='fwikiItem divevents'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_movies"></a>Related movies</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_98c58164' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='37' name='u_98c58164' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'movies' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Blade Runner (1982), The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Three Musketeers (1993)' ><div class='fwikiItem divmovies'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" editVal="" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr>     <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_epigraph"></a>Epigraph</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_1cbe674d' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='28' name='u_1cbe674d' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'epigraph' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The work's epigraph, "a phrase, quotation, or poem that is set at the beginning of a document or component." ' ><div class='fwikiItem divepigraph'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >However far you may travel in this world, you will still occupy the same volume of space.<br><br>Traditional Ur-Bororo saying</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_dedication"></a>Dedication</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_25c2fb92' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='30' name='u_25c2fb92' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'dedication' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Author's dedication' ><div class='fwikiItem divdedication'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >For K.S.A.S who knows the stranger truth behind these fictions</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_firstwords"></a>First words</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_34fd67bc' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='25' name='u_34fd67bc' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'firstwords' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The first sentence of the work.' ><div class='fwikiItem divfirstwords'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >I suppose that the form my bereavement took after my mother died was fairly conventional.</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_quotations"></a>Quotations</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_75af69e1' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='27' name='u_75af69e1' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'quotations' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Well-known, relevant or interesting quotations from the work; Quotation marks are unnecessary.' ><div class='fwikiItem divquotations'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_lastwords"></a>Last words</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_e073ee86' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='26' name='u_e073ee86' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'lastwords' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The last sentence of the work. Content will be hidden unless clicked.' ><div class='fwikiItem divlastwords'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" id="u_886fa500" style="display: none; min-height:12px;" >'Yeah she was here Jim, but I think she got fed up with waiting.'</div><a href="javascript:showHiddenfieldcontent('u_886fa500')" id="link_u_886fa500">(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)</a><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_disambiguation"></a>Disambiguation notice</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_4c613536' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='13' name='u_4c613536' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'disambiguation' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Clarifications to be used by future combiners and separators, or just as information.' ><div class='fwikiItem divdisambiguation'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_series"></a>Publisher's editors</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_007de349' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='1' name='u_007de349' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'literaryeditors' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Publisher's or acquiring editor' ><div class='fwikiItem divliteraryeditors'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_blubers"></a>Blurbers</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField fwikiGroup' id='u_7f0ae51c' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='29' name='u_7f0ae51c' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'blurbers' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Who blurbed the book? A blurb is defined as a super-short review, done before the book is published or reviewed professionally. As Rachael Donadio wrote, "Book blurbs are a tangled mass of friendships, rivalries, favors traded and debts repaid, not always in good faith." This field aims to capture that tangle! <b>Note:</b> Please enter only the names of people, not publications. Use the form: Lastname, Firstname.' ><div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Rendell%2C+Ruth&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Rendell, Ruth</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Amis%2C+Martin&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Amis, Martin</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Shrapnel%2C+Norman&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Shrapnel, Norman</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Lessing%2C+Doris&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Lessing, Doris</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Bainbridge%2C+Beryl&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Bainbridge, Beryl</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class="itemnumberoverflow" id="link_u_48852f33">(<a href="javascript:showHiddenfieldcontent('u_48852f33')">show all 8 items</a>)</div><div id="u_48852f33" style="display: none;"><div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Shone%2C+Tom&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Shone, Tom</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Hornby%2C+Nick&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Hornby, Nick</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Mango%2C+R+P&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Mango, R P</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </div></td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originallanguage"></a>Original language</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_f0982f0a' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='58' name='u_f0982f0a' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'originallanguage' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginallanguage'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicalddc"></a>Canonical DDC/MDS</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_b2b3c3e7' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='61' name='u_b2b3c3e7' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'canonicalddc' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Best consensus choice within the Melvil Decimal Classification System' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicalddc'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicallcc"></a>Canonical LCC</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_96bdb047' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='66' name='u_96bdb047' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'canonicallcc' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Best consensus choice within the Library of Congress Classification system' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicallcc'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_65" class="quickedit light flipped"><a class="nooffset" name="references"></a><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'references', 'u_c69cc12b', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>References</span></div><div class="qelcontent references alwaysblue" id="u_c69cc12b" style="display:block;"><p>References to this work on external resources.</p><h2><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/favicon_wikipedia.gif" class="icon">Wikipedia in English (1)</h2><div class="showmore" id="1327363958"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" class="autotable"><tr><td style="width: 33%"><p><a href="#" onclick="return load_externalresources(6135429);" rel="nofollow">The Quantity Theory of Insanity</a></p></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_80" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'desc', 'u_06970ddd', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Book descriptions</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_06970ddd" style="display:block;">What if there is only a limited amount of sanity in the world and the real reason people go mad is because somebody has to? What if a mysterious tribe in the Amazon rainforest turn out to be the most boring people on earth? What if the afterlife is nothing more than a London suburb, where the dead get new flats, new jobs, and their own telephone directory? These are the sort of truths that emerge in this collection of stories by one of England's most gifted writers. In The Quantity Theory of Insanity, Will Self tips over the banal surfaces of everyday existence to uncover the hideous, the hilarious, and the bizarre. Psychiatry, anthropology, theology-and literature-will never be the same.</div></div><div id="workpagesort_25" class="quickedit light"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'libdesc', 'u_d46f06bc', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Library descriptions</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_d46f06bc" style="display:block;"><p>No library descriptions found.</p></div></div><div id="workpagesort_70" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Common_Knowledge#LibraryThing_members.27_description" class="blacklink" title="Help"><img style="vertical-align:middle;" class="helpIcon" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/helpq.png" alt="?"></a></span></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'ckdesc', 'u_d5ab622c', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>LibraryThing members' description</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_d5ab622c" style="display:block;"> <div class="workSection"> <table class="fwikiContainerTable ch2"> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel">Book description</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_e880c2d6' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='14' name='u_e880c2d6' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'description' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'This is a general description. It is not a review.' ><div class='fwikiItem divdescription'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div> <a name="haiku"></a> <div class="workSection"> <table class="fwikiContainerTable ch2"> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel">Haiku summary</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_4f6824a9' itemType='1' itemNum='88126' fieldType='57' name='u_4f6824a9' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'haikusummary' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Add a summary or other appreciation in haiku form (17 syllables; 5/7/5); include your member name in parentheses.' ><div class='fwikiItem divhaikusummary'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div> </div></div> </td> <td class="right"> <div class="greenbox currentdiscussions" style="position: relative;"><h2>Current Discussions</h2>None</div><div class="greenbox popularcovers"><h2>Popular covers</h2><div id="popularcovers"></div></div><div id="buyborrowswapbox" class="greenbox bluntbottom"><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr><td><h2 class="first">Quick Links</h2></td><td width="20px"></td></tr></table><div class="quicklinks_in_greenbox"><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="500:395"><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 500, 395);"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-1.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 500, 395);">Amazon.com</a> (<a href="#" blurb="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679750940/ref=nosim/librarythin06-20" onclick="recordquicklink('https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2FASIN%2F0679750940%2Fref%3Dnosim%2Flibrarythin06-20');">direct</a>)</div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="500:388"><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 500, 388);"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-1.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 500, 388);">Abebooks.com</a></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:6"><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.amazon.com/');"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.amazon.com/');">Amazon Kindle</a> <span class="detail gray">(0 editions)</span></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:7"><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.audible.com/');"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.audible.com/');">Audible</a> <span class="detail gray">(0 editions)</span></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:19"><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.amazon.com/');"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.amazon.com/');">CD Audiobook</a> <span class="detail gray">(0 editions)</span></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:2"><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.gutenberg.org');"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.gutenberg.org');">Project Gutenberg</a> <span class="detail gray">(0 editions)</span></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:0"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.5-off.gif"><span class=" gtb-googlebooks-title">Google Books</span> — <span class="gbssummary">Loading...</span></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="700:1"><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 700, 1);"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-1.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:eda(88126, 700, 1);">WorldCat</a></div></div></div><div id="getthisbooklinks" class="greenbox blunttop"><div class="ql_printdisplay_line"><div class="ql_printdisplay_line"><a href="/work/88126/get#swap"><img class="ql_iconthing" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/fugue/arrow-circle-double.png" alt=""></a><a class="alwaysblue" href="/work/88126/get#swap">Swap</a> <span class="detail gray">(1 have, 14 want)</span></div></div></div><div class="greenbox genrething"><h2 class="first">Genres</h2><div id="genregreenbox"><div class="genreline"><div class="text"><a href="/genre/8/General-Fiction" class="" >General Fiction</a></div><div class="chartline2" style="min-width:200px;height:20px" ><span style="width:78%"></span></div></div> <div class="genreline"><div class="text"><a href="/genre/58/Fiction-and-Literature" class="" >Fiction and Literature</a></div><div class="chartline2" style="min-width:200px;height:20px" ><span style="width:78%"></span></div></div></div><h2 style="margin-top: 2em;" class="" >Melvil Decimal System (DDC)</h2><span class="cattype_label ddc"><a href="/mds/823.914">823.914</a></span><a class="bluelink cattype_item" href="/mds/823.914">Literature <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> English & Old English literatures <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> English fiction <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> 1900- <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> 1901-1999 <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> 1945-1999</a><h2 class="" >LC Classification</h2><div class="cattype_item"><span class="cattype_label lcc"><a href="/lcc/PR6069.E3654" class="" >PR6069.E3654</a></span><span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/P" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">Language and Literature</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">English</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR0-10000" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">English Literature</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR6050-6076" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">1961-2000</span></span></a></div></div> <div class="greenbox"> <h2>Rating</h2>Average: <nobr><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss7.gif" style="margin-bottom: -2px;"> <span class="work_hint">(3.58)</span></nobr><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 class="greenbar"><tr><td class='gbl'>0.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=2> 1</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>1</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=6> 3</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>1.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=2> 1</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>2</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=19> 10</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>2.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=6> 3</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>3</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=82> 44</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>3.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=13> 7</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>4</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=110> 59</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>4.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=9> 5</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=37> 20</td></tr></table> </div> <div class="greenbox"> <h2 class="first">Is this you?</h2> <p class="last">Become a <a href="/author_claim.php?work=88126">LibraryThing Author</a>.</p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> <p style="clear: both;"> </p> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/card5.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/reviewMods.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js/work.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/commonknowledge/fwiki.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/book.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js/editreviews.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js/sharing.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/collections.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/work.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/booklocation.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/booklocation_lt2.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/catalogandworkpage.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/covers_lb.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/getItLocal.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com//js2/work_recommendations.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/autocomplete.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/bsplay.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/circulation.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/catalog_circulation.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://image.librarything.com/js/jquery-ui-1.12.1/jquery-ui.min.js?v=2" type="text/javascript" flag_fte="1" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/bsplay.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/section_reorder.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/jquery-extensions.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/jquery.ui.touch-punch.min.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/newcover_change.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/workbench.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js2/nseries.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.librarything.com/js/arbitrarypics.js?5301" flag_fte="2" static_host="https://www.librarything.com/" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">if (window.jQuery && (typeof $J == 'undefined')) { $J = jQuery.noConflict();} </script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-3FXSBC8C5V"></script> <script> window.lt2_prod = 'lt2'; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} if (window.lt2_prod === 'talpa') { gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': 'granted', 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'granted' }); } else { let consent_settingsA = {"ad_storage":"denied","analytics_storage":"denied"}; var consent_setting = 'denied'; gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': consent_settingsA.ad_storage, 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': consent_settingsA.analytics_storage }); } gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-3FXSBC8C5V'); //gtag('config', 'LTNonMember'); // global_domain = </script> <div class="bottombar"><a href="/about" target="_top">About</a> | <a href="/contact" target="_top">Contact</a> | <a href="/privacy" target="_top">Privacy/Terms</a> | <a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Help_and_FAQ" target="_top">Help/FAQs</a> | <a href="https://blog.librarything.com/main/" target="_top">Blog</a> | <a href="/more/store" target="_top">Store</a> | <a href="/APIs_and_Feeds.php" target="_top">APIs</a> | <a href="https://www.librarycat.org" target="_top">TinyCat</a> | <a target="_top" href="/legacylibraries">Legacy Libraries</a> | <a target="_top" href="/er/list">Early Reviewers</a> | <a target="_top" href="/commonknowledge/">Common Knowledge</a> | <a href="/zeitgeist" target="_top">215,035,237 books!</a> | <a href="/togglescrolling.php" target="_top">Top bar: Always visible</a><div class="copyright">Copyright LibraryThing and/or members of LibraryThing, authors, publishers, libraries, cover designers, Amazon, Bol, Bruna, etc. </div></div><a name="bottom"></a> <script data-source="inc_librarything.print_scriptlines_lt1.1" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> $J(function() { ajax_work_makeworkCloud(88126, 2408319375) bsplay.aj('u_58450ead','u_ddade884','combo',0,0) load_popularcovers(88126,0) }); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var hideIfNoGoogleInfo = 0;</script><script type="text/javascript">LibraryThing.deferedJS('https://books.google.com/books?jscmd=viewapi&bibkeys=LCCN:94037548,LCCN:95045867,ISBN:0679750940,ISBN:0140234012,ISBN:0747582319,ISBN:087113585X,ISBN:074751013X,ISBN:0747516650,ISBN:0747514690,ISBN:140882745X,ISBN:0802121462,ISBN:287929083X,ISBN:3499224143,ISBN:2020497506,ISBN:8807700689,ISBN:9985034015,ISBN:1408838478,ISBN:0802193331,ISBN:3630870406,ISBN:0140294546&callback=ProcessGBSBookInfo');</script> <span id="ltworkisbn" style="display: none;">679750940</span> <div id="problemcoverreporter"></div> <script>(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'8f1a10afbfb7f8ee',t:'MTczNDEzNjAxNy4wMDAwMDA='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.nonce='';a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();</script></body> </html>