While browsing the web for my favorite graphite sticks (I prefer the rectangular shaped ones instead of the square cross-section sticks. I like my gray swaths on the wide side) I stumbled across what may be the most arcane author in existence: Philip M. Parker. Never heard of him? Neither had I. But I found him today and am suddenly a fan, thoroughly smitten by this Renaissance Man’s literary output (and wishing I could afford to read it).
His books start at $495. That’s for paperback.
Parker appears to be a polymath for our times. His interests are breathtakingly broad. The titles alone are a feast for the hungry mind:
The 2007-2012 Outlook for Lemon-Flavored Bottled Water in Japan
The 2007-2012 Outlook for Public Building Stacking Chairs Excluding Bar, Bowling Center, Cafeteria, Library, Restaurant, and School Stacking Chairs in India (Paperback)
The 2007-2012 Outlook for Year-Round Unitary Single Package and Remote-Condenser Air Conditioners with at Least 640,000 BTU Per Hour Excluding Heat Pumps in Japan
The 2007-2012 World Outlook for Non-Mechanical Wood-Cased Pencils and Graphite and Colored Sticks
(that’s the one I stumbled across while searching for graphite – it goes for a steep $795- with free shipping- on Amazon.com)
The Product Description is nice:
This study covers the world outlook for non-mechanical wood-cased pencils and graphite and colored sticks across more than 200 countries. For each year reported, estimates are given for the latent demand, or potential industry earnings (P.I.E.), for the country in question (in millions of U.S. dollars), the percent share the country is of the region and of the globe. These comparative benchmarks allow the reader to quickly gauge a country vis-à-vis others. Using econometric models which project fundamental economic dynamics within each country and across countries, latent demand estimates are created. This report does not discuss the specific players in the market serving the latent demand, nor specific details at the product level. The study also does not consider short-term cyclicalities that might affect realized sales. The study, therefore, is strategic in nature, taking an aggregate and long-run view, irrespective of the players or products involved.
Be sure you check out the “Customers who viewed this product” scroll at the bottom.
I am such a fan. Check it out.
Drawing The Motmot 
How to Raise Your IQ by Eating Children! Is that a best seller??? And the life-sized Palin Poster – a bargain at $40!
It must not be a best seller; it’s marked down. The concept didn’t catch on, I think.
So I’m guessing these are marketing forecast reports? I’ve shopped for them before … they’re all way damn expensive. His do cover quite the range of interests…
I was hoping these were meant as satire, but you never know. Marketing forecasts are quite a niche market, aren’t they?
By the way, I’m not advocating anything here…
Another you might enjoy. A bit pricey, though, so you may want to track down a used copy:
http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Coupling-Constants-Silicon-29-Landolt-Bornstein/dp/354045277X/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/186-4175045-3912365
Be sure to check out the reviews at the bottom of the page. Priceless.
Wonderful, Jo, if a bit on the rich side for an artist’s budget. Sounds like a gripping read, but if you can’t buy the book, the customer’s reviews are minor masterpieces.
Even more interestingly, looking at his Wikipedia page suggests that all of his (107,000) books are created by a piece of software which automatically generates his books from info on the internet!