Book Categories Puzzle

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant Barrett.

And I’m Martha Barnette. And joining us on the line is John Chaneski from New York City. John, hello.

Hi, Martha. Hi, Grant. Here I am.

What’s up, buddy? You got a puzzle? Got something for us?

I love going to bookstores because you can just get lost and stumble upon all sorts of stuff.

But if you go to Amazon, though, everything is massively well-organized, maybe a little too organized.

All the books are categorized in 35 different catch-all departments.

Now, nevertheless, most departments do double duty.

For example, the books I, Robot by Isaac Asimov and A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin aren’t in science fiction or fantasy, but the combined department, science fiction and fantasy.

All right?

Okay.

I’ll give you two books.

You tell me the single double-titled Amazon department you’ll find them in.

And I’ll try to give you a book that would exemplify each half of the department.

And in the spirit of duality, I’ll let you have a total of two guesses between the two of you.

So make them count.

Okay?

I see.

Okay.

Here we go.

Here’s the first category.

The books are Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig.

Self-help?

I don’t know.

Self-help improvement?

I don’t know.

Self-improvement?

No, remember, it’s a double category.

So it’s something and something.

There’s ampersand in every one of these.

So Inside Scientology and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Self-help and religion.

I don’t know.

Religion is one of them.

Religion and spirituality.

Yes, religion and spirituality.

Very good.

Okay.

Now we’ll be rolling now.

Okay.

Here’s the next one.

Hack Attacks Revealed by John Chirillo and Kindle Fire Owner’s Manual by Steve Weber.

Computers and Technology?

Yes, perfectly.

That sounds good.

Computers and technology is right.

You can tell which part of Amazon I spend more time on.

There you go.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp.

And Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray.

Parenting.

And?

And?

Family.

Relationships.

Yes, Parenting and Relationships.

Very good.

Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie.

And Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised by the editors.

Education and Reference?

Yes, perfect.

Education and Reference.

Well done.

Barron’s AP Biology, fourth edition by Deborah Goldberg.

And The Joy of X by Stephen Strogatz.

Science.

And?

And Joy of X, mathematics.

Yes, science and math.

Very good.

All right.

Ball Four by Jim Boughton.

And The Warbler Guide by Tom Stevenson and Scott Whittle.

Sports and hobbies?

Sports and?

Outdoors.

Sports and outdoors.

Yes, very good.

Finally, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

And The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

Oh, Young Adult.

That’s the second one.

Blank and Young Adult.

Kids and Young Adult?

Children and Young Adult?

Stuff you get assigned in high school.

Go a little older.

Older than young adults?

Old adults and young adults.

Go in between.

Teens and young adults.

Teens, yes.

Teens and young adults.

Oh, man.

Well done.

All right, John, thanks.

I hope everything is going well for you in New York City.

Give our love to the family, all right?

Terrific.

Will do.

Thank you.

You too.

If you have something to share, a story to tell about language, you can call us at 877-929-9673 or send it an email to words@waywordradio.org and find us on our Facebook page.