‘The Joy of Waterboiling’ wins 2018 Diagram Prize

The Joy of Waterboiling (Achse Verlag) has won the 2018 Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year presented by the Bookseller.

The German cookbook is a guide to the preparation of classic, modern and contemporary dishes in a kettle, with artwork by Soso Phist. The title captured 56% of the public vote—the biggest winning share since Cooking with Poo grabbed the crown in 2014.

Bookseller diarist Horace Bent said, ‘I am delighted to announce that, for the first time in the 40-year life of the world’s most prestigious literary gong, a foreign-language tome … has won.’ Bent added that although the book is a ‘German-language text, it is eligible for Diagram consideration as only a book’s title need be in English’.

The Joy of Waterboiling was shortlisted among titles such as Equine Dry Needling, Jesus on Gardening, and Why Sell Tacos in Africa?

The winner of the award does not receive a prize. However, a member of the public who votes for the eventual winner receives a ‘passable bottle of claret’.

Last year’s winner was The Commuter Pig Keeper: A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Pigs when Time is Your Most Precious Commodity (Michaela Giles, Old Pond Publishing).

Category: International news