This weekend I came across a classic find for only 50 cents. I have only been able to read over the first few pages, but so far this book is extremely interesting.
"My name is Sherlock Homes. It is my business to know what other people don't know."
-- Sherlock Homes in "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" (1892)
Are you Sherlocked? Do you wish to hone your thinking and observational skills to meet the high standard set by Sherlock Holmes? Maybe you want to learn how to better deal with friends and relations? Or, having tried that, maybe you now wish to learn how to disguise yourself or to fake your own death? Or perhaps you just want to learn how to crack your employer's safe? If so, you'll like Ransom Riggs' book, The Sherlock Holmes Handbook: Methods and Mysteries of the World's Greatest Detective.
Divided into three parts -- detective skills, survival skills and life skills -- this small hardcover is comprised of a series of short articles about very specifically-defined topics that were described in one or more of the stories about the mythical consulting detective. It's actually written much like a published collection of blog essays -- which should not be a surprise, considering that the author was a "blogger" and regular contributor to mental_floss magazine at the time this book was written and published.
Described by the author as an "irreference" -- an "irreverent reference" or a collection of "real information that also entertains or amuses" -- this amusing book is actually educational, too. For example, I never knew the difference between Webley and pepperbox revolvers, although now I could easily identify them both. Also explained are valuable skills, such as how to outwit a criminal mastermind, how to locate a secret chamber and how to survive a plunge over a waterfall.
As you gain a more complete Holmesian education, you will also learn details of minuteæ associated with the world's favourite detective, such as; did Holmes ever smile, chuckle or laugh? What was Holmes' philosophy for managing children? Why did Holmes never marry? Did Holmes often exclaim, "Elementary, my dear Watson!" Even more important, you will even learn how to raise honeybees! Well, you'll gain a passing familiarity with how Holmes raised his "little winged gangs".
The book includes some artwork by Eugene Smith, such as drawings of the aforementioned revolvers as well as a number of other useful black-and-white sketches. (The drawings of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson were less inspired.) There are several appendices; one briefly presents the life and times of Sherlock Holmes creator and author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; another is a short a collection of the wit and wisdom of Sherlock Holmes, and of course, there's a complete Sherlock Holmes Canon.
This book will be enjoyed by Holmes fans of all ages -- although libraries may wish to avoid it since the subject makes it irresistible to fans and its small size may sorely tempt otherwise law-abiding patrons. This book fits nicely into a coat pocket, purse or into one hand and the short essays make it ideal for reading on public transit or whilst perched atop the porcelain throne.
