Banana pudding is delightful!

Which four books exist because of John Hodgman? The three that list him as author (Areas of my Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That is All) and Bruce Campbell's autobiography (If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-movie Actor), because Hodgman was his literary agent.

Clearly, All and More. The Areas of My Expertise. And finally, let's go with The Curse of the Masking Tape Mummy.

If Chins Could Kill
More
Watchmen
Soon I Will Be Invincible

Just a wild stab in the dark, which is what you'll be getting if I'm not the the winner (to paraphrase Edmund, Lord Blackadder):

Hodgman actually wrote "The Areas of My Expertise", "More Information Than You Require" and "That Is All".

The other book is your own "Curse of the Masking Tape Mummy". Hodgman's attempt to compile all human knowledge paralleled your own attempt to establish a set of "Basic Instructions".

Plus, the "Adventures of Rocket Hat across the 8th Dimension", which is pretty much Flash Gordon without the Queen soundtrack.

--Long time reader, first time poster--

I premise I never heard John Hodgman. I looked him up on Wikipedia thanks to this post. Now the books are, I guess: ""All"", ""More"", "The areas of my expertise" (because it's in the middle between the two) and "The curse of the masking tape mummy" (because you ask). :-)

Trick question. All of them. Or none. I can't decide.

Well obviously he'd be reading them on an iPad

Re: the contest--I'm not going to over-think this (or even turn my head sideways.) There are three Hodgman books on the left. The obvious choice for the fourth work is The Curse of the Masking-Tape Mummy. Either John inspired Scott, wrote the forward, both or there is some connection that I haven't thought of.

Thanks for the bonus chuckle of promoting your anti-Amercan football T-shirt on this most holy of days. And the double bonus chuckle of admitting your utter lack of knowledge of all things pigskin. Now, excuse me. I think I'm missing some amusing ads as I write this.

The Complete World Knowledge trilogy ("Areas", "More" And "All") and If Chins Could Kill. John Hodgman is a Former Literary Agent, after all, and was one for Bruce Campbell.

OK, the simple presence of this comment satisfies your requirement.

Now, for bonus points, I will guess the three obvious choices - Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, plus your book The Curse of the Masking Tape Mummy.

Sooo many points for having a copy of "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul".

ALL OF THEM.

Are you implying that "cruel and selfish" is the opposite of "normal" in this universe?

You know, I have no idea, but I DO have a signed copy of "If Chins Could Kill" and "How to Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way." I commend your taste, good sir.

First, let me say congrats on your 3rd book. Been following and enjoying your work since "the Scott Adams episode."

Second, the answer to your question... Well, obviously Hodgman's 3 books exist because of him (Areas of my Expertise, More Information than you Require, That Is All)... the 4th stumped me for a bit. Figured I could discount Douglas Adams' oeuvre, since it was out while JH was still a kid... Same with whatever Hunter S. Thompson is behind the idol. Batman is older than JH, and Watchmen came out during his teen years, so those were out as well... Leaving Bruce Campbell's book and Austin Grossman's. Well, I knew who Bruce was, but wasn't familiar with Austin, so I turned to that great compendium of reasonably-accurate human knowledge, Wikipedia. A quick scan of Hodgman's entry didn't turn up any mention of another published work... I was about to flip a coin but then I read the Wikipedia entry carefully and discovered that Hodgman was Campbell's literary agent. Small world!

Oh, wait... the answer need not be correct? Well damn...

I have no idea, so I guess I'll have to buy my own copy of the book, but... is your idol giving birth?! To what?

John Hodgman was one of the Illuminati! Therefore, none of the books could exist without his approval.

Your books don't appear to be organized by either title, author, or colour and this bothers me more than it probably should.

I'm going to go against the grain and say that John Hodgman is the true name of both Douglas Adams and Hunter S Thompson. So, those are the books that exist because of him.

Well, the three books by him, of course... I'll just guess "Watchmen" assuming I'm wrong.

Trick question! Its the Idol right?!

3/4 are the books written by John Hogdman. I will also guess that the 4th is The Curse of the Masking Tape Mummy

I'm going with the three he wrote: ("Areas", "More" And "All") and If Chins Could Kill, solely on the basis of two other comments claiming John Hodgman was Bruce Campbell's literary agent. I trust you guys!

None of them. He may have written the words to some of them, but the actual production process was down to a ton of other people, most of who remain unmentioned even w/in the publications, from printer-shop factor workers, and wood-pulpers, to the more likely to be credited editors, publishers, but also including the freight shippers to get them from the factor to your book store or online supplier and the employees of the same who helped change your money into the finished product. So you can see Mr. Hodgman's contribution to the production of any of these books, even the ones he authored, is relatively slim.

I always thought "Dirk Gently's" was better than "Long Dark Teatime", but you have them both so you win.

Hmm. Is it "Mauve"? No, wait - "Periwinkle"! Yep, that's it - periwinkle.

If Chins Could Kill
More
Watchmen
Soon I Will Be Invincible

Love your stuff man!

Man, that's a clever strip. Bravo!

I have no idea who John Hodgman is in reality, but he's the boss of Hobopolis in the Kingdom of Loathing, an imaginary hobo city you access from the sewers in the clan basement. Oh, you really don't need to hear any more. However, I do appreciate all the Douglas Adams books on display, and have read all of them -- several times, in fact. And that's about all I have to say. Thanks for your comic. I think it's grand!

None of them. John Hodgman had nothing to do with any of those books. Everything is a lie.

Re: Contest: The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, That is All and, my random shot in the dark, Soon I Will Be Invicible, since that would seem right up Mr. Hodgman's literary alley. I've only had the pleasure of reading the first book and unfortunately not even heard the audio version of it. Johnathon Coulton's random stylings makes it all the more worthwhile. :3

And of course, Jon Hodgman makes regular appearances on The 700 Club. Scott, how do you notify us that we won if we don't leave an email address? And, if I leave an email address on the comment form, will it be accessible to everyone, or kept private?

I don't know. But I can't help but admire your taste - not only Hitchhiker's Guide, but both Dirk Gently novels as well.

Okay, my book's not on that shelf, and even in the mirror universe it wouldn't be -- 'cause in that universe, I'm doing something else.

In this one, I haven't written it yet.

B-)

Stay crunchy.

All of them in the mirror universe

Your football shirt is hilarious and I say that as a fan of all three kinds of football (soccer, American, and Canadian).

And for the contest I'll guess the 4 standing books on the left (no real clue here).

Greg

4 of them?

Areas of my Expertise, More Information Than You Require, That is All, and If Chins Could Kill.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster would want you to pick me as the winner, Scott.

I've often wondered if I live in the Mirror Universe... it would explain a lot of things. And I do sport a goatee. Hmm...

As for the books, the three on the left, obviously, and though I like the idea that your latest book was inspired by the same, I'll go along with the others who suggested Bruce Campbell's book. (I'm WAY behind in my reading, but I like Bruce Campbell, so I presume it's well worth the read... should I bump it up to the top of the 'to read ASAP' list?)