Bookplanet: Penis--the organ that changed the world

'In 1999 Mark Kurlanksy wrote a book that set off the fashion for what Waterstone's categorises as "biographies of things", called "Cod: a biography of the fish that changed the world." But not only did Kurlansky start a new trend in subjects - he went on to write a follow-up called Salt, and is rumoured to be working on Chips - but he also began a new and metaphysically dubious trend in subtitles. Now each new biography of a thing thrusts itself on the reader with the justification that it was so vitally important that it transformed the planet. The style, "X: the [thing] that changed the world", is now entrenched throughout the land. According to the trade press, a whole army of "changed the world" titles is ready to be launched. In September we will be able to buy a book on concerts subtitled "gigs that changed the world". In June we can get our hands on a book about the sheep that changed the world. And next month there's the chance to buy a book on gunpowder, the explosive that changed the world (presumably by blowing up bits of it). The list goes on and on - anyone fancy a forthcoming text with the subtitle "the 1976 wine tasting that changed the world"?' More here.