‘The Commuter Pig Keeper’ wins 2017 Diagram Prize

28 July 2017 Books+Publishing

The Commuter Pig Keeper: A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Pigs when Time is your Most Precious Commodity (Michaela Giles, Old Pond Publishing) has won the 2017 Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year, presented by the Bookseller.

Giles’ book captured 40% of the public vote, and saw off the four other shortlisted titles, including Renniks Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Coin Errors: The Premier Guide for Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Coin Errors (Ian McConnelly), which was a close second with 32.7% of the vote.

Giles said she was ‘beyond excited’ to win the prize—‘especially as I was informed immediately after winning Supreme Champion Pig at the Weald and Downland Rare Breed Show held in Singleton West Sussex!’

Bookseller diarist Horace Bent described it as a ‘classic almost throwback year as it reflects Diagram voters’ long-held love—bordering on unhealthy obsession—of titles with farming or animal husbandry themes’.

No monetary award is given to the winning author, but a traditional bottle of claret will be given to Jeff Wilson, who nominated the winning entry.

Category: International news