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TOUCHSTONE

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright © 2015 by Gregory Proops

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Touchstone Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Touchstone hardcover edition May 2015

TOUCHSTONE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Jacket design by Pete Garceau

Jacket photograph by Andrew Stapp

Sunglasses design by Jennifer Canaga

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Proops, Greg.

The smartest book in the world : a lexicon of literacy, a rancorous reportage, a concise curriculum of cool / Greg Proops ; illustrations by Jennifer Canaga.—First Touchstone hardcover edition.

pages cm

1. American wit and humor. I. Title.

PN6165.P76 2015

818'.602—dc23

2014038428

ISBN 978-1-4767-4704-0

ISBN 978-1-4767-4706-4 (ebook)