The Official Rules

1978, first edition, from Delacorte
Paul Dickson
Illustrated by Kenneth Tiews
The Official Rules
Original and purchase price unknown
Good condition hardcover with worn dustjacket
B+

This hilarious collection of Murphy's Laws and similar is surprisingly undated.  (It is though the first of my books to mention Jimmy Carter.)  "The real world" hasn't changed all that much, and the observations on technology, for instance, have actually become truer.  The book does wear thin after awhile, since there are many similar rules, laws, principles, etc., and they're arranged alphabetically.  Still, there's much here that's very tempting to quote, but I'll limit myself to one, "Expert Advice, The First Law of: Don't ask the barber whether you need a haircut," which clearly applies to more than hair.  The illustrations by Tiews don't really add much to the book, but they don't detract either.