I received a notice recently of the availability of Medicare for Dummies, Second Edition.
For only $19.99, I can find out:
- When I should sign up for Medicare
- What Medicare covers
- What Medicare costs
- How Medicare works with other health benefits.
All of this information is undoubtedly useful, especially for an aging population in need of such advice. The “For Dummies” book franchise now has over 2500 titles. As stated in Wikipedia, “For Dummies is an extensive series of instructional/reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. The series has been a worldwide success with editions in numerous languages.”
But Medicare for Dummies just strikes a non-resonant chord. It raises the question* of what is next for a dummy like me. Besides the obvious – Retirement for Dummies, Medicaid for Dummies – there is the illogical step to:
- Walking and Chewing Gum for Dummies
- Answering the Phone for Dummies
- Monday for Dummies (part one of a seven part series)
- Poverty and Homelessness for Dummies
- Borderline Hysteria for Dummies
- Terminal Cancer for Dummies
- Death for Dummies
- and
- How to be a Dummy for Dummies.
I should have realized that there is already a Blogging for Dummies, Facebook for Dummies and Twitter for Dummies. There is also Critical Thinking for Dummies which appears to be a contradiction in terms.
It’s only a matter of time before you can enroll in For Dummies University (FDU) where you can graduate Magna cum Stultus.
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*Dr. Language Guy applauds the use of “raises the question” versus “begs the question” and refers readers to several diatribes articles on this subject.
http://philosophy.avemaria.edu/post/29691374480/begging-the-question-vs-raising-the-question
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/begs-the-question?page=all
Curmudgeon at Large 
Reblogged this on that little voice and commented:
Not only is this blog funny, but some of the responses are hilarious. If you are ‘of age’ , you’ll enjoy the read from https://curmudgeon-at-large.com/2015/11/24/for-dummies/.
Thanks for the re-blog.
Oh, what about Enjoying Being A Dummy for Dummies?
I don’t know about the other dummies but I enjoy it.
Every year, MediCare sends us phone-book sized information about the program which I dutifully file in the closet and throw last year’s away. I think we need a Bureaucracy for Dummies. (But who would write it?)
Would Bureaucracy for Dummies look like this?
Yes, by George I think you’ve found it! LOL
I’d love to leave an intelligent comment, but unfortunately I haven’t read “Intelligence for Dummies” yet…
I assure you that it is a very thin book.
Hum, I want a copy of, “Walking and Chewing Gum for Dummies.” I’ve always wanted to try that…
You may need to take it one step (chew) at a time. First, Walking for Dummies followed by Chewing Gum for Dummies…
You forgot ‘Grandparenting for Dummies’, ‘Loaning Money to Your Kids for Dummies’, and ‘Knee and Hip Replacement for Dummies’ – all books I’m sure those of us ‘of a certain age’ will need at one time or another.
There are the corresponding books: Suckering your Grandparents for Dummies; Loan Sharking your Parents for Dummies; and Performing Orthopedic Surgery for Dummies.
I agree. And I worry that we would have to read all these Dummies books if we want to be smarter than the average dummy.
I am currently reading How to Read Dummy Books for Dummies.