Hogwarts Textbooks

[David]

No: HPFGUIDX 28437

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., linman6868 at a... wrote:
> Hey, guys, sorry this is a week late, but I was kinda praying to 
the 
> porcelain god on the night I was going to write it, and it took a 
while to 
> get better.  

Hope you are feeling all right, Lisa.  In atheistic Britain we say 
talking on the big white telephone.

Nice summary
> 
> Questions:
> 
> 1. If you were writing a wizarding textbook, what would yours be 
called, and 
> what would your pen name be?  

Magical Experimental Philosophy, by Selwyn Dingleberry.
Also, I couldn't do this, but there is clearly a need for the 
definitive guide to Quodpot.

> 2. Do you suppose the Hogwarts textbooks are like ours nowadays, 
with chapter 
> units and comprehension questions, and an annotated teachers' 
edition?  Or 
> are they different?

I agree totally with John on this, except to say that they have lots 
of humour in them too.  Look at the Lethifold footnote in FB.  Think 
about Wendelin the Weird.
> 
> 3. How do you think the choosing process works at Hogwarts?  
Obviously, 
> Lockhart was able to demand that his students buy all his books, 
but surely 
> other professors, such as Snape and Sprout, would have to 
coordinate their 
> choices?  Does Dumbledore have a say in it?

The MOM wouldn't get a look-in.  Teachers might coordinate but I'm 
sure they are all allowed to insist on books if they want them.  I am 
looking forward to seeing Dumbledore take lessons (Magical Theology 
or Advanced Study of Magical Books) in the last two books.
> 
> 4. Wizards seem to write their books based on field experience.  
Are there 
> fields in which one doesn't need experience to compile a textbook?

Well, Lockhart did it.  But I imagine the practical attitude to 
detentions and all the lessons extends to authorship too.

David