Little Blue Book Legacy Debated in Community

Community forums are buzzing with discussions about the historical "Little Blue Book" series, a collection of inexpensive booklets. Residents are invited to contribute their knowledge and edit articles related to these influential publications.

One contributor, Toraichi, shared a personal account from the 1930s, describing how they used the 5-cent booklets to self-teach algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Toraichi noted the content was comparable to school textbooks, though formal night courses were necessary for college credit. Following World War II military service, this individual later pursued calculus.

Discussions also consider merging the "Little Blue Book" article with information on E. Haldeman-Julius due to overlapping content. The need to expand on the "Big Blue Book" series, larger counterparts to the "Little Blue Books," was also raised. A prior attempt to create a dedicated "Big Blue Book" article reportedly redirected content to a bicycling article, leaving "Big Blue Book" as a minimal stub.

Questions have arisen regarding the attribution of the publishing company's decline solely to J. Edgar Hoover. Contributors suggest that "changing tastes of the American public" and increased competition from television offer more accurate explanations for the decline in general interest titles.