Headless Body in Topless Bar: The Best Headlines from America's Favorite Newspaper    by Staff of the New York Post Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2008 (2008) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Belle Dessler The New York Post is known for doing whatever it takes to attract a reader's attention. After all, isn't it the goal of all major newspapers to keep readers enthralled, engaged and entertained? Although some critics disagree with the Post's methods, no one can argue with their success. Over the course of the paper's two-hundred year history (it launched in 1801), its staff published some of the wildest and most outrageous headlines in order to grab a reader's interest. And that's exactly why fans of The New York Post still can't get enough of the well-known publication. In the book's Preface, Robert Walsh tells us that 'back in the day, Post heads were as staid and conventional as any other paper's.' At least until 'Doroty Schiff sold The Post to Rupert Murdoch in 1976.' It was at that time that 'headlines rapidly shifted from the pedestrian and institutional to the rollicking and attitudinal.' And that's the Post we've all come to know, isn't it? Editor-in-Chief Col Allan 'believes a lot of other newspapers still miss the point entirely.' While Allan's staff strives to engage the reader, he also wants us to remember that 'the very purpose of the headline is to draw readers into the story, to make them want to read the thing in the first place.' That strategy has been wildly successful. Who could resist picking up the latest issue of the Post when the headline blazing across the front page reads Granny In The Slammer and shows a photograph of an 86 year old woman? And even before you've had your first cup of coffee, grabbing the paper and reading Earth Invades Mars is sure to get your morning started on an energetic note. But the front page headlines are not the only ones worth noting. Interior headlines are clever as well. Jiggle All The Way headlines a story about breast implants given as Christmas gifts. And Ar-rib-ederci, Roma headlines a story about a famed Italian restaurateur's passing. From politicians (Bill's Bed and Breakfast) to celebrities (Pee-Wee Unzipped!), no one's safe from the Post's satirical and timely commentary. Even the Mafia receives its own section in this quirky book. For a look at the news like you've only seen it in the Post, pick up a copy of Headless Body in Topless Bar. It makes a perfect gift for anyone interested in pop culture or looking for a unique way to preserve history. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews