The World's Shortest Stories

I bought a copy of this book when it came out in 1995. As I am a high school foreign language teacher, I often find there are a occasionally a few "extra minutes" at the end of some teaching periods. Rather than waste this time, I'll often read the students one of these. They love 'em - particularly the mini-mysteries. A handy book to have around.

I teach 7th and 8th grade, many second language and non-standard english students. The 55 word stories provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the reading/thinking skills of inferencing, drawing conclusions and also a springboard for introducing and explaining the background of euphemisms and common sayings and figures of speech that are not familiar to second language readers.

I am amazed at how truly entertaining these stories can be in such a short space of time. The tricky endings on some came as such a surprise, that I found myself rewinding the tape to listen to them again. A clever writing style that shows that less is often more. Funny, creepy, romantic. Very well done.

This book is meant to be "read" in print, not listened to on a tape. I love books on tape and I adore Frank Muller, but this is a book to savor with the eyes. It certainly makes one want to try and "do it;" write one of these brilliant stories!

I read this book last summer and some of the stories are still lurking in my head... quite an amazing feat for tales only 55 words long! Each story (with few exceptions) made me feel as if I had just read a novel. This book is essential to any story-lover's library.