The amount of fecal matter in a bathroom, suggests Wendy Marston, author of "The Hypochondriac's Handbook," is inversely proportional to the hotel's nightly rate.

Percy Dearmer, author of The Parson's Handbook, states that English use supports no more than two lights on the altar.

"There are very few reasons to hospitalize cancer patients long-term," says Mary-Ellen Siegel, author of "The Cancer Patient's Handbook."

Kim Fletcher is author of The Journalist's Handbook (Macmillan).

Jane Perrone is the Guardian's gardening editor and the author of The Allotment Keeper's Handbook.

The main character in the play, John Tanner, is the author of "The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion", which Shaw published along with his play.

He is also the author of "The Smart Runner's Handbook" (Open Road Publishing, 1995).

Gary Shteyngart is the author of "The Russian Debutante's Handbook," a novel.

He was the uncle of art materials expert Ralph Mayer, author of The Artist's Handbook (1940).

The plot centres on John Tanner, author of "The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion", which is published with the play as a 58-page appendix.