They just asked a question. There is no need to be snarky, and your suggestion wouldn't even have answered their question.
and peterkelley wasn't being "snarky" either. he was making a joke, based on the description of the subject-matter of the book.
oh, and i'm not being "snarky" either. but it's so very difficult to resist the temptation!, i don't know if i'm gonna be able to do it!, i can feel myself slipping even as i continue typing!...
-bowerbird
i'm still kinda new at hacker-news, and its threading is still a mystery to me.
-bowerbird