Mike Sacks on advice you can’t trust

Even the co-editor behind “Care to Make Love in That Gross Little Space Between Cars?” — The Believer magazine’s new collection of advice from famous comedy writers, actors, producers and directors — knows to never, ever trust what’s in the pages of the book.

“I don’t think anyone should take this to heart,” says co-editor Mike Sacks drolly. “It is all meant as a gag; most of the advice is not particularly good. But it’s very funny.”

And it should be. From a crotchety Louis C.K. offering guidance on whether or not to grow a mustache to Nick Hornby sharing his best song to make love to, “Care to Make Love in That Gross Little Space Between Cars?” is a compendium of the best and brightest of the comedy and writing worlds.

But Sacks says that just because someone with a famous name was asked to contribute to the collection, it doesn’t mean their submission is actually in the book. “We cut some pretty famous writers and performers,” claims Sacks, who declined to name names. “I was surprised. Many writers are great at what they do, but they can’t do this form of humor.”

One who could? Author and essayist George Saunders. “His mind is so amazing,” praises Sacks. “Just by answering a few questions, you can see why he’s so good,”?he continues. “He’s the one who came up with the title, ‘Care to Make Love in That Gross Little Space Between Cars?’ It was in one of his answers and we just used it for the title because it was so perfect.”

No cancer jokes, please

Editors Mike Sacks and Eric Spitznagel were in charge of gathering the book’s advice-seeking questions. It wasn’t easy. “It has to be a certain type of ques­tion,” claims Sacks. “It can’t be, ‘My mom just died of cancer — can you help me?’ We needed questions that weren’t too personal.” Luckily, they received plenty of contributions. “A lot of people want Zach Galifianakis or Dave Eggers to answer their ques­tions. It’s fun for them, too.”

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