Is there any hidden meaning to “many suitcases look alike” on the copyright page of a book?

Question

This is found on the copyright page of any book published by The Floating Press:

While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.

I'm curious what "many suitcases look alike" is intended to mean at the end.

Is it to be interpreted literally or figuratively? What exactly does it mean?

Answer 1

It is a joke.

Sometimes books contain disclaimers. For example a book about a dangerous sport might contain a disclaimer saying "If you do this sport and get hurt, you can't sue the publisher." A book about financial advice may contain a disclaimer "the publisher does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book" So if you lose money, you can't sue us.

My guess is that the whole disclaimer is a joke. The Floating Press do e-book versions of public domain texts. They put this on the copyright page as a joke. They are a pretty small outfit (probably just a few individuals).

Similar disclaimers appear on medicines that can make you sleepy. They say "Don't drive or operate machinery after taking this medicine". There is no need to put such a warning in the book, so this is just a joke.

There is another sign that you see at airports. When you collect your baggage you are warned "Many bags look alike" So check carefully that you are taking your bag, and not someone else's.

There is no need to put such a warning in the book, so this is a joke.

Answer 2

You don't tell us anything about the book, so it's hard to know for sure. If I found this in a book about worldwide travel, then I suppose it might be said with a grain of literal truth. My guess though, in the absence of such knowledge, is that it's being used figuratively, as is the sentence before it.

Standard disclaimers that are very familiar to native ears are often used to humorously in different contexts. This closing disclaimer in your book uses two:

• Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.
• Many suitcases look alike.

The first of these is found on the labels of many medications, particularly when drowsiness is a known side effect. The second is often heard at airport luggage claims, exhorting travelers to do a quick double-check and make sure they didn't grab the wrong suitcase in error. A few others I've seen used similarly:

• You mileage may vary.
• Some assembly required.
• Batteries not included.

I think these are supposed to be humorous just because they sound so familiar yet are unexpected in the context of a warning that has nothing to do with travel, or putting something together, although "Your mileage may vary" is often more pertinent to the discussion at hand; it's become a metaphor meaning, "You may not see this quite the way I do, and that's okay."

Back to your book, I think the first three sentences are likely said in earnest:

While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book.

and the last two are tacked on for humorous effect, because many times lawyers suggest a whole bunch of "legalese" be tacked onto the end of a book or advertisement.

---

RE: "Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment" arguably has a humorous effect, as it could imply the book is too boring and induces sleep. But I don't see the humor of "many suitcases look alike."

Remember what this disclaimer is saying: "This is a work of fiction. If it seems like a book about you, it isn't." With that backdrop, many suitcases look alike could mean: we wouldn't be surprised if the life of the character(s) in this book look much like the lives of some of the book's readers. But that's just a coincidence."