REALLY dumb question...sorry!!

You could try putting the book in a closed container with crumpled up newspaper. You could also put the book in baking soda- you'll have to dust it off thoroughly when done. I've had luck using the newspaper method.

Or maybe leave the book out in the sun for a few hours..although this may cause sun-damage so proceed with caution..i know the sun method works with smelly shoes, so maybe itll work with a smelly book?

Maybe spray the book very light;y with Lysol spray (just careful not to saturate the pages)

Drive with the windows down?

This will sound silly but it does work. Take the book and put into a ziplock bag of un-cooked rice and seal it shut and leave it in there for at least overnight or longer if u can. This should work, you could also put a fabric softner sheet or two between the pages while you do this and your book will be smelling good :)

If it's mold you'll have trouble no matter what. I agree with the Lysol.

Yuck. Hopefully you won't really need it all that much.

burn it.

or sell it to someone else and get one that is less smelly?

burn it.

Lol...thanks for the laugh!

I have the same problem!!! What do people do with books to make the smell so bad???

I have the same problem!!! What do people do with books to make the smell so bad???

get them wet, or spill nasty food on them.. i got a used book once that had some sort of red mysterious stain on several of the pages.. it looked saucy.. haha maybe pizza or spaghetti?

I think its best not to ask why they smell the way they do. Its kind of like walking onto a scene where something is so messed up you just shake your head and say ok where do we start.