Word to the Wise: Potboiler

A "potboiler" (POT-boy-lur) is an inferior literary work, produced quickly for the purpose of making money. The word is derived from the expression "boil the pot," meaning "provide one’s livelihood."

Example (as used by Stephen Kinzer in The New York Times): "If reading and travel are two of life’s most rewarding experiences, to combine them is heavenly. I don’t mean sitting on a beach reading the latest potboiler, a fine form of relaxation but not exactly mind-expanding."