Looking for a book on the origins of urban legends

[Norwood]

I'm not entirely sure whether this should be in the non-fiction/fiction or just in a completely different forum so if this is the wrong spot then please feel free to move it mods.

Anyway, my girlfriend reads a lot of books and one subject she is particularly fascinated by is the origins of urban legends. I really want to buy her a book on the subject but can use some advice on where/how to look. I appreciate any help you fine folks can give me.

[JuniperLea]

1. This is my fav...

I hear those Mythbuster dudes have one too, but I haven't checked it out.

When in doubt, alibris.com rules!

[JuniperLea]

2. Oh, yeah...

I stand with Coco too!

:D

[sfwriter]

3. Look for books by John Harold Brunvand... an expert in these stories...

http://www.amazon.com/Jan-Harold-Brunvand/e/B000AQ8W72/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

I also love:

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Urban-Legends-book/dp/1563891654/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_60

"Baby Train," "Curses, Broiled Again," and "Mexican Pet" are the big three from Brunvand.

http://www.amazon.com/Train-Other-Lusty-Urban-Legends/dp/0393312089/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

[kiva]

4. Jan Harold Brunvand wrote several books, beginning with

The Vanishing Hitchhiker and Other Urban Myths - his were the first I saw - though I don't know if he was the first to write about the subject. I suspect he was the first to write something that appealed to a popular as well as an academic audience . I haven't read any of them for a few years, but it looks like he's still writing them; everyone who reads one of his books seems to have heard at least a couple of them - here's his page on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Jan-Harold-Brunvand/e/B000AQ8W72/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1