Reviews (9)

Best Record Book Ever
The guinness book of world records is a book that keeps you and me informed of the amaising yet fairly random things that men and women arround the world have achieved the best of. It kept me interrested for months and i always love to go back to them to see the different records. I truly believe that this is the best record book ever.
Keeps my son entertained
This is a really great book. My son loves to read and he can remember all of the records he has found in the book. He loves to talk about them all the time.

it was cool
It had very interesting facts that i would have most likely never heard about. Also, the pictures where usually pretty cool, like theworld's biggest tumor. EWWW, but thats not the point. Its the fact that there are so many things in this world that we never heard about that are most likely to be found in this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Encyclopedias    4. Reference    5. Trivia    6. Wonders And Curiosities    7. Reference / General   

Reviews (3)

You really should get this book
I have read probably ten or so bathroom readers...and I would give every single one of them five stars.I'm absolutely addicted to these books, and I will eventually read all of them.Unfortunately, I didn't keep track of which ones I have read.
18 great editions and counting
The Bathroom Readers' Institute has produced another great volume of the best useless knowledge you'll ever read about.The only problem is that I still can't put it down when I finish my business.So, it is the end of January, I'm almost done with the book, and have to wait 11 months until the 19th edition.

Fun with trivia and more trivia...
That I want to go to the bathroom every time I see this book, reminds me of Pavlov's dog that wanted to eat each time it heard the bell ring - now you know I m kidding... Seriously, this book is interesting to go through, not only because the contents are crisp and well-researched, but because they are varied in subject, length, format and treatment. No two consecutive articles are of the same type and length, or for that matter, subject.
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Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Humor    4. Satire And Humor    5. Topic - Adult    6. Humor / Topic / Adult    7. Humour   

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Reference    4. Wonders And Curiosities    5. Reference / Curiosities & Wonders   

Reviews (13)

Another Hit from Lou!
Lou has done it again!
Enhance Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation
This book will open up a whole new world within "The World" to you. Your vacation experience will be enhanced 10 fold as you bring all of Lou's trivia and facts with you on your next Disney vacation. A must read for any true Walt Disney World fan.

Fun book!
I loved Volume I and was so excited to hear that Volume II was on its way.Rest assured that Volume II does not contain facts already in Volume I!A lot of work was definitely put into this book and I thoroughly enjoy sharing these fun tidbits of information with family and friends who also have a love of all things Disney.The book is organized in a 'quiz-like' format so it's easy to quiz yourself and check your answers on the answer pages.Absolutely a fun read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. Travel Guides - U.S.    4. Trivia    5. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    6. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    7. Travel / General   

Reviews (6)

Meet the colorful and strange side of English.
This informative, entertaining and amusing reference explains the meaning of hundreds of the most bizarre, astonishing and interesting words that, although technically a part of the English lexicon, have been laid aside from our everyday conversations and are now forgotten and waiting to be found.
Weird and Wonderful
While this book has entertainment value, it should not be used to increase your vocabulary or help with test scores.It is only a book to skim over on a lazy day, sleepover or boring weekend.The words are defintely not ones you would use everyday.

Fun
I leave this one in the Bath room people get a kick out of the diffrant words.Very interesting.(ammusing) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. English Language (General)    3. English language    4. General    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Linguistics    8. Reference    9. Vocabulary    10. Word Lists    11. English    12. Humour    13. Language & Linguistics    14. Literary & Linguistic Reference Works    15. Reference / Curiosities & Wonders    16. Reference works    17. Reference | English Usage Guides   

Reviews (6)

Mostly a rehash of past "Book of List" titles...
If you do not already own all of the previous editions of The Book of Lists then I would recommend it.Unfortunately, most of the book is a rehash of previous editions of this series; there is very little new material here.To me, the book was a disappointment.

book is bunk
I first read this book in the '80's.This new book of lists is practically the same book.No new information, and much of it is just re-stated, if you have read the original Book of Lists, don't bother with this one.

What a pleasant surprise to find this!
It has received little, if any, publicity and so I definitely checked it out when I found it at the library - actually, the first I knew of its existence.
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Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Reference    3. Trivia    4. Reference / Trivia   

Reviews (43)

Poor Critical Thinking Skills
This book can be savaged by the very critical thinking skills it proposes to teach.The authors insist that a proposition be accurately defined.But rarely attempt to accurately define the concepts they use as examples.They devote a great deal of space to explaining the weakness of individual perception and memory, then insist that reality can only be that which one percieves.One of my greatest criticisms is regular reference to the work of Hyman.Any good skeptic is skeptical of the work of a professional debunker.Hyman is well known for debunking any scientific effort for one might wish to discredit.Thus their regular dependence on Hyman damages their already questionable veracity.
Sound concepts in an easy to read package
I never stop enjoying this book.I pick it up every few months just for a tune-up.It presents a variety of related concepts, many of which are in their most basic form, in an easy to read format.Some elaboration here and there for the sake of clarity would have been beneficial, but the basics are covered well.I get a sense that Schick and Vaughn had fun with this one.

Pass
I enjoy books on skepticism and I was looking forward to reading this one.
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Subjects:  1. Controversial Knowledge    2. Critical thinking    3. Criticism    4. Curiosities and wonders    5. Logic    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. New Thought    8. Parapsychology - General    9. Philosophy    10. Reasoning    11. Philosophy / Criticism   

Reviews (11)

Easy to make this mistake, but ...
The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge looks formidably well informed, something that should be read from cover to cover.
For the curiously minded
This book graces my night table despite its large size and heaviness.I flip through it whenever I am in between non-fiction novels or when I see or hear something that I am not very clear about.
Great organization
For those who said this book doesn't have anything you couldn't find in your local library.Well, duh.This book doesn't have anything you couldn't find in the library, or faster yet, online.The entire point is the organization, having everything at hand in a concise manner. You'd have to do some searching and clicking to get all the information about one subject that this book stuffs into a few pages, and you wouldn't get them in concise, logical order without repetition.Obviously, this book doesn't go ultra in depth or cover every subject area.Even whole encyclopedia sets can't do that.The best part of the book, in my opinion, is it tells you what you need to know.If you want to be fairly knowledgeable in any given subject really quickly, its useful to not have to read a lot of books/internet sources and then figure out what part of the information you can/should retain. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias and dictionaries    2. General    3. Reference    4. Trivia    5. Reference / General   

Reviews (5)

Worth even more time than a bathroom visit
This one was so engrossing that I wound up reading it at length, in bed.There's just so much trivia in it, and its tone is light and witty.As with all the Bathroom Readers I've bought, it's worthy of a re-read.

Great potty book.
The Bathroom Reader Institute has yet again delievered a fantastic, humorous, and great read for the most important seat in the house.

Everyone should have a reader
I think everyone should have a bathroom reader.It is so full of fun and interesting facts, I started taking it out of the bathroom and reading it on the train to work.Since the tidbits are so short, it doesn't take much concentration and you can easily pick up anywhere in the book.My husband and I have a great time telling eachother about the things we read in the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. Curiosities & Wonders    3. Curiosities and wonders    4. Form - Jokes & Riddles    5. General    6. Humor    7. Satire And Humor    8. Trivia    9. Wit and humor    10. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms    11. English    12. Humour collections & anthologies   

Reviews (4)

Wrong Information
I picked up this book out of facination. I realized that in the County where I live they spoke of the Olivas Adobe. But they had the facts of the place all wrong. Once instant, they had the owner and builder of the Adobe, who in fact was a part of the Mexican Army under General Santa Ana, serving under General Santa Barbara. There never was a General Santa Barbara. Too bad. The legend of this ghostly place has a great story but told by the wrong people. They need to do a little bit more research than just crank out books with misinformation.

Entertaining, but lacking important key info.
Photos, illustrations and stories are great.But I found the overall book lacking in one key area:Maps to show you where these places are located.Or even where some of the cities are located.Very fun book but but I felt I wanted more info. with greater detail.

Strange Days
The book is definitely a good source of 'Americana' at its finest and is extremely entertaining.While some excerpts go on in detail of exactly where to find things, others are hazy if not incorrect.A little fact checking is needed.All said, purchasers will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Folklore & Mythology    4. Miscellanea    5. Reference - Guides (General)    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Special Interest - General    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - Pacific - California    11. CALIFORNIA - CA Folklore/HumorTRD HC    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Travel / United States / West / General   

Editorial Review

It's rare to find a travel guide and a memoir joined neatly together in a single, highly readable 176-page volume. But Chuck Palahniuk (Read more

Reviews (32)

Interesting, offbeat
This collection is an idiosyncratic and appealing mix of off-the-beaten-path sights for the visitor to Portland, personal anecdotes of the author, and brief essays about the history of Portland and its defining vibes. Entertaining and enjoyable.

Doesn't make you want to visit
Palahniuk puts you right into his world of an overgrown small town with its carnival attractions.
a puking bore
As he writes in his epilogue, "This is not Portland, Oregon." Just scads of non-site-specific deegradation written in clipped New Yorker prose. Elliptical descriptions of perversion after perversion, spilling over the pages to become one big bore. And on top of all this, there's no index to the places he touches on, so even if you wanted to go there, you'd be hardput. Self-indulgent yet simultaneously unrevealing, as uninteresting a discovery of spirit of place as one can get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative lifestyles    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Guidebooks    5. Oregon    6. Portland    7. Portland (Or.)    8. Tours    9. Travel    10. Travel - United States    11. United States - Pacific - Oregon    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. Walking    14. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Editorial Review

Forget the history you were taught in school; Richard Zacks's version is crueler and funnier thananything you might have learned in seventh-grade civics--and much more of a gross-out, too. Described onthe book jacket as an "autodidact extraordinaire," Zacks is also the author of Read more

Reviews (60)

Great
The title says it all.This is a delightful mental trip through war profiteering, medical mishaps & deformities, sexuality & murderers.
Is there any better?
In all the books i've read in my life... this book is by far the best. Filled with wickedly fun and irreverent information that is both useless and needed. Get the book, read it, and try not to spout off all the new useless stuff you've learned, i dare ya!

Historically Based Information With An Emphasis On The Weird And Wacky
"Underground Education" does not so much offer a radical intellectual perspective, as is perhaps implied by the title. But rather is a collection of funny stories and oddball facts about various people and events from the past. Some of the historical figures are famous, such as George Washington and Cleopatra. While others, like the several female serial killers discussed, are more obscure. The book is divided into 10 chapters, including the arts, religion, science and sex. Actually, this book reminds me somewhat of the "People's Almanac" series written by David Wallechinsky. But here the emphasis is definitely on the strange and often perverse. It's a fun read for those interested in this sort of knowledge. But some entries are overlong and most readers will probably want to read the sections of greatest interest rather than cover to cover. Still it is a worthwhile purchase. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc    4. Reference    5. Sociology    6. Cultural studies    7. Reference / Curiosities & Wonders   

Reviews (1)

A great book that you might not want to buy
This- along with all the other Imponderables Titles by David Feldman- is chock full of fascinating trivia and answers to many of Lifes little questions. If you have never read any of these Imponderable books before, I highly recommend it. However- if you are a fan of these books- you likely would be wasting your money. Why? becuase this is "When did Wild Poodles Roam the Earth" retitled, much as "Imponderables" itself- the 1st book in the series is now "Why Don't Cats Like to Swim?".
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Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    3. Games/Puzzles    4. Questions and answers    5. Reference    6. Trivia    7. Wonders And Curiosities    8. Games / Trivia   

Reviews (9)

Buy 2004
There is realy no point of buying this book because you can buy the 2004 edition which is three times better then this one.

Setting the record straight...
The 2003 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records is definitely one for the internet-surfing age.It has pieces of information is byte-sized and bright-coloured boxes -- one almost wants to click on the pages of the book.Unlike older versions of this book from days of yore, it is not a 'dictionary' of facts.This is printed on glossy, full-colour process paper and inks, full-colour and fascinating photographs on every page, both as highlighted items as well as background/'desktop' images. Changing in style but still good
i've been a regular Guinness reader. i bought my first book last 1990 (1990 edition) and been buying every edition since then. i disagree with the notion that the later editions were getting "bland" or "stale". maybe because everyone is expecting new fan-favorite records being broken in every edition which won't happen anytime soon (tallest human, heaviest man, etc.)... i like the way the editions are being arranged. it's actually keeping up with the modern way of presenting materials. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Encyclopedias    4. Reference    5. Wonders And Curiosities   

Reviews (2)

Mythbusters a bust
I did not realize that this book was based on a television show because I do not watch television. I thought it was about debunking urban legends such as alligators in New York sewers and such; I was not expecting a lot of scientific proofs of how balloons fly and so on. I definitely wasted my money on this one.

BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION
This show is in its 4th Season, and Adam and Jamie STILL haven't run out of urban legends to put the scientific test to. Fascinating and fun science. Nice to have 30 of the best myths in book form, but the real way to enjoy "Mythbusters" is to watch the show -- every week on Discovery -- and to buy the DVD collections.And if you love Mythbusters, be sure to pick up all of the books by Jan Harold Brunvand ("The Baby Train", "The Choking Doberman", "Curses! Broiled Again!", "The Urban Legend Encyclopedia", and many more titles). Also, check out the new book "Turn Me On, Dead Man" by Andru J. Reeve. It explores, in depth, the entire story behind the Paul McCartney Death Hoax of 1969. Like the Mythbusters, Reeve gets to the truth behind the myth.Buy all of these books and DVDs right here at Amazon.com and watch "Mythbusters" every Wednesday on Discovery. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Folklore & Mythology - Folklore    3. General    4. Movie / TV Tie-Ins    5. Movie-TV Tie-In - General    6. Mythbusters (Television program)    7. Performing Arts    8. Performing Arts/Dance    9. Science    10. Television - Guides & Reviews    11. Television Plays And Programs    12. Urban folklore    13. Wonders And Curiosities    14. Customs & folklore    15. Performing Arts / Television / Guides & Reviews    16. Reference works    17. Unexplained phenomena   

Reviews (8)

Didn't your mom tell you,"You're what you eat"?

Fun collection of low-cal snacks for the brain
As in his _Original Miscellany_ (2003), the author has simply collected a large number of factoids, grouped under useful headings, but where the first published collection ranged far and wide, this one is thematic, restricting itself to comestibles and potables -- plus a number of pages on smokables -- which arguably makes it more interesting. There are quite a few items of interest, including a selection of "last meal" requests by those facing execution, a description of ullage levels, the items in Capt. Nemo's larder, a list of artists who have contributed label-art for Mouton Rothschild bottles, the characteristics of a number of popular restaurant curries, political quotations involving food, and the varieties of vegetarianism. And there are numerous sidebar quotes and comments, mostly droll. Some included items are highly idiosyncratic, like the favorite food and drink of the members of the "Bay City Rollers," or even questionable in this collection, like the details of an after-dinner dance card from 1926, as found in a printer's archive. And, as in the first volume, there is a tendency to present as canonical a bit of information that is simply one among many varieties, such as stating that Japan's "most notable" brand of beer is Sapporo (I would have said Asahi -- and the list doesn't even include Mexico), and his list of meanings for Mexican street food (the contents and preparation of chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, nachos, etc) seems to assume a standardization that really doesn't exist. Also, why include, as "curious names" in a list of Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors, Vanilla Caramel Fudge and Chocolate Fudge Brownie? But any shortcomings are made up for by his inclusion of the complete lyrics of the Chiquita Banana song. This is a good book for a couple of hours in the hammock and would also make a nice gift for foodies.

Brain candy
Having the same flavor as _Schott's Original Miscellany_, _Food and Drink Miscellany_ is a veritable smorgasboard of information and trivia related to edibles.Topics range from the handy and helpful ("Cheers!" in 32 "languages", English to American food terms, Biblical food abominations, how to sharpen a carving knife), to the humourous (94 slang words for drunkeness, Swift's wind and the Comic cookery book) to the truly bizzare (why asparagus makes urine smell, favorite food and drink of the Bay City Rollers).
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Subjects:  1. Beverages    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Dining    4. Dinners and dining    5. Food    6. Gastronomy    7. History    8. Miscellanea    9. Reference    10. Trivia    11. Wonders And Curiosities    12. Cooking / General   

Reviews (2)

Friends: The Official Trivia Guide
If you like Friends then you would like this book.

Good Trivia Book
Most of the questions are reasonably easy for me, but I've seen almost every episode of Friends, so that might be why. The book is broken up into three parts with ten chapters each. The first part is all the questions, with each season having it's own chapter. Something nice about this book is that it has all ten seasons. The second part is all the answers, which also says which episode the answer can be found in. All of the questions and answers are numbered so their easy to locate.The last part is a episode guide with a brief description of each episode which is a nice touch. There are also lists of guest stars, nicknames, and several multiple choice answers through out the book, as well as color photos in the middle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Friends (Television program)    2. Performing Arts    3. Performing Arts/Dance    4. Reference    5. Television - General    6. Television - History & Criticism    7. Trivia    8. Reference / Trivia   

Reviews (1)

Another witty, informative winner from Feldman!
David Feldman returns! . . . for fans of his series of
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Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. Form - Parodies    4. General    5. Humor    6. Questions and answers    7. Reference    8. Wonders And Curiosities    9. Reference / General   

Reviews (3)

Great gift!
I bought this as a gift for someone who had let me use their vacation home. They loved it! It's so very clever and funny that it just sucks you in--hard to put down! A much more thoughtful gift than the standard bottle of wine. Also the sort of thing that would be perfect for the bathroom....

Thank God it's FRIDAY!
I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially now that the glory of the summer weekend is upon us.Unlike something like Schott's Miscellany, this collection is actually filled with things worth knowing (the constellation, guides to birdsong, parlor games, etc.) and aside from being a useful book to have with you on vacation, it's also a fascinating look into the early 20th century world of P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, and it's written with the same dry british wit.

A must-have for summer homes and beach houses
I first came across this little gem in England last year.I picked it up in a used bookstore and took it along on a family trip through Ireland.What a smart move.This book offers many diversions for a weekend out of the city and an extended visit to the country.Filled with games and puzzles as well as sections on animal tracks and birdsongs this book has a little something for everyone.
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Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. General    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc    5. Leisure    6. Miscellanea    7. Personal & Practical Guides    8. Personal Guidance    9. Reference    10. Wonders And Curiosities    11. Reference / Curiosities & Wonders   

Reviews (3)

Great and Useful Purchase
This is a rare book that actually deserves 5 stars.
Who Says Guys Don't Want to Be Good Hosts?
A great, easy read, filled with practical advice.This book takes the "who me??" out of cool entertaining.Highly recommended by the editors of SharpMan.com.

A Gentleman Entertains by John Bridges
"A Gentleman Entertains" takes a surprisingly unpretentious look at men entertaining, though the book is by no means without merit for women readers. The practical advice and simple, elegant recipes cover a broadrange of entertaining scenarios, from casual cocktail parties at home todining out, to family reunions. The South is perhaps the only place leftwhere it is still fashionable to be genteel, and Bridges lives up to hisSouthern upbringing without coming across stuffy. Leaving no stoneunturned, the book touches on everything from tipping to starting acharcoal grill to choosing the wine. Though the title suggests a certainlevel of sophistication, the author is just as quick to advise readers touse paper plates when the situation dictates as he is to recommend theproper way to garnish a cocktail. Bridges writing style is crisp and on thewry side, though he had more room to shine in "Keeping Up," adelightful series of essays on his upbringing in Slapout, Al., as well aswitty observations on life and martinis. I would have liked to have seenhim cut loose in this book a little more stylistically, but being theproper gentleman that he is, he wrote a respectable book suitable for anycoffee table. It is a fine follow up to his previous outing, "How tobe a Gentleman." I recommend it to anyone who is looking for the kindof practical advice on entertaining that bears repeating and never goes outof style. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Entertaining    2. Etiquette    3. General    4. Personal Growth - Happiness    5. Reference    6. Self-Help    7. Tablesetting    8. Trivia    9. Etiquette & entertaining    10. Reference / Etiquette    11. Self-Help & Practical Interests    12. Trivia & quiz question books