Since 1987, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom (and everywhere else for that matter). Uncle John’s Triumphant 20th Bathroom Reader is jam-packed with 600 pages of all-new articles (as usual, divided by length for your sitting convenience). In what other single book could you find such a lively mix of surprising trivia, strange lawsuits, dumb crooks, origins of everyday things, forgotten history, quirky quotations, and wacky wordplay? Uncle John rules the world of information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained as you read about: * The incredible (edible) history of bread* The secret congressional bomb shelter* Farts in the news* The history of the aloha shirt* The real Zorro* The worst city in America* How your taste buds work* It’s the Peanuts story, Charlie Brown And much, much more!

    In The Intellectual Devotional: American History, authors David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim have turned to the rich legacy of American history for their selections. From Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin to Martin Luther King Jr., from the Federalist Papers to Watergate, the giant figures, cultural touchstones, and pivotal events in our national heritage provide a bountiful source of reflection and education that will refresh knowledge, revitalize the mind, and open new horizons of intellectual discovery.

    Since 1987, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom (and everywhere else for that matter). With more than 11 million books in print, the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series is the longest-running, most popular series of its kind in the world.Where else could you learn about a woman who broke her legs flying a pig, a student who got credit for dressing like a lobster, and a man who patented a method for determining the sex of a spinach plant? Uncle John rules the world of bizarre information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained. Read all about…* The world’s longest ear hair* A girl raised by dogs* Celebrity death conspiracies* Goblins, the horny horse man, Yowie, and other strange creatures* And much more!

    Filled with facts, trivia, and stories about the world’s musicians, instruments, songs, and more, this endlessly diverting "plunge" dips into the history of Motown, muzak, and marching bands; tells the secret stories behind the hits; explores legendary venues like the Grand Ole Opry, the Apollo, and the Fillmore; spots the rarely sighted “two-hit wonders”; describes the origins of karaoke, rap music, and the cha cha cha. In short, it includes all the music news that’s fit to print is here in a variety of formats — longer entries for extended sojourns and brief tidbits for shorter stays.

    Read about the origin of the fork, strange pet lawsuits, first-lady firsts, astounding Earth science, and the chimp that saved TV! Uncle John's fans will find hours of entertainment in over 700 pages of forgotten history, pop culture, humor, quotes, science, and unusual people, and much more.

    In season 3, they are focused on a bigger problem: the Others. With the mysteries of the island deepening and the puzzle becoming more convoluted, this book will help you put those pieces together to figure out where the series is going. The only Lost guide available that analyzes the show episode by episode, Finding Lost includes:• An in-depth look at every episode, with highlights, music, and nitpicks outlined at the end of each one• Chapters on the influential television series The Prisoner, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time (a favorite book of the Others), Eko's Jesus stick, the real David Hume, and the online game The Lost Experience• Sidebars chronicling fun trivia such as why Canadian references imply the presence of evil; what Kate's aliases really mean; comparisons of the Others' wicked deeds to those of the Losties; and many more• Bios of the new actors on the show• Analyses of the show's literary references, including A Tale of Two Cities, Of Mice and Men, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Through the Looking Glass• Photos of the filming locations in HawaiiFull ofexclusive photos and enough background to put you leagues ahead of other viewers, this book will finally help you "find" Lost.

    In The Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture, authors David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim explore the fascinating world of contemporary culture to offer 365 daily readings that provide the essential references needed to navigate the world today.Quench your intellectual thirst with an overview of the literature, music, film, personalities, trends, sports, and pop references that have defined the way we live. From the Slinky to Star Wars; Beatlemania to Babe Ruth; flappers to fascism—refreshing your memory and dazzling your friends has never been easier, or more fun. Whether you're a trivia genius, pop-culture buff, or avid reader, you'll be riveted by this comprehensive journey through contemporary culture.

    Featuring more than 1,200 color photographs, this unparalleled guide presents every character in robot and alternate modes with accessories.Individual character biographies are presented from the original Tech Specs and also include function, personal motto, and ability scores. Notes on character history - as presented in the Sunbow cartoon series and Marvel comic books - are complemented by expert commentary on character attributes and popularity on today's secondary market. Current values for all figures in varying condition grades assist collectors in determining the value of their collections.Collectors, toy dealers, casual fans, and everyone who staged basement battles between the heroic Autobots and the evil Deceptions need an accurate identification and price guide to decipher the more than 300 G1 Transformers toys produced from 1984 - 1993. This is the definitive reference for your favorite "Robots in Disguise!"

    

    What two NFL quarterbacks have four Super Bowl rings each?* What rings are divided by the Cassini Division?** Also on this date, in 1981, the “goth†music scene was born in London, so here’s a quiz on black-clad icons like Darth Vader, Johnny Cash, and Zorro. Do you know the secret identities of Ivanhoe’s Black Knight*** or Men in Black’s Agent M****? In this ultimate book for trivia buffs and other assorted know-it-alls, the 365 entries feature “This Day in History†factoids, trivia quizzes, and questions categorized by Jennings as “Easy,†“Hard,†and “Yeah, Good Luck.†Topics cover every subject under the sun, from paleontology to mixology, sports feats to Bach suites, medieval popes to daytime soaps. This addictive gathering of facts, oddities, devilishly clever quizzes, and other flights of fancy will make each day a fun and intriguing new challenge.

    Full-color photographs and illustrations reveal each type of poop in all its glory, and handy descriptions and “scat facts” run throughout.Find out:Why rabbits like to eat their own droppingsHow tiger scat helped the CIA during the Vietnam WarWhich creature's poop could help save the planetWhy one animal's waste product is used to make the world's most expensive coffeeTruly informative and highly entertaining, WHAT SHAT THAT? is also probably more than you ever wanted to know but were too grossed out to ask.

    Featuring France, Germany, Russia, Latin America, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States, every spread is packed with delights: a luxurious central pop-up image, plus removable booklets, pullouts, mini pop-ups, and more. The text illuminates unique Christmas traditions, gift legacies, and portraits of mythic figures, such as England's Father Christmas and Italy's Le Befana. Like Christmas in New York, CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD is destined to become a treasured keepsake and a bestseller for years to come.

    Read about…* Ohio firsts* John Glenn, Johnny Appleseed, and other famous Ohioans * Cleveland rocks!* From Ada to Youngstown: a crossword puzzle* The pride of the Buckeyes* The Wright sister’s role in history* Akron’s All-American Soap Box Derby!* Wacky OhioAnd much, much more!

    Grouped together in weird categories as only Uncle John could do, you’ll find quotes about farts, firsts, dogs, Canada, male chauvinist pigs, colors, TV, aliens, and more! And not just quotes, either--there are great facts, fun quizzes, and a few longer articles about how quotations shape our world. As if that weren’t enough, there are a ton of eye-opening new entries for Uncle John’s Quotationary. (Love: “Being stupid together.” --Paul Valery) And to make it easier than ever to find the exact quote you’re looking for, there is a by-subject index as well a by-name index. Here are but a few of the thousands of great quotations awaiting you:“I don’t really care what I’m famous for.” --Jessica Simpson“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” --Charlie Chaplin“The way that I feel about music is there is no right and wrong. Only true and false.” --Fiona Apple“One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” --A. A. Milne“Bears are crazy. They’ll bite your head if you’re wearing a steak on it.” --Space Ghost

    But did Dad ever tell you that it wasn't a stork that put that shiny can opener in your kitchen drawer? Or paperclips started out as proud, Nazi-fighting warriors? And did he tell you how cruise control was originally conceived by a blind genius? From mullets to Silly Putty, lie detectors to karaoke, we've got the true stories behind everything you didn't think had stories. Because if you're looking for answers, In the Beginning is the place to start.

    In season 10, SG-1 — Mitchell, Jackson, Carter and Teal’c — welcome a new member to the team in the form of Vala Mal Doran (Farscape’s Claudia Black), while facing new challenges and battling Earth’s new and seemingly omnipotent enemy, the Ori. This is the official in-depth guide to the show, packed with behind-the-scenes interviews, exclusive pictures and a comprehensive episode guide.

    Since that time he has answered thousands of questions about birds, both at his store and while walking down the aisles of the supermarket. The questions have ranged from inquiries about individual species ("Are flamingos really real?") to what and when to feed birds ("Should I bring in my feeders for the summer?") to the down-and-dirty specifics of backyard birding ("Why are the birds dropping poop in my pool?"). Answering the questions has been easy; keeping a straight face has been hard.Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? is the solution for the beginning birder who already has a book that explains the slight variation between Common Ground-Doves and Ruddy Ground-Doves but who is really much more interested in why birds sing at 4:30 A.M. instead of 7:00 A.M., or whether it's okay to feed bread to birds, or how birds rediscover your feeders so quickly when you've just filled them after a long vacation. Or, for that matter, whether flamingos are really real.

    Kids can open to any page and find irresistible things to read and do, including…- How to defrost a woolly mammoth- The giant fart that helped dinosaurs rule the Earth- An ogre drool-maze: find the path from the slobbery ogre to the mop- Make your own Maggoty Brownies- Create a fake cocoa spill guaranteed to freak out Mom- Play Bug Sudoku!- How a potato ended a baseball player’s careerPsst: Don’t tell the kids, but Kid-topia readers will get smarter while having a blast.

    Discover all the odd and intriguing facts and tidbits you've never heard

    and many, many more. Readers of all ages will be fascinated by the facts revealed in this remarkable reference.

    Take a front row seat and delve into the tales of astounding feats, unmatched heroism, unfathomable mistakes, and electrifying exploits of World War II. Uncover the facts behind Germany's big gun program, ending with a weapon that weighted 150 tons, was 50 yards long, and took over 100 men to load.

    “Curiouser and curiouser” —fun and fascinating facts from the world of drugs. Following in the tradition of The Ultimate Book of Useless Information, The Curious World of Drugs and Their Friends is a wry potpourri of interesting information about every conceivable kind of drug. Readers can feed their heads with anecdotes, facts, lists, statistics, and illustrations, including: • The test results of animals on LSD—cats lose their fear of dogs, and goats walk in geometric patterns • Drugs found in nature, from magic mushrooms to St. John’s wort to beaver secretions • Celebrities who overdosed at age 27—Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones, and Jean Michel-Basquiat • Imaginary drugs in literature and film, from spice the mélange in Dune to Moloko plus in A Clockwork Orange • Nicknames for a joint—from doobie to giggly stick to Mr. Boom Bizzle • The global percentages of adults who have used cannabis—.004 percent in Singapore and 12.6 percent in the United States • The uses of opium in ancient Rome—from treatments for insomnia and epilepsy to colic and deafness • The most glamorous rehab clinics and their celebrity alumni • Mini-biographies of the biggest drug kingpins around the world Wacky but well-researched, unbiased and shameless, The Curious World of Drugs and Their Friends dares to take readers on a long, strange trivia trip.

    Vivid illustrations, detailed historical background, and a glossary bring this intriguing time to life for young readers.

    Printed in backpack- or pocket-friendly size with sturdy, waterproof cover, this brisk guide is ideal for both the outdoors type and those who prefer to travel by armchair or throne."

    From his groundbreaking scientific discoveries and inventions to his career as a writer, printer, and politician, Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions gives young readers a comprehensive look at the man who gave us the lightning rod, the armonica, bifocals, the post office, the first public library, Poor Richard’s Almanac, and so much more. Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions provides detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project. Historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and fascinating trivia support the fun projects and teach readers about the courage, creativity, and determination of Ben Franklin and a young America coming into its own.

    So what do al-Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran really want? Which faction is which in Iraq and who’s arming whom? What’s the deal with Somalia, Darfur, and Kashmir? Fatah, Hamas, and Hezbollah?Finally, here’s Who Hates Whom—a handy, often stunning guide to the world’s recent conflicts, from the large and important to the completely absurd.• Which countries are fighting over an uninhabitable glacier with no real strategic value—at an annual cost of half a billion dollars?• Which underreported war has been the deadliest since World War II—worse even than Vietnam—with a continuing aftermath worse than most current conflicts combined?• Which royal family members were respected as gods—until the crown prince machine-gunned the king and queen?• Which country’s high school students think the Nazis had a “good side”? Which nation’s readers recently put Mein Kampf on the bestseller list? And which other country watches itself with four million security cameras? (Hint: All three are U.S. allies.) Detailed with more than fifty original maps, photographs, and illustrations, Who Hates Whom summarizes more than thirty global hotspots with concise essays, eye-catching diagrams, and (where possible) glimmers of kindness and hope.In which bodies of water can you find most of the world’s active pirates? Which dictatorship is bulldozing its own villages? Where exactly are Waziristan, Bangsamoro, Kurdistan, Ituri, Baluchistan, and Jubaland—and how will they affect your life and security? Find out in Who Hates Whom, a seriously amusing look at global humanity—and the lack thereof.

    Did you know brain surgery has been around for thousands of years? Or that the first stitches were made from sheep guts? Discover dozens of other 'Ugh!'-inducing facts in this fun book.

    Whether you're an avid reader in need of a refresher course or a novice who wouldn't know his Longfellow from his Dickens, The Great American Bathroom Book: Volume 1 provides nearly 120 comprehensive summaries and thought-provoking commentaries on the literary world's finest classics. By offering a unique combination of intellect and efficiency, The Great American Bathroom Book provides you with the perfect opportunity to obtain a wealth of knowledge while only sacrificing a tiny portion of your time. In one short trip to the lavatory you can learn the intricacies of Henry David Thoreau's Walden or John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Finally, your days of answering, "Maybe we should split some nachos" to a question like "Who's your favorite character in To Kill a Mockingbird?" will be over. From historical sagas like A Tale of Two Cities to the intriguing epic The Great Gatsby, The Great American Bathroom Book is an efficiently entertaining way to condense countless hours of reading into immediate, practical knowledge. More than just an amazing collection of literary summaries, the first volume of The Great American Bathroom Book also contains a plethora of quotes, biographies, and trivia to help expand your knowledge. Master the art of intellectual dinner party chitchat by ordering The Great American Bathroom Book: Volume 1 today!

    

    With its innovative visual take on trivia, pop culture, and strange-but-true tales, this volume is an exciting, original and hilarious look at humans and the world theyve created.DK

    Bush, this newest entry in the popular Little Giant® Book series presents kids with loads of entertainment and education about the American presidency. Featuring fun illustrations throughout, it includes a list of all 43 presidents (in chronological and alphabetical order); a timeline of important events that occurred during each presidency; some firsts, lasts, and onlys associated with the presidents; popular nicknames; and fascinating facts about presidential families, finances, houses, favorite foods, sports and hobbies, monuments and memorials. There are interesting oddities—including many sightings of Lincoln’s ghost and the fact that Thomas Jefferson started the custom of a President shaking hands, rather than bowing, to guests—and lots of thought-provoking, memorable quotations.

    This collection features well-known and little-known factoids from every corner of the state. Discover the fascinating parallels of two native sons, rock stars Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix. Learn about the first reported sighting of a UFO, the location of the world’s single largest building, and how a rookie crime reporter who later became a famous writer once worked side-by-side with an infamous serial killer in Seattle.

    HicksCelebrate the USA: Hands-on History Activities for Kids is a fun and fact-filled children's activity book that celebrates all things American with art projects, crafts, activities, recipes, and games. Brimming with the "whos, whats, wheres, whens and whys" of America, Celebrate the USA encourages kids to use imagination, creativity, and their own two hands to discover American history. More than 50 projects are included to help kids discover their patriotic pride, such as making a glass harmonica, a five-pointed star, an All-American beach-towel banner, a compass, patriotic flip-flops, Fourth of July Poppers, and more! Plus the book includes tasty recipes for Liberty Bell Cookies, Watermelon Bowl Fruit Salad, and more.Celebrate the USA will help kids:Learn the surprising stories behind famous American symbols like the Liberty Bell and Uncle Sam.Uncover little-known flag and firework facts.Tune-in to tall tales, silly statistics, and oddball American folklore and fun.Explore "behind-the-scenes" American life for many different Americans.Understand what it means to be an American.Learn the history behind American holidays.An excellent tool for teachers.