Book picks similar to
Great Big Book of Astounding Facts by Bruce D. Witherspoon


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The Book of Useless Information


Noel Botham - 2006
    Then again, maybe not. But to The Useless Information Society, any fact that passes its gasp-inducing, not-a-lot-of-people-know-that test merits inclusion in this fascinating but ultimately useless book... Did you know (or do you care)...- That fish scales are used to make lipstick?- Why organized crime accounts for ten percent of the United States's annual income?- The name of the first CD pressed in the United States?- The last year that can be written upside-down or right side-up and appear the same?- The shortest performance ever nominated for an Oscar(R)?- How much Elvis weighed at the time of his death?- What the suits in a deck of cards represent?- How many Quarter Pounders can be made from one cow?- How interesting useless information can be?The Book of Useless Information answers these teasers and is packed with facts and figures that will captivate you--and anyone who shares your joy in the pursuit of pointless knowledge.

Secrets of Walt Disney World: Weird and Wonderful Facts about the Most Magical Place on Earth


Dinah Williams - 2013
    From Epcot to the Magic Kingdom to Hollywood Studios, its an enchanting place where imagination knows no bounds. Secrets of Walt Disney World uncovers the little extras and hidden facts that enhance your visit—and shows how Walt Disneys incredible dream continues to inspire and entertain countless people every day.

Every Day Is a Holiday


George Mahood - 2014
    He had a job, a house, a wife and kids. But something was missing. He was stuck in a routine of working, changing nappies and cleaning up cat sick. He felt like he was missing out on a lot of what the world had to offer.He then discovered that it was Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. The day after that was National Curmudgeon Day, and the day after that was Inane Answering Machine Message Day. In fact, the calendar is FULL of these quirky, weird and wonderful events. He realised that somebody somewhere had created these holidays, believing that they were important enough to warrant their own official day. Surely he should therefore be more appreciative of their existence? So he decided to try and celebrate them all. As you do. He hoped that at the end of the challenge he would be transformed into a happier, more intelligent and more content person.Follow George on his hilarious, life changing adventure as he tries to balance his normal life with a wealth of new experiences, people, facts and ridiculous situations. It’s a rip-roaring, life-affirming, roller-coaster of a ride, where every day is a holiday.

Ask Me Anything


Kim Bryan - 2009
    Young readers can find the answers to thousands of off-the-wall questions quickly and effortlessly in this fascinating, funny resource. Full color.

Children's Miscellany: Useless Information That's Essential to Know


Matthew Morgan - 2004
    Whether you want to know how to beat an alligator in a fight, ways to speak in secret code, which insects are edible, or what the heck scolionophobia means, this is the book for readers both young and old.

Because I Said So! : The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids


Ken Jennings - 2012
    Yes, all those years you were told not to sit too close to the television (you'll hurt your eyes!) or swallow your gum (it stays in your stomach for seven years!) or crack your knuckles (arthritis!) are called into question by our country's leading trivia guru. Jennings separates myth from fact to debunk a wide variety of parental edicts: no swimming after meals, sit up straight, don't talk to strangers, and so on. Armed with medical case histories, scientific findings, and even the occasional experiment on himself (or his kids), Jennings exposes countless examples of parental wisdom run amok. Whether you're a parent who wants to know what you can stop worrying about or a kid (of any age) looking to say, "I told you so,"; this is the anti-helicopter parenting book you've been waiting for.

The Big Book of Little Criminals


George Hagenauer - 1996
    Here are the true stories of three dozen of the strangest and lamest criminals of all time.Fully illustrated in black and white.

Mental Floss presents In the Beginning: From Big Hair to the Big Bang, mental_floss presents a Mouthwatering Guide to the Origins of Everything


Will Pearson - 2007
    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.

The Big Book of Vice


Steve Vance - 1998
    An in-depth look at the things we know are bad for us but we love too much to stay away from, including tobacco, alcohol, promiscuous behavior, drugs, fatty foods, and more, along with the reasons we love them so much.

Number Freak: From 1 to 200- The Hidden Language of Numbers Revealed


Derrick Niederman - 2009
    Includes such gems as:? There are 42 eyes in a deck of cards, and 42 dots on a pair of dice ? In order to fill in a map so that neighboring regions never get the same color, one never needs more than four colors ? Hells Angels use the number 81 in their insignia because the initials H and A are the eighth and first numbers in the alphabet respectively

The Utterly, Completely, And Totally Useless Fact-o-pedia


Charlotte Lowe - 2009
    Organized from A to Z, there are over 1000 trivia tidbits for you to peruse. Start off with little-known facts about absinthe and Barbie and continue until you've discovered hidden gems about zombies, zippers, and more! Did you know that Levi Strauss originally intended to sell canvas tents to miners in California but ended up using the fabric to make what the prospectors really needed - pants! Or that a chicken in Colorado had its head cut off and managed to live...for another 2 years? The Utterly, Completely, and Totally Useless Fact-o-pedia is a virtual treasure trove of useless fact fixes for the insatiably curious.

Which President Killed a Man?


James C. Humes - 2002
    Collection of trivia, history and little-known stories about American Presidents.

The History Buff's Guide to World War II


Thomas R. Flagel - 2005
    Flagel unveils the big picture by using detailed top-ten lists, ranking the best, worst, first, and most significant elements of the largest and deadliest conflict in history.

The Blue Pool


Siobhán MacDonald - 2016
    Only three return. Life is good for university friends Sarah, Ruth, Charlotte, and Kathy: exams are over and they’re escaping to a cabin by the Blue Pool. But when Sarah disappears without a trace, life for the others will never be the same again.Twenty-five years later a man walks into a police station, claiming to know about the missing girl. Suddenly, the three women – now estranged – become suspects. Forced to revisit that horrifying weekend, they must confront buried fears. For not everything was as it seemed. And the greater the secret, the deeper it lies… From the author of Twisted River comes another unputdownable and unpredictable psychological thriller perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh, Paula Hawkins, and B A Paris. Praise for Twisted River by Siobhan MacDonald ‘MacDonald's dark and twisted tale of American tourists caught up in recession-hit Ireland will change the way you look at house swaps forever’ Alex Marwood, award-winning author of The Wicked Girls‘Thrilling... a strong choice for readers who enjoyed Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train.’ Library Journal‘Evocative and richly detailed, Twisted River is a page-turning mystery about the tragic consequences that result when the tightly held secrets of two families collide.’ Kimberly McCreight, author of Reconstructing Amelia and Where They Found Her‘MacDonald toys with the reader, leading right then feinting left with plot twists that genuinely surprise. Infidelity, deception, revenge, and murder all come into play, but the big thrill here is the constant undermining of assumptions.’ Kirkus Reviews‘Twisted River is a superb thriller – gripping, surprising, and terrifically rewarding.’ Chris Pavone, bestselling author of The Expats'A gripping novel ... it commands your attention from the very beginning' InStyle Magazine'A terrific debut novel. MacDonald develops her twin stories with masterly control of mood and scene' Chicago Tribune'​A remarkable debut novel [plotted with] breathtaking precision' Toronto Star

The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book: Pit your wits against Britain’s greatest map makers


Ordnance Survey - 2019
    Explore the first ever OS map made in 1801, unearth the history of curious place names, encounter abandoned Medieval villages and search the site of the first tarmac road in the world.With hundreds of puzzles ranging from easy to mind-boggling, this mix of navigational tests, word games, code-crackers, anagrams and mathematical conundrums will put your friends and family through their paces on the path to becoming the ultimate map-master!