Fun Facts Books

Guinness: World Records 2009 (Guinness World Records)

Guinness World Records

Amazon Price: $17.37 List Price: $28.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Guinness Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $14.75

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Subjects -> Reference -> Fun Facts -> Curiosities & Wonders

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

great edition 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

this is simply a great book. I believe I am the first person in Nigeria to obtain a copy, which in itself should qualify me for a record entry in the next edition of the guinness book of world records

Cool! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a cool book. Not only do you get the up-to-date list of the latest world records, but 3D photos as well (always loved that 3D glasses stuff when I was a kid). Some of the bizarre things people do to set world records never ceases to amaze (or amuse) me.

I must admit I'm a bit of an adict when it comes to records and statistics of any kind, and I've always loved this series of books. I buy a copy every few years and I'd rate this one (especially with the 3D glasses) the best edition yet. Have fun and have a read. Good stuff.

Editorial Review:

Guinness World Records 2009 continues to build on the intriguing, informative, inspiring and instructional records and superlatives that have made Guinness World Records one of the most famous brands and an annual best-seller around the world.

This year, we've created a revolutionary new design and filled it with more records than ever before. And the 2009 edition will have two gatefold spreads and over 20 pages of special records all with 3-D photos, which can be viewed with enclosed 3-D glasses!!

Combined with a new, research-tested, eye-catching cover, over 1,000 new records and 100% new photos, this year's edition once again sets out to be the best Guinness World Records book ever!!

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009 (World Almanac and Book of Facts)

World Almanac Books

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: World Almanac Amazon Marketplace: 4 new & used starting at $10.39

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

New for 2009—The World Almanac and Book of Facts includes the complete 2008 U.S. election results, and World Series statistics. Every family needs this New York Times best-selling reference book.

The World Almanac is the #1 best-selling American reference book of all time. It is the source for essential and authoritative facts for entertainment, reference and learning. The book contains thousands of facts and statistics that aren’t publicly available which are sourced and double-checked by the staff of World Almanac experts.

The 2008 Edition spent 12 weeks on the NYT Bestseller list reaching #2; 10 weeks on the USA Today Bestseller List reaching #51; and 9 weeks on the Book Sense List reaching a high of #11.

Features in The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009:

· The World at a Glance: The most fascinating facts of the past year in science, economics, sports, arts and media, and more

· World Almanac 2008 News Quiz: For news junkies and snorers alike

· Election 2008 Coverage and Results: Twenty-four pages dedicated to the complete coverage of key issues, pivotal primaries, memorable moments, and election results from the presidential campaign.

· Beijing Olympics Recap: faces, Places and records from the Summer 2008 games.

· World Series: For the first time in 5 years, the World Almanac will contain facts covering the World Series.

· Celebrity Picks: notable names serve up their very own lists of Favorite People, Places, and Things

· Year in Pictures: 16 page color photo section of the top stories of 2008, as well as 16 pages of world maps and flags and easy-to-use side abs.

· Plus thousands of facts and statistics that aren’t publicly available; sourced and double-checked by our full-time editorial staff who are reference experts by category

World Almanac Online: www.WorldAlmanac.com

2009 will feature the third year of Bonus Content Online, extended reading to the printed edition for the same combined price of $12.99. This year will feature the Election Results from 2008, plus lots more free information available year-round at worldalmanac.com: historical presidential information, health news and features, and early access to WA09 info.

Once online, look for The World Almanac Blog, launched in 2006 and every weekday featuring

· New original entries, including provocative postings such as Unbreakable Sports Records; fascinating scientific and historical trivia; and new links to online tools and archives for almanac fans · This Day in History, Notable Birthdays and unusual anniversaries such as when Nixon met Elvis Presley in the Oval Office (1970)

· More useful links and tags to essential reads

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't

Judy Jones, William Wilson

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ballantine Books Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $20.73

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 90 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Very Disappointing 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

As someone who has read and loved history for many decades, I thought this book would make a great addition to my collection, but I was very disappointed. Much of the information is piece-meal and incomplete, just enticing the reader a bit and then leaving them wondering where the rest of the story is. I was also surprised by the frequent and glaring anti-conservative messages, which were often unrelated to the topics being discussed. I understand that historians are human and have political leanings, but in this book too much opinion tainted the historical message. I was hoping for an informative new take on the topics included, and as I say, I was disappointed.

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything is a much better read.

Editorial Review:

You'll find everything you forgot from school--as well as plenty you never even learned--in this all-purpose reference book, an instant classic when it first appeared in 1987. The updated version takes a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from American studies to philosophy to world history. Along the way, Judy Jones and William Wilson provide a plethora of useful information, from the plot of Othello to the difference between fission and fusion. It's not a shortcut to cultural literacy, the authors write in their introduction, but it's an excellent "way in" to the building blocks of Western civilization: the "books, music, art, philosophy, and discoveries that have, for one reason or another, managed to endure." Think of it as finishing school for your brain; study up and you'll gain a lifetime's worth of cocktail conversation--as well as a new list of books you simply must read.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not Special Edition 2009 (Ripley's Believe It Or Not Special Edition)

Amazon Price: $10.87 List Price: $15.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $9.37

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Science, Nature & How It Works -> Mystery & Wonders

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fun book 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Great for the school-age crowd. My third-grader will spend hours reading this and looking at the pictures.

Excellent purchase 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The book was awesome! I'm so glad to have Amazon. I can shop in peace and know I am getting excellent products.

Believe It or Not 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent rendition for readers interested
in a plethora of curiosities on earth. The book
describes how the Zebrafish repairs its own eyes.
There is a beautiful picture of a monster mushroom.

A bionic hand is depicted along with a robotic
violinist. A section has a curious museum of brain
matter. The Colorado wrestling alligators are shown
in a popular action pose. Lastly, a spectacular
Crystal Cave depicts an atmosphere of pure ice.
The acquisition would make a perfect gift for the
curious at heart.

Editorial Review:

The fascinating files of Robert Ripley prove there’s nothing stranger than the truth. Turn the pages, if you dare. But watch out! There are more creepy facts and crazy feats than ever before.

Late Show Fun Facts

David Letterman, The Late Show Writers

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hyperion Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $11.52

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

It truly is worth your last $20 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

David Letterman jokes around about his new offering 'Late Show Fun Facts' on his show of course, but he really is right on the money. Despite economic times this book is definately worth the price (even the conversion rate to Australian dollars for myself). If you love the show and especially his fun facts segment this truly does provide you with hours of fun, remembering some he has already done and some great new entries. I still haven't gotten through to the end. So believe me this is no 'pamphlet' it is 239 pages of fun...some will make you cringe, some will make you laugh out loud, but all of them - and other segments and info inserted into the book - you will find endlessly fascinating.

hilarious 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

perfect funny little book to keep on the living room table. I love Letterman and record it every night so I am a little biased!

Editorial Review:

Drawn from the popular weekly segment, Late Show Fun Facts is a collection of unusual, little-known--and sometimes even true--bits of trivia assembled by the Federal Bureau of Miscellaneous Information.

Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty

Joy Masoff

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Workman Publishing Company - Model: 10771 Amazon Marketplace: 97 new & used starting at $1.10

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 54 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Oh, YucK! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I gave this to my grandson and nephew both age 9 for Christmas and they were reading it together and laughing on Christmas day. One of the mothers was very happy because she can't get her son to read , I think it was a success.

That's Nasty! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for your typical 11 year old boy. He loved it, I'm not sure how much mom did. That is one very clever way to get boys that age to read a book on their own. And they learn a thing or two along the way. Heck I would have like this when I was a kid. Remember boys are going to be gross either way, might as well make it educational too!

Editorial Review:

All the best stuff about some of the worst stuff on earth. From the liquids, solids, and gases - especially the gases! - of the human body to the creepy, crawly, fetid, and foul phenomena of the world at large, OH, YUCK! is the all-encompassing compendium of gross. Skin eruptions. Naked mole rats. The Donner party and the hissing roach of Madagascar, maggot therapy, ear wax, the good new about pus, and why vomit smells.Plus Raunchy recipes and vile experiments - Exploding Zit, Scab Surprise, and more. It's everything you ever wanted to know about the yucky side of life.

The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp through Civilization's Best Bits

Erik Sass, Will Pearson, Steve Wiegand

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Subjects -> History -> Ancient -> Early Civilization

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

History is . . .
(a) more or less bunk.
(b) a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken.
(c) as thoroughly infected with lies as a street whore with syphilis.

Match your answers:
(1) Stephen Daedalus of James Joyce's Ulysses
(2) Henry Ford
(3) Arthur Schopenhauer

It turns out that answer need not be bunk, nightmarish, or diseased. In the hands of mental_floss, history's most interesting bits have been handpicked and roasted to perfection. Packed with little-known stories and outrageous—but accurate—facts, you'll laugh yourself smarter on this joyride through 60,000 years of human civilization. Remember: just because it's true, doesn't mean it's boring!

Exclusive: Amazonian Tips for Amazon.com

When you think of the word “Amazon,” we’re sure the first thing that comes to mind is the fantastic website where you can buy our book (buy our book!) or half-naked warrior women. But here are three tantalizing tidbits you might not know--and why you need to act now.

1. Find Gold
There’s something about long, tropical rivers that seems to drive people batty. But the Basque conquistador Lope de Aguirre was by all accounts a murderous sociopath long before he got to the Amazon. Take, for instance, the time a judge sentenced Aguirre to be flogged. The brutish Basque hunted the terrified magistrate across 4,000 miles of rough South American terrain, barefoot, to kill him! So, in 1560, it probably wasn’t the best idea to invite Aguirre along on the quest to find El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. After 900 miles of unbroken rain forest, Aguirre was fed up. He led a mutiny that killed more than half of his fellow conquistadors. Then, he declared himself prince of Peru, Tierra Firma, and Chile. Eventually he and his tiny army attacked Panama…where he was killed and dismembered so his body parts could be paraded around the colony.
The bright side: El Dorado is still out there, waiting for you to discover it! Just don’t bring a friend like Lope.

2. Invest a Dollar
When it’s not making people crazy, the Amazon seems to inspire bizarre, larger-than-life schemes. In 1967, American shipping magnate and billionaire Daniel Ludwig bought a larger-than-Connecticut sized chunk of the Amazon to create a gigantic industrial and agricultural complex called the Jari Project. It didn’t work out. All the construction led to massive soil erosion, screwing up the “agricultural” part of his plan. After sinking $1 billion into the project (back when $1 billion really meant something) Ludwig called it quits in 1982. It was eventually put up for sale for $1--a great deal, if you’re willing to assume $354 million in debt.
The bright side: For anyone with a dollar and a dream, it’s your lucky day: the Jari Project is still for sale!

3. Make New Friends
The pictures of spear-wielding tribesmen produced in May 2008 may have been a hoax, but it’s true that there are literally dozens of so-called “uncontacted” native tribes in the Amazon basin--Stone Age peoples who have never had any contact with the outside world! While this seems preposterous, it makes sense when you consider the Basin’s size, over 2.7 million square miles in area, half of which is covered by dense rain forest and divided by 15,000 rivers and tributaries. Altogether, there are believed to be about three dozen uncontacted tribes in Brazil and 15 in Peru.
The bright side: If you’re up for the adventure, you have more than 50 chances to claim fame and fortune. Just make sure you don’t accidentally give everyone smallpox.

… And so much more!
What you’ve just read isn’t available in our book, but don’t worry--roughly 82% of the rest of history is. Our twelve essential chapters tackle everything from civilization’s baby steps in the Fertile Crescent to the Pope’s first text message, the 6,000-pound super-wombats of early Australia to the Goose Crusade of 1096, the golden hemorrhoids of the Philistines to the most important assassinations of the 20th century, and everything else that’s wacky, entertaining, and completely, unbelievably true.

The Book of General Ignorance

John Mitchinson, John Lloyd

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Think Magellan was the first man to circumnavigate the globe, baseball was invented in America, Henry VIII had six wives, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain? Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong again.

Misconceptions, misunderstandings, and flawed facts finally get the heave-ho in this humorous, downright humiliating book of reeducation based on the phenomenal British bestseller. Challenging what most of us assume to be verifiable truths in areas like history, literature, science, nature, and more,

The Book of General Ignorance is a witty “gotcha” compendium of how little we actually know about anything. It’ll have you scratching your head wondering why we even bother to go to school.

Revealing the truth behind all the things we think we know but don’t, this book leaves you dumbfounded about all the misinformation you’ve managed to collect during your life, and sets you up to win big should you ever be a contestant on Jeopardy! or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Besides righting the record on common (but wrong) myths like Captain Cook discovering Australia or Alexander Graham Bell inventing the telephone, The Book of General Ignorance also gives us the skinny on silly slipups to trot out at dinner parties (Cinderella wore fur, not glass, slippers and chicken tikka masala was invented in Scotland, not India).

Thomas Edison said that we know less than one millionth of one percent about anything: this book makes us wonder if we know even that much.

You’ll be surprised at how much you don’t know! Check out THE BOOK OF GENERAL IGNORANCE for more fun entries and complete answers to the following:

How long can a chicken live without its head?
About two years.

What do chameleons do?
They don’t change color to match the background. Never have; never will. Complete myth. Utter fabrication. Total Lie. They change color as a result of different emotional states.

Who invented champagne?
Not the French.

How many legs does a centipede have?
Not a hundred.

How many toes has a two-toed sloth?
It’s either six or eight.

How many penises does a European earwig have?
a)Fourteen
b)None at all
c)Two (one for special occasions)
d)Mind your own business

Which animals are the best-endowed of all?
Barnacles. These unassuming modest beasts have the longest penis relative to their size of any creature. They can be seven times longer than their body.

What is a rhino’s horn made from?
A rhinoceros horn is not, as some people think, made out of hair.

Who was the first American president?
Peyton Randolph.

What were George Washington’s false teeth made from?
Mostly hippopotamus.

What was James Bond’s favorite drink?
Not the vodka martini.

Uncle John's Unsinkable Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader)

Bathroom Readers' Institute

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Portable Press Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $12.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Reading!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am a reader and I sure love all of Uncle John's books. So much information can be gleaned from them. All of them are fascinating and filled with knowledge. Someone really has done a lot of research in writing these books. I highly recommend all of them. They're worth it!!

Great Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Uncle Joh's Unsinkable Bathroom is a fun book to add to your collection collection. Easy to read and full of a unique combination of information. Full of humor with a little bit of trivia and tips added, this is a great book for your winter reading. Definitely recommend.

Editorial Review:

Uncle John's Unsinkable Bathroom Reader is jam-packed with over 500 pages of humor, history, science, pop culture, and more. This all-new 21st edition in this popular series is divided into short, medium, and long sections that explore topics including: Breaking the Mayan Code, Cycads: The Most Ancient Plants on Earth, The History of the Library of Congress, Return to Chernobyl, An Untold Story of WWII: The Fighting 442, The Origin of Lasers, Japanese Scholar Rocks, The Heart of the Andes, The Luniverse, and The Truth About Jumping Beans. With Uncle John’s trademark trivia, obscure facts and figures, forgotten histories, and unknown origins, this book provides readers with hours of fun.

The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy

Rick Beyer

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Collins Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $4.48

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Subjects -> History -> Historical Study -> Reference
Subjects -> History -> Military -> General
Subjects -> History -> Military -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

History isn't always made by great armies colliding or by great civilizations rising or falling. Sometimes it's made when a chauffeur takes a wrong turn, a scientist forgets to clean up his lab, or a drunken soldier gets a bit rowdy. That's the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest Stories Never Told.

This is history candy -- the good stuff. Here are 100 tales to astonish, bewilder, and stupefy: more than two thousand years of history filled with courage, cowardice, hope, triumph, sex, intrigue, folly, humor, and ambition. It's a historical delight and a visual feast with hundreds of photographs, drawings, and maps that bring each story to life. A new discovery waits on every page: stories that changed the course of history and stories that affected what you had for breakfast this morning.

Consider:

• The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer
• Some Roman officials were so corrupt that they actually stole time itself
• Three cigars changed the course of the Civil War
• The Scottish kilt was invented by an Englishman

Based on the popular Timelab 2000® history minutes hosted by Sam Waterston on The History Channel®, this collection of fascinating historical tidbits will have you shaking your head in wonder and disbelief. But they're all true. And you'll soon find yourself telling them to your friends.