Product Description

Aimed at pedants to know-it-alls, as well as those simply wishing to 'get it right', this book will appeal to the modern passion for factual accuracy. The ultimate book to settle any pub argument, it exposes a wide range of facts that we have always believed to be true, but which are, in fact, completely false. It also covers a broad spectrum of subjects in a highly entertaining, yet informative, style. The modern age has long been awash with facts and figures relating to a wealth of different subjects, but how many of these snippets of information can be verified as accurate? Which examples of trivia can be proven to be nothing more than falsehoods or fabrications? Covering a wide range of diverse topics, from history to science, the arts, the animal kingdom, medicine, the human body, and food and drink, and presenting its well-researched facts in a highly accessible and entertaining manner, this intriguing book sets the record straight by exposing a great many of the common myths and fallacies that have become entrenched in everyday thought.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142804 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
'It's a really funny book... The Pedant's Revolt - it's all there, fully researched.' Richard Madeley, Richard and Judy

About the Author
Author and freelance technical writer Andrea Barham is the acceptable face of pedantry: while she is a big fan of the world, she feels there should be less wrongness and more rightness in it. Painfully aware of her inability to correct the bigger issues such as war, poverty and global warming, she is concentrating on smaller issues, more suited to her skills, which consist of 'looking stuff up'. By correcting common misconceptions, such as the belief that your heart stops when you sneeze, she is hoping that this will have a knock-on effect and eventually all wrongs will be righted, but she is not holding her breaths (which, incidentally, one cannot die from, as is commonly believed). Please support her crusade. The Pedant's Revolt is her fifth book.

Customer Reviews

Revolting Pleasure - as seen on Richard and Judy
This isn't my usual type of book but a friend pressed me to read it because they obviously think I'm a pedant. I'm glad to say I loved it! Andrea Barham quickly draws you in with a highly personal slant and I found myself easily fascinated with subjects that wouldn't have previously have appealed to me. I can now confidently refute some of my wife's old wives tales (tho she was partly right about some) and am armed and ready to pedantically deflate my father-in-law's worst pomposities. Joking aside, this is such an easy book to read yet crammed full of fascinating truths along with accompanying internet links for many of the articles should you wish to delve deeper. I love the way that if you have a butterfly mind you can easily flit from topic to topic but also the way Andrea personalises it so that it isn't just another dry, academic historical or grammatical textbook. I loved it and am eagerly waiting more, meanwhile I'm going to go to the internet link to hear JFK call himself a jelly doughnut - or did he ?!
Enjoy...

Factual accuracy with a touch of humour
There's nothing better than telling someone who thinks they are right that they are wrong -- and with this book in your pocket you will be well-prepared to do just that! Andrea Barham's book seeks to debunk the many myths that have grown up over the years in human life. Think that Aryans were an ancient race of tall, blue-eyed blondes? That six-shooters shot six bullets? That lemmings commit mass suicide? Think again! In 21 themed chapters (Art, Food, History, etc) the author takes us through hundreds of common misconceptions, revealing the facts behind the beliefs. This is a top-quality production -- it feels nice to hold and is full of interesting facts, laced with a generous touch of humour throughout. This is a perfect book to keep on the shelves and dip into and is bound to be a bestseller. Buy it now, before it sells out!

Very entertaining and informative
This is a great little book. The sort you can just pick up at any time, and derive a bit of useful information.....and a chuckle! It reveals the truth about loads of things we've been brought up to believe. There were so many 'urban myths' in there that I'd heard of, and actually wondered about! Well written, well illustrated, and obviously well researched, it makes a perfect gift...especially at this price!