Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19885 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-08
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Book - full of interesting and informative facts!
I thought this book was thoroughly enjoyable, very informative. I liked the foot notes, it was a humorous way to conclude each entry. I found it easy to read and it didn't get bogged down on lots of technical phrases.

I'm already looking forward to a sequel!

Tell me something I didn't know!
I'm thinking of writing a companion volume called "Stating the Obvious: a load of stuff you already knew but I want to jump on the bandwagon too." For instance, take the very first entry: "Harpo Marx was mute". Did you think Harpo was mute? No, me neither. Similarly, did you believe that Frankenstein was a monster, that Pagans were devil-worshippers, that JFK said "I am a doughnut" or James Cagney "you dirty rat"? Or, and this clinched it for me, were you under the impression that "'It's' is a possessive pronoun"?
Admittedly there is some interesting stuff in here, but the amount of trivial bits and pieces that most people would already know, just makes the whole thing a bit feeble and patronising.

Excellent little book. Full of interesting facts
I must admit I found this to be an excellent little book. The author appears to not just state the facts BEHIND the myths but goes straight to the origins rather than "secondary sources".

I don't quite understand Geoff Bache's assertion that the author says that Puff the Magic Dragon isn't about drugs without any reason - surely quoting the author of the poem and the strong "denial of those associated with the song's origins" is enough for him? I therefore question his motives for denigrating this book.

For me, this was a fun book that debunks lots of regurgitated myths - if you want to carry on believing them then that's up to you!