|
| 
| Authors: John Mitchinson, John Lloyd
Publisher: Harmony
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $13.57
You Save: $6.38 (32%)
Rating:  56 reviews
Sales Rank: 3604
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1
ISBN: 0307394913
Dewey Decimal Number: 031.02
EAN: 9780307394910
Publication Date: August 7, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Not so ignorant, not so factual December 4, 2007
13 out of 68 found this review helpful
This book makes you think, wow that is interesting--or wow I didn't know that. BUT I found it INTERESTING how the book talks about how humans did not come from monkeys, no no. We actually come from an ancestor "that has not been found yet" but "descended from squirrel-like tree-shews." First of all, macro-evolution has NOT been proved. Micro evolution has, but not macro. I was very disappointed when I read this section, having read several sections before it, filling my brain with possible non-facts. However, the book presents all of its information as truth and fact, just not widely known. That is why it's name is The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know is Wrong. However, I do not think we are so ignorant, nor do I think authors should present groundless information as if it were fact. That section is just one example and in my opinion it automatically makes me question the entire book's validity.
Great reading October 10, 2007
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I bought this book based on a Wired magazine review and was not dissapointed by any means. it is a great easy reading about curious facts that we'll amaze, make laugh or just make you wonder. The short unrelated chapters format makes for a great commute book or just for a quiet time. I recommend this book to anyone that loves curious and not well known facts.
 Those who know (and those who don't know) will read the book November 24, 2007
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is a book for two types of people. Those who know. And those who don't know. Theose who know will read it because they would like to be sure that they know everything that they think they know. Those who don't know will read it because they would like to know what it is that they don't know. Got it?
Irrespective of which camp you belong to, I think that most people who enjoy making small talk and conversation OR people interested in trivia, would find this book an enjoyable read. The topics covered are diverse and each "nugget" or "factoid" has been presented in an extremely interesting way. A great way to cover general knowledge with the kids also.
Worth it.
Those who know
Learning Can Be Fun! September 26, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
What's the name of the tallest mountain in the world? Everest, you say? Wrong - its Maunakea in Hawaii, if you count its base that extends far into the Pacific.
What was Billy the Kid's real name? I'm thinking this is easy - I've been to his grave site. William Bonney, of course! Alas, that turns out to be one of his aliases. His birth name was Henry McCarty.
What do we have Thomas Crapper to thank for? Not what you think! Manhole covers, bathroom showrooms, and the ballcock. The flush toilet came from Alfred Giblin (1819), or was it Sir John Harington (1592), or the Chinese (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.)? Anyway, I'm glad someone invented it.
What do we use to write with on a chalkboard? Stupid question - chalk, of course! Wrong - its gypsum.
And why is the marathon 26 miles, 385 miles? Because that was the distance from the royal palace to the royal reviewing stand many years ago.
Etc., etc.
Good material for those nights when nothing good is on T.V.
Great gift for the trivia buff October 29, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book is insightful without being condescending. I enjoyed the information provided in this book, and some of the information is quite entertaining.
I will no longer accept conventional training at face value.
|
|
|
Copyright 2008 BetterEditor.net
| |
