Presented in handy pocket-size, this title catalogues the various misconceptions, mistakes and misunderstandings in 'common knowledge' that can make you wonder why anyone bothers going to school.

Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays safely in his own study at home, he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. This book is his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.

New edition of the bestselling compendium of general knowledge

Intends to provide you great wisdom in the morning, several conversational bons mots for the afternoon, and many an enlightened smile after dark. This book contains the 13 principles of witchcraft, the structure of military hierarchy, clothing care symbols, a list of the countries where you drive on the left, and a nursery rhyme about sneezing.

If ever there were a book to make you switch off your television set, The Dangerous Book for Boys is it.

From autombiles to zippers - an entertaining illustrated A-Z of the processes behind the manufacture of everyday items. Perfect as a novelty gift book for the enquiring mind, or a practical A-Z reference for libraries.

Collects and organizes the world into lists of sets and subsets, such as atmospheric layers, climate zones, Jupiter's satellites, Dante's levels of Hell, the Braille alphabet, US Army and Navy rankings, and even what all those numbers mean at the bottom of bank checks.

Includes words and phrases (Al-Qaeda, 9/11), characters, places (and monsters) from fantasy literature (including The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter ), political and sporting nicknames. This dictionary includes 'list entries' like misattributed quotations, first lines of novels, and the 'etymologies' of rock group names.

As an editor at Esquire , AJ Jacobs had built up knowledge of celebrity trivia - and the cure was going to take a long time. While others read a broadsheet at the weekend, or become casual newsnight enthusiasts, Jacobs elected to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica . Part assemblage of trivia, part journey through adulthood, this is fun to read.

Have you ever wondered why most books of quotations are stuffed full of rather pedestrian quotes by people you've never heard of? This quotation book gathers the truest and funniest insights of the best minds, and organises them into 250 subjects, from ambition to worry, (or from artichokes to woodpeckers).

Containing colour images and a presentation, this title offers a different learning experience. It intends to place facts within the framework of knowledge. It contains 20 courses created by experts in their fields with the intention of making the topics accessible and entertaining.

A quiz book which answers brain-twisting questions. It asks readers to recall as many items as they can from a list, and to solve the hidden links between groups of questions. It also includes anecdotes, comments and curious facts.

Imagine an edition of The Guinness Book of Records selected by a panel of stand-up comedians. This work is packed with original contributions from Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Bill Bailey and other regular guests on the show, with games to play at home, puzzles, cartoon strips, mini-encyclopaedias, how-to diagrams and masses of QI facts.

Helps you discover the hidden personality and behaviour of your mate, lover, friends, boss, co-worker and, even strangers.

Everything has an origin. Everyday items such as the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the televisions we watch, the medicines that cure us, all began somewhere. This book is for people who want to know how, or when, things began, where they came from, and why they started. It celebrates the work of explorers, scientists and inventors.

Offers explorations of art, astronomy, biology, business, economics, the environment, film, geography, history, the Internet, literature, mathematics, music, mythology, philosophy, photography, sports, theatre, film, and many other subjects. This volume includes essays from New York Times experts in various fields of endeavour.

256

A reissue with 16 pages of extra material, including an index.

This leading encyclopedic dictionary provides a comprehensive current English dictionary with proper name entries on people, places, science, the arts, politics, religion, and mythology. This is an updated revised edition. It replaces ISBN 0-19-860046-1.

Featuring horrible science bits, this book is suitable for Horrible Science readers.