(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best trivia & fun facts books

We found 328 Reddit comments discussing the best trivia & fun facts books. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 158 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

21. Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures

Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures
Specs:
Height8.25 Inches
Length5.3125 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateApril 2007
Weight0.78043640748 Pounds
Width0.84 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

24. An Underground Education: The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields

An Underground Education: The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields
Specs:
ColorWhite
Height9.23 Inches
Length7.1 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateApril 1999
Weight1.57410055068 Pounds
Width1.17 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

25. Strange disappearances

Strange disappearances
Specs:
Weight0.25 pounds
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26. You Might Be a Zombie and Other Bad News: Shocking but Utterly True Facts

    Features:
  • You Might Be a Zombie and Other Bad News: Shocking but Utterly True Facts [Paperback]
You Might Be a Zombie and Other Bad News: Shocking but Utterly True Facts
Specs:
ColorBurgundy/maroon
Height7.97 Inches
Length5.3 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateDecember 2010
Weight0.5 Pounds
Width0.73 Inches
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27. The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep

The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep
Specs:
ColorMulticolor
Height8.2 Inches
Length5.5 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateOctober 2003
Weight0.00220462262 Pounds
Width0.98 Inches
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28. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

Used Book in Good Condition
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Specs:
Height9.44 Inches
Length6.3 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateMarch 2004
Weight2.35 Pounds
Width1.59 Inches
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30. Why Stop?: A Guide to Texas Roadside Historical Markers

    Features:
  • THICK & DURABLE GUN BELT - MADE IN THE USA OF USA LEATHER - 100% American - 100% Quality - GUARANTEED NO BREAK BELTS! Made by Skilled Craftsmen our USA made belts are here to stay. When you need a tough belt for CCW wear, that won't break the bank, this is it, the Hanks Gunner Gun Belt. Our solid leather belts will anchor your holster improving your ability to access your firearm.
  • 100% FULL GRAIN LEATHER -ONE PIECE - NO FILLERS- These ccw belts will never split like some cheaper belts will - Made from 100% Full-Grain leather, the Gunner can take anything you throw its way and will continue to look great with age. Full Grain leather is the top layer of the hide which is the toughest part, making this concealed carry belt indestructible
  • 14OZ LEATHER - 1.5" WIDE - Vegetable Tanned leather. Approximately .22-.23 thick No Sag, No Rollover, No Stretching we guarantee it! So add that extra ammo, your mag light and whatever else you might need for everyday carry. These belts are built to last and last they will. Removable buckle is fastened with removable Chicago Screws instead of snaps so the buckle can easily be changed,the last thing you will have to worry about is a snap that could break, because there are none!
  • 100 YEAR WARRANTY - yep that's right we are so confident in our shooting belts we have your back for 100 years! This belt will not break and if it does, send it back, we'll get you another one, for free! The quality of our belts are unsurpassed.
  • 100% FREE EXCHANGES IF NEEDED! If you have any questions please contact us. We are here to help
Why Stop?: A Guide to Texas Roadside Historical Markers
Specs:
Height8.94 Inches
Length6.01 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateApril 2013
Weight1.56087281496 Pounds
Width1.18 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

31. Oregon Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, And Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series)

    Features:
  • Used Book in Good Condition
Oregon Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, And Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series)
Specs:
Height8.9 Inches
Length6 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJanuary 2010
Weight0.06172943336 Pounds
Width0.8 Inches
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32. The Xenophobe's Guide to the Danes (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books)

    Features:
  • Used Book in Good Condition
The Xenophobe's Guide to the Danes (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books)
Specs:
Height7 Inches
Length4.25 Inches
Number of items1
Weight0.10582188576 Pounds
Width0.25 Inches
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33. The Book of the Damned: The Collected Works of Charles Fort

    Features:
  • Used Book in Good Condition
The Book of the Damned: The Collected Works of Charles Fort
Specs:
Height9 Inches
Length6 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateMay 2008
Weight0.00220462262 Pounds
Width2.25 Inches
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35. The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny

The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny
Specs:
Height7.999984 Inches
Length4.99999 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateOctober 2004
Weight3.16 Pounds
Width0.999998 Inches
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36. The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny

    Features:
  • Used Book in Good Condition
The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny
Specs:
Height7.999984 Inches
Length4.99999 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateMarch 2010
Weight2.55 Pounds
Width0.999998 Inches
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37. The New Book of Lists: The Original Compendium of Curious Information

The New Book of Lists: The Original Compendium of Curious Information
Specs:
Height9 Inches
Length5.75 Inches
Number of items1
Weight1.43961857086 Pounds
Width1.5 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

38. The Book of Word Records: A Look at Some of the Strangest, Shortest, Longest, and Overall Most Remarkable Words in the English Language

The Book of Word Records: A Look at Some of the Strangest, Shortest, Longest, and Overall Most Remarkable Words in the English Language
Specs:
Height7.5 Inches
Length5.5 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJuly 2013
Weight0.64595442766 Pounds
Width0.68 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

39. Uncle John's Giant 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Series)

Uncle John's Giant 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Series)
Specs:
Height8.5 Inches
Length5.5 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateSeptember 1997
Weight1.34 Pounds
Width1.5 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

🎓 Reddit experts on trivia & fun facts books

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where trivia & fun facts books are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Total score: 66
Number of comments: 12
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 30
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 24
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 18
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 9
Number of comments: 2
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 5
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 4
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 3
Number of comments: 3
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 2
Number of comments: 2
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 0
Number of comments: 2
Relevant subreddits: 1

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Top Reddit comments about Trivia & Fun Facts:

u/lollycaustic · 13 pointsr/Denmark

As a fellow New Zealander currently living in Copenhagen, welcome!

My first recommendation would be to not make the New Zealand/Old Zealand joke, e.g., Yeah I'm from New Zealand, I thought I'd see what Old Zealand was like... Danes do not find it funny. Also, everyone will think you are from Australia, so that's something to get used to.

Misc. Helpful Info

  • Buy a 10-trip Klippekort at the airport. You can use this on all public transport. It will cost you 2 clips to get into the city from the airport and take about 15 minutes if you take the Metro (a bit more if you take the S-train). If your trip stays within zones 1 and 2, then you can clip your card once and travel as much as you like for an hour from when you "clip the ticket."

  • Get a map of the city from the OPENhagen tourist office opposide Tivoli or from the DSB office at Nørreport station.

  • Entry-level wages are very high in Denmark, about £11/hour, so anything with a service costs a lot. That's why everything is a bit more expensive in Denmark. As a result, you can find a beer for 30 DKK, but a coffee might cost you 35 DKK, because handing you a beer doesn't involve a lot of labour, but making a latte does.

  • For addresses, the street numbers come after the street name. So, Fælledvej 7 means #7 on Fælledvej.

  • Getting a bike is something that goes without saying. You can get a relatively cheap bicycle (approximately 700 DKK) from the police bicycle auctions. Info here: http://www.kbhauktioner.dk/

  • There is a huge difference between prices in supermarkets. Netto, Fakta, Lidl & Aldi are cheap but have a limited selection (Think small-scale Pak 'N Save). Irma, Super Brugsen, Føtex, and Kvickly are dearer but typically have better selections (Think small scale New World). If you want out of the ordinary things (i.e., not European foods), then you can usually get these at the small grocers stores, which tend to be run by ethnic minorities.

    Integration

  • Don't be afraid to ask people to speak English, because everybody speaks it. Ironically, English is the lingua franca of Europe.

  • However, language lessons are a important and are FREE to you because you aren't from Europe. They're also a good place to meet people. As you will have already discovered, pronunciation is very difficult, but the grammar isn't. If you're planning on staying for two years, I'd recommend either of these places:

  • www.studieskolen.dk/
  • www.sprogcenter-ia.dk/
  • I'd recommend the Xenophobes Guide to the Danes. It's short but insightful and explains a lot: www.amazon.com/The-Xenophobes-Guide-Danes-Guides/dp/1902825241
  • Hygge is an important concept in Danish life. It roughly translates to 'cosiness', but also includes notions of being free from stress. It often involves lighting candles too.
  • Clothing style in Copenhagen is casual but tidy. Modest but relatively urbane and stylish clothing, e.g.: www.thelocals.dk/category/places/copenhagen
  • This sort of thing is considered funny: www.wumocomicstrip.com
  • Danes don't do small talk. Never ask a Dane 'How are you?' or 'How's it going?' casually, unless you really want to know how they are.
  • Take your shoes off before entering someone's house. You'll understand why in winter when it snows.
  • Danes can be very defensive about Denmark, so tread carefully if you are thinking of saying something critical about the country, the culture, or their welfare state.

    Cool Streets/Areas/Going out

  • Nørrebro and Vesterbro are the cooler boroughs of the city. Frederiksberg is the wealthiest, followed by Østerbro, and so both are relatively quiet as a result. There are some cool parts of the inner city and Christianshavn. Amagerbro is OK because it is close to the city center and the beach, but doesn't offer much else.
  • Elmegade, off Nørrebrogade in Nørrebro. The coolest street in a traditionally immigrant area that more recently has been populated with hip young people, streetwear stores and cool cafes. Elmegade also has some good bars too, so head there if you want to go out earlier in the evening. Nørrebro places are a bit more chill. Gefährlich at Fælledvej 7, the street parallel to Elmegade, is nice.
  • Jæggersborggade in Nørrebro is an innovative community rejuvenation project by the residents of the street where they decided to lively up their neighbourhood by opening stores, cafes and restaurants in the basements of the formerly residential street. It’s a great example of how Copenhageners are innovators in their use of space, putting to use buildings that were designed for one purpose for something else.
  • Istegade in Vesterbro. The main street of a traditionally working class area that some time ago was populated with hip young people and now has hip young parents, streetwear stores and cool cafes. You'll find Kødbyen, which locals call the Meat Packing District, close to Istegade in Vesterbro. There are loads of bars and clubs there too. Jolene and Karriere are some of the favourites there. Head here late in the evening to dance to minimal techno until the early morning.
u/CryptidGrimnoir · 15 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Hello, Brother!

Okay, so if it's non-fiction you want, then I know just what you need.

If you want a good overview, Mysterious America by Loren Coleman, who's more or less the godfather of cryptozoology, is a superb first entry for anybody interested in cryptozoology. I especially liked the sections on "Panthera Atrox." There are sections on phantom ships and other more mystical elements of the Fortean, and some might find its focus on North America a bit limited, but I'd still recommend it.

Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures

I'd also recommend Coleman's "field guides." These don't go into quite as much detail as Mysterious America, but they do provide a rather intriguing look at the diversity in sightings of animals that do not belong. The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates and The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep are useful, as is the similar, if somewhat dated, Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature.

The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates

The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep

Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature

Coleman's written some other books as well, focused on individual cryptids. Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters are among the most notable.

Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America

Mothman and Other Curious Encounters

Moving on, I found another book that functions as a good overview of cryptozoology is Jerome Clark's Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena. Clark gets into a bit more Fortean elements than Coleman does, but his book also includes some cryptids that Coleman rarely pays attention to--including living dinosaurs.

Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena

If you have a particular taste for feline cryptids--surviving Panthera Artox, surviving saber-toothed cats, whatever the heck the ones is--then I must recommend the writings of Karl Shuker. Shuker is a prolific writer, and to list his books would take up a lot more space, but if I had to choose one, I'd recommend Extraordinary Animals.

Extraordinary Animals: Revisited

You didn't mention whether you were an American, but Stackpole Books has a "Monsters Of" series that has the folklore of individual states in the United States.

Following up on that, if you live in California, or if you have a fondness for sea monsters, then you may also like the book Mysterious Sea Monsters of California's Central Coast.

Mysterious Sea Monsters of California's Central Coast

Now, I know you said you weren't looking for novels, but if you have kids of your own, or you have younger relatives who might like the material, there's always the works of Roland Smith. Sasquatch and the "Cryptid Quartet" which includes Cryptid Hunters, Tentacles, Chupacabra, and Mutation are all great reads for middle readers, or for the young at heart.

Sasquatch

Cryptid Hunters

Tentacles

Chupacabra

Mutation

u/strychnineman · 1 pointr/books

as a kid, i used to grab the dictionary whenever i got bored. mom bought a set of the World Book Encyclopedia, and with it was a two-volume dictionary. i had no idea most people would think it was odd, or i'd have probably stopped reading it. but frankly, it was great fun. i'd learn a bunch from just a single page.

arguably, though, Johnson's dictionary is probably the most "readable" in terms of straightforward enjoyment and entertainment. of course some usages are now antiquated... but you might find it a good option if your desire is to read from A to Z, literally, in order.

"He is even believed to have made up some words. His definition of oats is very rude to the Scots. He defines the word as 'A Grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Johnson was criticised for imposing his personality on to the book. However, his dictionary was enormously popular and highly respected for its epic sense of scholarship." From the British LIbrary. You can get an abridged reprint HERE

The OED is the grand poobah. but a full set is not viable, unless you want to read it in the library. The condensed two-volume set requires a magnifying glass.... But if you wanted as close an experience to the real thing, an abridged Oxford English Dictionary would be excellent. I like the OED because it delves into etymology, and the usage examples are the definitive examples of first known appearance in print.

u/Anikando · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Windows plays games

If he is into League of Legends and it's anything like League of Angels was, get him game cash/"diamonds"/goodies (or SportsAuthority etc. gift cards to buy game cash/"diamonds"/goodies). The link would depend on his server, so it would be www.GTArcade.com if he's with them, but there are several. My husband played LoA for months and that was definitely his favorite gift. :P

If you don't wanna go the cash route, maybe a Best of Rooster Teeth DVD? http://store.roosterteeth.com/collections/home-video/products/thebestofroosterteethshortsdvd.

If I win, I'd like "You Might Be a Zombie, and Other Bad News". Thanks!

u/grendelt · 1 pointr/texashistory

Last Christmas, I got my dad the latest edition of Famous Trees of Texas which may sound a little odd at first but it's given us some really good daytrip ideas. The book lists major landmark trees all over the state. Cool to see because those trees are still alive. It's fun to walk up and put your hand on a tree that goes back to some bygone era.
If you know you're going to be in some corner of the state, you can look up what trees are in the area and go check them out. I've usually found geocaches nearby and there's almost always a Texas Historical Marker near it.

Which leads me to my second recommendation if you think the tree thing is too odd. "Why Stop?" is a book with all the historical marker info in it. (There's also a few neat, free iOS apps with all the state historical marker info on it too.) I've found it interesting to be able to vicariously travel the state and explore area history from the couch.

u/CobaltMoon98 · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

fear cuts deeper than swords

  1. [Here is a grey Batman.] (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knight-Rises-Action-Figure/dp/B00856ZPK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I27AJ57RLKJIF5)
  2. [Well, it is rainy.] (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knight-Comic-Poster-Lightning/dp/B003XNCK5Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1376355786&sr=8-5&keywords=batman+rain)
  3. [Do drinks count as food? If so, then this is food related.] (http://www.amazon.com/ICUP-Comics-Batman-Cube-Tray/dp/B005MUAPOO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I217LY4KTSIWBE)
  4. [This is for my wonderful little niece. Actually, the majority of my wish list is for her and her brother.] (http://www.amazon.com/Tabby-Plush-Stuffed-Animal-Orange/dp/B008UH3PYI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I2Z2HJV442A08W)
  5. [I'd suggest this one since I love Stephen King. I haven't been able to read much of it though, since it got stolen.] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Stand-Stephen-King/dp/0307947300/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I1IL4AU89KR1NG)
  6. [Does a pin count as jewelry?] (http://www.amazon.com/Imagination/dp/B003ZT3QIQ/ref=sr_1_14?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1376358078&sr=1-14&keywords=pin)
  7. [My sister's cat would love this.] (http://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Senses-Circuit-Original/dp/B001LWRFW2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376355861&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+toys)
  8. [This game is awe inspiring, so I'd love to see the artwork.] (http://www.amazon.com/The-BioShock-Infinite-Irrational-Games/dp/1595829946/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I23ZRYZ9JQIOEG)
  9. [This has always been a favorite of mine. It was also filmed in Oregon. I got to visit the house.] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Goonies-Sean-Astin/dp/B000P0J09W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376358133&sr=8-2&keywords=the+goonies)
  10. [A knife is always useful. Plus, it's Batman.] (http://www.amazon.com/WarTech-Batman-Knife-Assist-Blades/dp/B00C87ZRRY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I2UCKA5S75K356)
  11. [I really need to get organized. This would be amazing.] (http://www.amazon.com/2014-Injustice-Gods-Among-Calendar/dp/1423822110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376356012&sr=1-1&keywords=batman+calendar+2014)
  12. [Those dang add ons...] (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knight-QuickTek-Flight-Strike/dp/B006O6F3U6/ref=pd_sim_t_21)
  13. [Well, it's not really my dream item,. but it's expensive.] (http://www.amazon.com/Funko-POP-Heroes-Vinyl-Two-Face/dp/B005D5U5LQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I36SNIFSQ73X9E)
  14. [The things it makes smell wonderful.] (http://www.amazon.com/Oster-3883-Belgian-Wafflemaker-Chrome/dp/B00006FMT8/ref=sr_1_14?s=appliances&ie=UTF8&qid=1376358434&sr=1-14&keywords=waffle+maker)
  15. [My wish list is full of toys, so here's one for my nephew.] (http://www.amazon.com/Marvel-Ultimate-Spider-Man-Strike-Figure/dp/B00AKDJUQ2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=I2TOQWD7NGD1VW)
  16. [Since I'll be doing a lot of work on the computer, this'd be great.] (http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Creed-2-Mouse-Pad/dp/B00BGD5OK6/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1376358322&sr=1-2&keywords=assassins+creed)
  17. [As you can probably tell, I love Batman.] (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knight-Samsung-Galaxy-plastic/dp/B0090HER8K/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HTHRVKNRES31&coliid=II9039CFAMLKH)

    [Here is a neat book about Oregon.] (http://www.amazon.com/Oregon-Curiosities-2nd-Characters-Roadside/dp/0762749717/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376357656&sr=8-3&keywords=made+in+oregon)

    [Here is something made in Oregon.] (http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Shine-Breakfast-Gift-Set/dp/B0011UNLKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376357656&sr=8-1&keywords=made+in+oregon)


    PS: Are you from Oregon? Also, thank you for the reminder.
u/fosterwallacejr · 2 pointsr/books

Anyone ever read any Charles Fort? A very early paranormal tabloid writer, he is super awesome!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1585426415/ref=mp_s_a_2?qid=1321767609&sr=8-2

Also, maybe less rare but super awesome: Francois Rabelais!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0679431373/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1321767690&sr=8-1

u/EricSteve · 2 pointsr/todayilearned

Every single article on damninteresting.com qualifies for TIL haha, that place is awesome, I wish Allan Bellows would start updating again but he's been getting his life on track since some RL drama.

P.S. buy the DI book "Alien Hand Syndrome"
http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Hand-Syndrome-Alan-Bellows/dp/B003NHR8P2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311271368&sr=1-1
It's awesome!

u/kuqumi · 5 pointsr/DnD

The concept of sound symbolism has gained some credibility recently... I got a coffee-table book that goes into huge detail on the associations each sound has and how that affects the impression a name produces. The book's pretty cheap on Amazon: [The Secret Universe of Names](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585675946/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1585675946&linkCode=as2&tag=32136546857-20 "In the interest of full disclosure, this is a referral link for me")

I also wrote a spreadsheet that alternates consonant and vowel sounds to help me generate passwords I can remember, and it works ok for coming up with name ideas.

u/sheesh · 5 pointsr/AskReddit

There's a book about this: The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny.

It's not about name "meanings," but rather it describes and predicts personality traits based on the sounds in first names. E.g. "Why do the Keiths of the business world statistically out-perform the Nigels by almost 300%?"

It devotes one page for each similar-sounding name. I own it and it's pretty interesting.

(copypasta from a previous comment of mine, last time there was a thread like this)

u/miramarco · 2 pointsr/quiteinteresting

I would recommend these:

  • The Economic Naturalist by Robert H. Frank. It's a collection of explanations about microeconomics and industrial production (for example: why are milk cartons rectangular while cans are cylindrical? why do DVDs and CDs have different kinds of cases? why are supermodels paid so much?).

  • The New Book of Lists by David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace. Many lists feature short anecdotes you might enjoy.

  • Schott's Original Miscellany by Ben Schott. It's not properly a "trivia book", it's a hodgepodge of charts, tables and lists that cover pretty much every possible topic, from the types of clouds to the slang used by the British gay subculture to the flag of Guadeloupe. By the way, every book by Schott is worth reading.

    Surely, there are others I've read and I don't remember at the moment.
u/PhilipMoon · 39 pointsr/writing

Hello, Cracked writer here.

I understand some of the frustration you feel, but I don't fully agree with your conclusions. I have done the Cracked list and it is a great launching off point for writing.

The format may be similar, but because it is popular and smarter than Buzzfeed or the many Buzzfeed knock-offs, it opens a lot of doors. I used my Cracked resume to get into contact with Fox Studios, and as a result I have had two seasons of a college sports web series called Suit Up, the second season now airing on DirecTV's Audience Channel.

There are several writers for the site who have gone on to be published. Among them

u/Maldevinine · 3 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Oh man. There's a series of exactly this. They're fairly big tomes on cheap paper with about 3 pages at a time dedicated to some obscure and interesting fact or piece of history. They're like Cracked on paper, and slightly classier (very slightly).

Actually, Cracked has a few books. Like this and this. Buy, chain to the toilet and become the most loved man in your building.

Found it. The Bathroom Reader's Institute.

u/I_See_Dead_Redditors · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

For a Kindle book I would LOVE to get this one

For a real book I can hold in my hands this would be the best Used is fine :)

Thanks for the contest!

u/noahpoah · 1 pointr/suggestmeabook

Charles Seife's Alpha & Omega is a very good popular science book about cosmology, which is not astronomy exactly, but is closely related enough (and maybe part of what is in the documentaries you mentioned) to be of interest, I think. I enjoyed it immensely, along with a number of his other books (e.g., Decoding the Universe, Zero).

u/Slouching2Bethlehem · 2 pointsr/tipofmytongue

Love those books.

Depending on how old you are if you saw it growing up, it could have been [The Way Things Work] (https://www.amazon.com/New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473) or possibly the How Stuff Works [book itself] (https://www.amazon.com/How-Stuff-Works-Marshall-Brain/dp/0785824324/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491399864&sr=1-1&keywords=how+stuff+works)

u/neovulcan · 1 pointr/findareddit

not a subreddit but I think you'd enjoy An Underground Education

u/PoorWanderingOne · 6 pointsr/UnresolvedMysteries

This is one of the disappearances detailed in a 1972 book by Brad Steiger, called 'Strange Disappearances'. I have had a copy of this book since I was a teenager, and there are many interesting stories told within its pages for which there is virtually no information available about online.. drives me bonkers, because I would love to know more about many of them!


https://www.amazon.com/Strange-disappearances-Brad-Steiger/dp/B0006XWCRK

u/Dialed_In · 2 pointsr/todayilearned

If you like interesting and strange facts about history. Check out "An underground education" by Richard Zacks

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385483767?pc_redir=1414100278&robot_redir=1

u/rojojoftw · 496 pointsr/mildlyinteresting

It is. Apparently the book is being released in two weeks or so - http://www.amazon.com/Did-You-Read-That-Review-ebook/dp/B00O7XEOJY It didn't come with a note though, so I had no idea why I was getting a free book until I saw the reviews of the unicorn mask.

u/teachbirds2fly · 1 pointr/IAmA

Big fan for a number of years. Even bought David Wongs book and You Might Be A Zombie

Who would you say Cracked's biggest competitors are?

How do you see the website developing, i.e. more videos, moving away from lists etc...?

u/testmypatience · 9 pointsr/Entrepreneur

That's a tough question. Honestly a lot of engineers can't think uniquely enough because they don't know how all that stuff works. Most are book taught instead of hands on educated.

My father was an engineer and I loved taking things apart.

So if you want to learn some mechanical engineering I would do three things:

  1. Take things apart and attempt to put them back together. A great place to find things to take apart is 2nd hand stores such as Goodwill or Salvation Army. Possibly you see something sticking out of someones trash and you pick it up.

    WARNING: Do not poke around inside CRT TVs or monitors unless you want to die. Capacitors in large appliances will injure or kill you. Not even joking. Learn what a capacitor is before you take anything apart. Little capacitors can't do much but the larger ones can. Hell some little ones will scare the fuck out of you. Like the ones in disposable cameras. They will make you take a tinkle in your shorts.

  2. Read a lot of stuff on HowStuffWorks.com. It used to be better but it still has cool stuff on it. I would poke around using the search option. If you know what you want to see how it works, then type it in and go for it. Something like this.

    They also make a kickass book that is almost better than their website.

  3. Learn how to use a CAD program. Some of them have student versions. Or you could "find" one somewhere.

    Bonus: Check out /r/askscience and /r/machineporn and check out popular science then popular mechanics.

    Bonus 2: Physics and mechanical games.
u/knapalm · 2 pointsr/AnomaliesUnleashed

I first read about the man from Taured in Brad Steiger's 1972 book "Strange Disappearances." Definitely worth the read and also predates the earliest source the guys in the video could find.
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-disappearances-Brad-Steiger/dp/B0006XWCRK

u/ravelle · 1 pointr/funny

Oh thank you, it's been a while since I've read it. Found it reading in An Underground Education

u/Tonda06 · 1 pointr/pics

hmm...very interesting..it's been a while since i've read fiction books, i'm currently reading "Underground Education"..just to mix things up...i'll have to look at those two and start reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Education-Unauthorized-Outrageous-Supplement/dp/0385483767

u/jfb3 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

The book How Stuff Works (or a similar book).

u/mikedash · 21 pointsr/AskHistorians

The first waves of coulrophobia that we have records of comprise what were initially labelled "phantom clown" scares. The earliest of these actually dates to 1981 – five years before Stephen King published It – and was reported on by Loren Coleman in a seminal article which appeared in the US magazine Fate (1982), and which was elaborated on shortly afterwards by Bob Tarte and Bill Holms in piece for the British magazine Fortean Times (autumn 1982) titled "A Circle of Clowns". Coleman's original article was later republished as a chapter of his book Mysterious America (1983), a compilation that has run through numerous editions since it was first published. It's very interesting to note, in this respect, that the relevant chapter was actually omitted from the 1989 edition, because, Coleman has said, it was considered "too scary" by the book's publisher.

The scare that Coleman reported on began in Boston, and involved the spread of accounts of men dressed in colourful clothes attempting to lure children into vans. The scare spread within the state, to Brookline, and then from Massachusetts to Pittsburgh and on to Kansas City, Denver, Omaha and St Louis, where newspapers reported on "killer clowns" that were supposedly menacing children at bus stops. In every case, the police investigated, but were unable to apprehend any perpetrators, and in fact concluded that no adults had seen any of the mysterious figures – every report they had originated with children, though they were actually phoned in by concerned parents: "We've had calls saying there was a clown at a certain intersection and we happened to have police cars sitting there, and the officers saw nothing. We've had over 20 calls on 911. When the officers get there, no one tells them anything."

In fact, all these tales conformed to a basic common pattern, as Coleman explained:

>I have always strictly defined a "Phantom Clown" episode as one involving a clown-costumed individual attempting to entice or lure a child into a van, the woods, or other isolated situations. But then when the police or parents get involved, no clown can be found or captured.

Tracing the spread of stories of this sort was not easy in the pre-internet age unless they became front-page sensations, which the great majority of "phantom clown" stories did not. Coleman was only able to do so by utilising the contemporary networks that then existed of amateur newspaper clippers who supplied Fortean Times, its US equivalent INFO Journal, and an organisation known as COUD-I ("Collectors of Unusual Data – International") which was run for several years in the 1980s by an American researcher called Ray Nelke. [Full disclosure: beginning in 1981, I was one of those clipsters, and I joined the Fortean Times team in 1982 and have worked either for or with the magazine ever since.]

Compiling the information that he was able to retrieve in this way, Coleman observed that, although "the national newspapers and wire services were totally unaware of the widespread nature of such accounts, the stories were remarkably alike." One key characteristic was that the perpetrators were never caught, and indeed very likely never existed – that is, the "scares" appeared to be a type of urban legend.

Coleman's work was picked up and followed up on by the folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand, who in August 1991 published an account titled "Take away kidnapping clowns" in the Syracuse Post Standard. Brunvand's article gives a listing of clown panics that begins with the 1981 "flap", and no earlier accounts have been traced so far, although similar reports have recurred as recently as 2016.

Several writers have attempted to investigate the factors that caused the initial wave of panic back in 1981. Two that were very heavily publicised at the time, and are frequently cited as possible inspirations, are the Atlanta child murders of 1979-81, later attributed to the serial killer Wayne Williams, which involved the widely-reported disappearance of at least 19 children and adolescents aged from 7 up, and – as you mention – the trial of John Wayne Gacy, which began in February 1980. Gacy, who was found guilty of murdering 33 children, adolescents and young men, had worked as a children's entertainer known as "Pogo the Clown".

Later inspirations certainly included It (1986) and the move Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988). But I'd suggest that some elements of the trope probably go back a lot further than that – very arguably at least as far as the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

Sources

Loren Coleman, Mysterious America (1983)

Robert E. Bartholomew and Benjamin Radford, The Martians Have Landed!: A History of Media-Driven Panics and Hoaxes (2011)