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Summary: Great Book Answering Some of Life's Little "Trivia"
Review: I first got this book at a local Borders and was amazed at its interesting explanations and addicting prose.The books seems average enough. Its 420 pages long divided into different sections. Pretty tame and normal. But the content is far from it. The premise is also simple. Cecil Adams a pseudonym for an unknown person who I personally believe is Ed Zotti. The people send in questions and he answers them. But these are real questions. The kind that the average person thinks about or nulls about. The kind of questions that involve physics and sports and just plain out little riddles that we think about and never really received the answer to. Whats great is the intersting level and way that Cecil writes the answeres in. He writes so funny that I found myself laughing OUTLOUD which I usually never do. The questions are also answered not given some dumb explanation which no dumby could understand. Accompanied with the book are little cartoonsih pictures that are ok. Cecil is a national resource and i am glad that I got to know his books. They are fun and certaintly not boring as a lot of others can be. I recommend for the child (11 to 16) Know It All which is also quite entertaining. Buy this book for a laugh and YOU SHALL GET IT!
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Summary: Cecil is the Best
Review: I loved this book. I have had it for years and still open it up all the time. It is funny as hell and educational to boot. Buy this book and be known as the smartest person in town. Not only is this book awesome, but I have Cecil's other ones and they rock too.
Rating:
Summary: Knowledge abound with a funny twist...
Review: I ordered this book a few weeks back not really sure what exactly to expect from it, by intrigued by the description of it. We often forget that before the internet was so common, finding out answers to odd questions was a good deal harder than it is in this point and click age. Libraries had to be visited, research done, etc. Once I got it I began to leaf through the pages and skim some of the questions and was very pleasantly surprised by both the content and the style of writing. The premise is simple enough, it was a newspaper column in which people could write in with whatever questions that they had, and Cecil would research them out and give an answer. What makes the book so worth while is the style in which Cecil answers the questions. He has quite a way with words and some of the witticisms he spews back at those asking the questions are outright hilarious. The book is divided into several chapters ranging from language, to sports, entertainment, and many many others so that you can jump straight into a particular line of questions and answers. Having read this, the first collection of his articles, I am planning on buying other collections released soon. This was truly a very fun read that I highly reccomend everyone else pick up and give a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Knowledge abound with a funny twist...
Review: I ordered this book a few weeks back not really sure what exactly to expect from it, by intrigued by the description of it. We often forget that before the internet was so common, finding out answers to odd questions was a good deal harder than it is in this point and click age. Libraries had to be visited, research done, etc. Once I got it I began to leaf through the pages and skim some of the questions and was very pleasantly surprised by both the content and the style of writing. The premise is simple enough, it was a newspaper column in which people could write in with whatever questions that they had, and Cecil would research them out and give an answer. What makes the book so worth while is the style in which Cecil answers the questions. He has quite a way with words and some of the witticisms he spews back at those asking the questions are outright hilarious. The book is divided into several chapters ranging from language, to sports, entertainment, and many many others so that you can jump straight into a particular line of questions and answers. Having read this, the first collection of his articles, I am planning on buying other collections released soon. This was truly a very fun read that I highly reccomend everyone else pick up and give a chance.
Rating:
Summary: 'Straight Dope' >> Far beyond trivia(l)
Review: I read all three of Cecil Adams' STRAIGHT DOPE books during a 2 1/2 week period last summer and I never felt smarter. Halfway through the first I was already looking forward to the next two.
I cannot tell you how many times I have shared facts from these three masterpieces along with whole-hearted recommendations.
If you think you still have more to learn in life or you have a friend who thinks s/he knows it all, you could do no better than THE STRAIGHT DOPE.
One last note: The next two editions are slated for release in 1998 and 2000. I'll be the first one at the bookstore on the days they come out.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book of the Series
Review: If you're the type of persons who always bothers your friends with odd questions that no one seems to have an answer for, this is the book for you. The entire series is great with questions on every topic imaginable and answered with a biting wit that keeps it entertaining. Win bets and impress your friends with your vast new knowledge of all things odd by reading this book.
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Summary: "The Coffee Table Book"
Review: Like an old friend, Cecil Adams tell you bits and pieces of this and that in such a way it's as if he is talking to just you. Keep this book handy and don't hesitate to call upon it when you want to amaze your friends with the depth of your knowledge.
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Summary: For Trivia Addicts everywhere!
Review: The Straight Dope books are some of the best trivia books out there today - they cover all sorts of odds and ends from animals, media, sports to other abnormal oddities. Cecil Adams began his quest for truth in 1973 by accepting letters from the Teeming Millions (as he calls his readers) at the Chicago Reader and his been answering bizzare trivia questions ever since. Cecil has stuck around due to his irrevrant sense of humor and willingness to answer just about anything the public can throw his way. His column is currently seen in more than 30 newspapers throughout the United States and Canada but his books are must haves! The Straight Dope is the first in the grouping and covers all sorts of inane topics such as: What does the 'H' stand for in Jesus H. Christ? Why do pigeons bob their heads? Is it true what they say about Catherine the Great and the horse? Why is there no Channel One? and so on... buy this book and you will be the envy of all your friends - or at least you will be on your way to becoming King or Queen of all useless knowledge. This book makes a great gift (I would know as I tend to buy it for friends) or can be useful for great party chatter!
Rating: 
Summary: I'd give it 5 stars, but Cecil is obnoxious enough already.
Review: The Straight Dope is wonderful reading for anyone with a curious mind. If you ever had a teacher who was rough, rude, and completely arrogant, and you still liked him, then you'll love this book, as well as all of the others in the Straight Dope series.
Rating:
Summary: I'd give it 5 stars, but Cecil is obnoxious enough already.
Review: The Straight Dope is wonderful reading for anyone with a curious mind. If you ever had a teacher who was rough, rude, and completely arrogant, and you still liked him, then you'll love this book, as well as all of the others in the Straight Dope series.
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