Customer Reviews

1,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I've been an avid reader of Cary's McNeal's "List of the Day" blog for a while now. As soon as I saw this book on LOTD, I quickly ordered my own copy. This book is hilarious - yet informative. Cary has a witty one-liner (or two) about each fact, and I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud while reading. As a librarian, I appreciate how Cary listed the source for each fact, so the reader, if so inclined, could do additional research if he/she so desired. There are chapters such as food, bugs, and one of my favs, "weirdest of the weird." I'm very pleased with this book, and although I don't keep it in the bathroom, it has earned a place on my nightstand.

A friend recommended that I buy this book. I checked out McNeal's blog before ordering the book. I immediately noticed the man is not right in the head, which is something I really respect in a writer. Now I own the book and will probably buy copies for my sick friends. It's worth the price. Even better than I anticipated.

Sure to make you laugh, this unique trivia book contains 1,001 scary, odd, revolting, and bizarre documented facts about the world. Along with each fact is a tidbit of humorous commentary from the author, Cary McNeal.

McNeal's witty wisecracks will keep you chortling, snickering, and snorting to the very end of the book. His clever use of sarcasm, puns, put-downs, hyperbole, word play, extended gags, and outright silliness will entertain and amuse you.

Those who are already fans of McNeal's writing won't be disappointed. Those unfamiliar with his caustic wit should visit his blog, List Of The Day, for further amusement.

This book has some fun facts, and it is one of the few I've seen that actually cites it's references right under each fact. That is pretty refreshing. The Kindle format is a little hard to get used to at first, it takes a couple of pages, but once you get in the flow of it, most people will like that the references are also listed under each fact.

I ordered this as a gift for my impossible-to-buy-for brother, and it came last night. I looked through it, and I really wish I'd bought one for myself! The facts are really off the wall, and the humorous portions are funnier than you would expect. Can't wait to borrow it!

I was able to read this for free on my Kindle Fire. I love trivia, so thought this would be a great first book to try out with the Amazon Prime free book a month thing they have.

First, the book got a little distracting at times, trying to figure out dates. Take number 859. "On February ii, 1959, thousands of ...." Now. Do they mean February 2, or February 11? This issue happens frequently enough in the book. Roman numerals in place of actual numbers, and vice versa.

Now as for the trivia and the authors comments. Trivia was interesting, and I did love that there was a source for each piece of trivia. The author also had what he considers a funny comment at the end of almost all the trivia (some did not have it - unsure if that is just a Kindle edition thing, or if the paperback is also the same way). His feelings come through loud and clear though in his comments. For instance, he despises cats. He thinks anyone who does not think like he does is an idiot. And heaven forbid if you should believe in ghosts or UFOs, etc... he slams you down as a loon. His feelings toward women are also a bit...chauvanistic at times. And a lot of his comments just aren't funny. Maybe it is just me, but mental illness? Not so funny, because so many in our country (and the world) suffer from it, and many can't get help, or don't think they need help, and he makes jokes about it.

I give this 4 stars - because of the trivia. Took a star off for his comments that were not as funny as he thinks they are.

The facts are interesting. The commentary, which immediately follows each fact, is often quite juvenile. It's unnecessary, and is ften quite offensive. Case in point..... One fact states that Hispanics are jailed at twice the rate of whites. The author then adds: But they don't mind. They're used to living 5 to a room.

I had to cover half the page just to see the facts. I wish this were not the case, and I don't see how some folks think the unnecessary comments are hilarious.

If you are not much of a reader, you may not make it through this book. If you are one of those hyper-paranoid folk who spend a lot of time stressing over the various germs and organisms and whatnot that may or may not be a danger to the human race(as a whole or just to your children), then you should not buy this book. Period. If you are like me however, and are intrigued by anyone presuming that they CAN and WILL scare the stuff out of you(yes I know it's not exactly how it's put), and are entertained by that simple notion, then I suggest you do as I did when I initially found it(if you can anyhow), and sample it on kindle first. If you are able to breeze through the free sample even laughing and sharing some with others, then odds are the rest of the book will be just as much fun, as it went for me. There are times reading this where I might have thought 'did I really need to know that?' but it's quickly and easily squashed by the little joke following each nauseating little fact. Like I say for me it was entertaining, for others less like me, it may just add on to the various little paranoias they already have.

I come from a GCC country and I can assure you that most of the "facts" about my region was wrong which made me question the credibility of other facts. I would not recommend it to anyone.

I've been a big fan of LOTD for awhile now, so knew I had to have this book, and I've been snickering, or just plain laughing out loud as I make my way through the book.
Thanks for making me smile, Cary!