How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch (An Imponderables Book) [Hardcover]

David Feldman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1996 | Series: An Imponderables Book

Addresses such pressing issues as why dogs do not get cavities, how skywriters write words correctly, how people woke up before alarm clocks, why flannel shirts are always plaid, and hundreds of other pertinent trivia questions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This ninth volume in Feldman's Imponderables series (When Do Fish Sleep, etc.) is as entertaining and informative as its predecessors, although this time some of the entries don't quite fit the requirement that the questions be unanswerable by numbers, measurements or a trip to the reference library. The query that provides the title assumes that astronauts spend all their time in space suits, which is not the case. Other inquiries ponder why beverage glasses sweat and why lizards don't get sunburned. The most interesting section is devoted to Frustables (frustrating imponderables) on such matters as why people bite their fingernails and why kids prefer meat well done but like it rarer as they grow older?topics to which there are no pat answers. The sprightly writing is supplemented by delightful illustrations by Kassie Schwann.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 315 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399141898
• ISBN-13: 978-0399141898
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Education & Reference > Fun Facts > Imponderables

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the person who's always asking 'why?', November 15, 2000

By 

Amy, Tatting & Cosmetics Host, Wedding Guru - See all my reviews

This review is from: How astronauts scratch an itch (Imponderables Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

My husband picked up this book on a bargain table---he always wants to know why things are the way they are, and this book answered a lot of his questions. The author has done a lot of research into the hows and whys of everything from why the letter 'x' is used in algebra to why potato chip bags are hard to open, and many more questions I hadn't even thought of. I only wish the book was divided into general categories, but it's just as fun to read it straight through and stumble across all kinds of interesting facts. A good read for inquisitive people of all ages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, July 9, 2003

By 

Matthew Vaudrin (Moorhead, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How astronauts scratch an itch (Imponderables Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

this a great book for any one that likes trivia and likes finding out little known facts about the world.

buy it.

3.0 out of 5 stars Do Astronaunt Scratch?, August 22, 2011

By 

The Velvet Cat (Sunny Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch (An Imponderables Book) (Hardcover)

This is a fact filled book, its true, but in my opinion its poorly written to keep my teen engaged like the Uncle John Trivia readers. (Which my teen loves and can't put down! Isn't that what we are looking for?) I think the books would be way more successful if it was arranged better into categories for quick bites, not just plowing through hoping to find your interest in between things you yawn at. Its best suited for adult readers. Could be good for people stuck somewhere and have uninterrupted time and maybe want to wow bystanders with unknown facts. I recommend the better written and more fun trivia books like the Uncle John Trivia books. Maybe someone will get smart and merge the two; more info for Uncle John and more readability for Feldman.