Book of Secrets [Paperback]

Thomas Eaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2008

Did you know there's a secret daily flight from the United States to Cuba? Or, that in 1966, the U.S. government smashed a bacteria-laden light bulb inside the New York subway system? Thomas Eaton's Book of Secrets reveals hundreds of clandestine, covert, surreptitious, furtive, hush-hush, and taboo pop-cultural and historical curiosities, from government cover-ups to marketing tricks to Colonel Sander's secret recipe. Practical secrets are also revealed, such as how to obtain a flight upgrade, speak in public, or win friends and influence people. Production features include a Kivar cover with rounded corners and foil stamping.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Editor Thomas Eaton studied history at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the United Kingdom. After working in magazine publishing, he has spent the last few years writing quizzes for television and newspapers, including The Weakest Link, allowing him to indulge in his love of the trivial and the arcane. He is a leading member of the Society of Secrets.. --This text refers to the Leather Bound edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740777548
• ISBN-13: 978-0740777547
• Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Curiosities & Wonders
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Encyclopedias > General
  • #26 in Books > Education & Reference > Fun Facts > Curiosities & Wonders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tiny book with odds and ends of helpful tips, facts, recipes, quotes, and opinions, August 1, 2009

By 

Laura De Giorgio "hypnotherapist" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Secrets (Paperback)

This book is really tiny - less than 4 inches in length and a bit over hundred pages. It contains odds and ends of helpful tips, recipes, quotes,some factual information, some semi-accurate information and opinions on different topics.

For examples, in the section related to casinos, it says that "Casinos want you to lose touch with the outside world and your sense of time. There are no clocks in the casino" - which is true, but then it also says that "dealers do not wear watches", which is not true, at least not in North America.

Useful tip for people trying to lose weight may be that eating food rich in calcium may assist with weight loss, or to quote from this book:
"Eating yogurt will actually help you lose weight, as the high calcium content provides a catalyst for your body to burn fat more efficiently and will actually limit the amount of fat your body will support.

While the book doesn't reveal the secret ingredient in the Colonel's recipe that made Kentucky Fried Chicken a success, you will find a recipe for making breaded chicken.

Throughout the book you will come across variety of quotations - like "The Secret of Keeping the Secret"
"Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead." - Benjamin Franklin

Among the helpful tips you'll find tips for improving memory, remembering names, selling a house, dating, bargain hunting and assortment of culinary information.

Among the facts you'll find a variety of historical information about the Tower of London, Christian Catacombs, list of famous American Freemasons, and other odds and ends.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just OK, January 28, 2009

By 

B. Jensen (Scituate, Ma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Secrets (Paperback)

The first secret of this book is that it's quite small. The secrets within vary from fascinating to mundane. Since the secrets are in no particular order, I'd recommend just thumbing through the pages, stopping to read any secrets which interest you.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely presented and interesting, January 9, 2007

By 

Mr. Toby Weiss (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Secrets (Leather Bound)

The 'Book of Secrets' comes in an attractive faux leather binding giving it the impression of 'something special'. The contents are nicely laid out and presented. The variation of the facts inside the book makes it a truly interesting read. Its the type of book you can pick up and put down many times and not get tired of it. The secrets (facts) are great conversation starters and eyebrow raisers. This book is a great buy and a worthwhile gift.