Don't Know Much About Anything: Everything You Need to Know but Never Learned About People, Places, Events, and More! (Paperback)

by Kenneth C. Davis (Author)
Key Phrases: bonus quiz, take this quick quiz, New York, United States, Historic Happenings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In his wildly entertaining, winningly irreverent, New York Times bestselling Don't Know Much About^® series, author Kenneth C. Davis has amused and edified us with fascinating facts about history, mythology, the Bible, the universe, geography, and the Civil War.

Now, the sky's the limit in his latest irresistible installment—a grand tour of knowledge that carries us from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Berlin Wall, from the Salem Witch Trials to Watergate, from Michelangelo to Houdini. Brimming with busted myths, gripping true stories, and peculiar particulars about a plethora of people, places, and events, this captivating compendium is guaranteed to delight information lovers everywhere as it feeds our insatiable appetite to know everything!

About the Author

Kenneth C. Davis is the best-selling author of Don't Know Much About History, which spent 35 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, sold nearly 1.5 million copies, and gave rise to his phenomenal Don't Know Much About® series for adults and children. Davis appears frequently in the media, has spoken at the Smithsonian Museum and American Museum of Natural History, and has written for the New York Times and Newsday, among other publications. He has also contributed to NPR's All Things Considered. He lives in New York City and Dorset, Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (July 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061251461
• ISBN-13: 978-0061251467
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( D ) > Davis, Kenneth C.
  #85 in	Books > Reference > Education > Questions & Answers
  #93 in	Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Trivia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A trivial book of trivia, April 10, 2008

By	mrliteral - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I like trivia, but I'm not big on trivia books. I'd rather pick up my knowledge of the minutia of the world through other sources. I have enjoyed Kenneth C. Davis's books in the past, so I thought I'd give Don't Know Much About Anything a try. It is a lightweight read that is neither particularly good nor bad.

Davis's book is divided into parts on famous people, exceptional places, historic happenings, holidays and traditions, everyday objects and remarkable inventions, space and the natural world, sports, entertainment, food and civics. Each part has various topics that are covered in two-page sections. On the first page is a bit of general information and a few questions. On the second page are the answers to the questions. For example, a section on Mother Teresa asks where she was born and what order did she found (Macedonia, Missionaries of Charity respectively).

The problem with this book is despite its broad organization, the choice in topics is haphazard, so you're skipping around from Mother Teresa to Michelangelo to George Washington without any real rhyme or reason. Usually we pick up knowledge better when we learn it in a context, but that doesn't exist here. It's all interesting but quickly forgettable. While there is nothing harmful in this book - and it does work as a minor diversion - you probably won't know much more about anything three days after reading this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If Alex Trebek Wrote a Book, March 4, 2008

By	Julie Merilatt "julzddm" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read all of Mr. Davis' other (adult) books except Don't Know Much About the Civil War. Don't Know Much About Anything is written in a different format than his others. It is more of a Trivia book, tackling a wide range of topics in quiz-like form. Topics include Famous People, Historic Happenings, Food, Sports and Entertainment. Subjects include Mother Theresa, The Nuremburg Trials, Volcanoes, and Valentine's Day. Davis opens each subject with an introductory paragraph followed by a series of questions whose answers can be found on the following page. Some of these are tidbits you may have heard along the way, but many are obscure and interesting. Davis' writing can be very humorous, but I find he wears out his use of puns in the paragraphs preceding the quizzes (Don't Know Much About Playboy: Bare all in this quick quiz). Otherwise, a fast, fun book to read (took me just a few hours to get through) and full of trivia to share.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring, poorly worded, and poorly fact-checked, November 16, 2008

By	ensiform (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a series of quizzes out of context, without any particularly interesting information on any topic.

Some of the questions are poorly worded. Some are far too open: "Who was Alexander Hamilton?", for example, instead of, say, "What post did Alexander Hamilton hold?" Some are redundant: "When did the Korean War begin?" reads one beginning question, after the main text plainly states it started in 1950. And some are just too vague.

Finally, one question, "How many Americans have walked on the moon?" is answered with "Ten astronauts on five separate Apollo flights." I think you will find that Apollo 11 to Apollo 17, minus 13, makes SIX successful missions, with two astronauts each for a total of TWELVE.

There is absolutely no excuse for so blatant and incomprehensible an error in a book by an author of Davis' reputation and a publishing house as well-known as Harper Collins. Don't buy this book. There are a dozen better fact and quiz books out there. But 'On the Top of My Tongue' by David Gentle, or another book. This one is not worth the money.