More of the Straight Dope [Paperback]

Cecil Adams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 1988

"Smart, saucy answers...the kind of book you'd buy as a goofy present for your wackiest friend--and then keep."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Since 1973, the redoubtable Cecil Adams has collected, corrected, inspected, and dissected thousands of reader's questions, reporting his sagacious findings in the popular weekly column, THE STRAIGHT DOPE. His first book amazed millions. Now he returns with another incomparable compendium of fantastic facts, insouciant information, and delicious data on every subject of import to personkind: Is it true Thanksgiving was invented by the editor of HARPER'S BIZARRE...? Why do your fingers wrinkle in the bathtub...? and hundreds more burning questions explained at last!

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Smart, saucy answers...the kind of book you'd buy as a goofy present for your wackiest friend--and then keep."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Since 1973, the redoubtable Cecil Adams has collected, corrected, inspected, and dissected thousands of reader's questions, reporting his sagacious findings in the popular weekly column, THE STRAIGHT DOPE. His first book amazed millions. Now he returns with another incomparable compendium of fantastic facts, insouciant information, and delicious data on every subject of import to personkind: Is it true Thanksgiving was invented by the editor of HARPER'S BIZARRE...? Why do your fingers wrinkle in the bathtub...? and hundreds more burning questions explained at last!

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (June 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345351452
• ISBN-13: 978-0345351456
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #685,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Won't Regret Buying This Book, January 3, 2001

By 

Karen Bierman Hirsh (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More of the Straight Dope (Paperback)

Cecil Adams Straight Dope books are some of the best trivia books out there bar none. While you may not get the answers to the specific questions you are asking you will find answers to things you always wanted to know but never really thought to ask about.

Cecil Adams has been writing his column for the Chicago Reader since 1973 and has been asked every random trivia questions under the sun and rarely is he unable to find the answer. Cecil Adams has a wicked sense of humor that makes his books so much fun to read over and over again.

More Of The Straight Dope is the second book in his series and while it is hard to find, is certainly one of the best of the lot. He answers questions like - what exactly is Mojo? Why does your skin wrinkle in the tub? and so forth.

No one has ever seen the real Cecil Adams and as long as he keeps answering questions and putting out books like this - no one will ever really care (well.... it is probably the last mystery that he will ever solve.)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST "answers to unusual questions" BANG for your BUCK!!, August 13, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: More of the Straight Dope (Paperback)

Adams once again gives the reader serious "bang" for his/her "buck," providing answers to questions we were afraid to ask, historical insights into sometimes-overlooked nuances of everyday life, and just plain interesting information. This category of books is becoming very popular, yet there is an enormous difference between most of them and what you get with the "Straight Dope" series. First, Adams is a MASTER of research resources. When faced with a difficult or technical question, he goes straight to the source (and is quick to cite the experts he consults). Second, Adams doesn't shy away from "politically incorrect" questions. Third, Adams combines intelligent, well-written information with a healthy dose of humor. And fourth, while most of the books in this category give you 150 to 200 pages of 14-18 point text with lots of blank space and illustrations, the "straight dope" series gives you an average of 500 PAGES of fine-print information (as much as five comparable books from other authors). Most of the questions and their answers are reprinted from Adams' award-winning newspaper column and are organized into category "chapters." As with Adams' THE STRAIGHT DOPE and RETURN OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE, I found myself laying in bed at 3am trying to force myself to put the book down ("OK, just ONE more section THEN I'm going to sleep!"). Whether you are a history buff, a science nut, a trivia junkie or just someone who ever asked "what the heck do they mean by _______?" Adams' books will definitely give you your money's worth!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best DOPE of the Bunch, May 11, 2000

By 

Peter A. Greene (Franklin, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More of the Straight Dope (Paperback)

The first book was great, but played it safe. The more recent books are likewise good, but seem to have been trying a tad too hard. This is the one to start with. Like Miss Manners, Cecil transcends his material or subject matter-- his sharp, witty voice is the real treat here. However, it should also be noted that unlike most authors of trivia and odd-knowledge compendiums, Cecil actually applies Real scholarship to his answers, instead of the usual assortment of second-hand hearsay. A great gift for the smartass on your list...