Why are golf assistants called caddies? Why do the British drive on the left and North Americans on the right? Why is football played on a "gridiron," and a leg injury called a "Charlie horse"? The answers to these questions and the origins of hundreds of other expressions and customs are brought together in this fascinating collection of the history behind everyday words and routines. With all the conciseness of his original radio scripts, Doug Lennox "cuts to the quick" in telling you the things you always wanted to know.
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"Trivia buffs need look no further. This book is sure to fascinate readers."
About the Author
Doug Lennox ia best known through his 35 years as a freelance writer, producer, and host in Canadian radio and television. His work at the CBC with such legends as Anne Murray and Ronnie Hawkins has won him international acclaim. He has also been featured in movies and television.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Frivolous,
By
This review is from: Now You Know: The Book of Answers (Paperback)
I got this book as a gift from a friend of mine. Unfortunately it was trite and tiresome. Nothing of real substance, but a riot for dilletantes or those with time to read but without the mind to know what to read. It barely skims the surface of the things rambles about.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Can You Believe What Lennox Says?,
By Gadgeteer (California, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Now You Know: The Book of Answers (Paperback)
Very early in the book in his discussion of the origin of the use of "Dixieland" to describe the Southern US States," Lennox indicates that the purported author of the famous song, "Dixie," Daniel Emmett, was a Black man. In fact, Emmett was a Caucasian member of a then-popular minstrel troupe known for derogatory Blackfaced impersonations. Published photograps of Emmett leave little doubt as to his heritage. As a matter of fact, the authorship of "Dixie" remains in question since it was copyrighted well after the song became popular. Perhaps this is the only factual error in the book, but one must wonder.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A lightweight book - some factual errors.,
By
This review is from: Now You Know: The Book of Answers (Paperback)
This book has some interesting tidbits, but overall it is a very light read. Anyone who is looking for deep research or expanded explanations will end up disappointed by the author's breezy examinations.
The book also has a few flat out errors. One example is in the section explaining the phrase "the die is cast". While the author does correctly attribute the saying to Julius Caesar, he incorrectly ties the words to the act of throwing dice. Actually, the "die" refers to a molded metal piece used to make other metal pieces (such as the template for stamping coins). Once the die is "cast" in the metallurgic sense (same as "cast iron"), it cannot be changed or modified. Hence its use by Casar when crossing the Rubicon. Games of chance had nothing to do with it. "Now You Know" will take an hour or so to get through, and won't substantially add anything to your life except a few (somewhat accurate) vignettes on word and phrase origin. My verdict is: skip it.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
During the 1940s, Robert Emmerich, who played piano in the Tommy Dorsey Band, wrote an obscure song called "The Big Apple." Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Middle Ages, Second World War, United States, Boxing Day, North America, Father's Day, Happy Birthday, Ivy League, Ronald Reagan, The Big Apple, Uncle Sam, Wall Street New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
During the 1940s, Robert Emmerich, who played piano in the Tommy Dorsey Band, wrote an obscure song called "The Big Apple." Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Middle Ages, Second World War, United States, Boxing Day, North America, Father's Day, Happy Birthday, Ivy League, Ronald Reagan, The Big Apple, Uncle Sam, Wall Street New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 17
books:
See all 17 books this book cites
- Peter Pan (Modern Library Classics) by J.M. Barrie on page 30
- The Houses of Parliament (Great Buildings) by Nigel Smith on page 156
- Mary Had a Little Lamb by Salley Mavor on page 33
- Peter Pan (Everymans Childrens Library) by J M Barrie on page 30
- Star Spangled Banner (1907) by Francis Scott Key on page 32
See all 17 books this book cites
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