The Book of Totally Useless Information (Paperback)

~ Donal A. Voorhees (Author) "The Scottish kilt, which may look like a plaid skirt for men, was created as a useful multipurpose garment..." (more)
Key Phrases: causes abdominal problems, United States, New York, New Jersey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Here is enough useless information for everyone. In "The Book of Totally Useless Information", Don Voorhees has compiled over two hundred explanations for the not-so-important questions in life.

Why is the sky blue?

Why does orange juice taste funny after you brush your teeth?

Why is a left-handed pitcher known as a "Southpaw"?

Why is the National Hockey League Championship Trophy called the Stanley Cup?

When did it first become offensive to extend the middle finger?

Why are diamonds measured in carats?

What makes stainless steel stainless?

Why does a Mexican Jumping Bean jump?

Why do spokes on wagon wheels appear to move backward on television or movie screens?

What is a best boy, a key grip, and a gaffer?

Chockful of fascinating trivial facts and anecdotes, "The Book of Totally Useless Information" will entertain readers of all ages. Illustrated throughout, this useful book will satisfy the curiosity of everyone who wonders why.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp. (August 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806514051
• ISBN-13: 978-0806514055
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #328,341 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless information, also inaccurate, July 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Totally Useless Information (Hardcover)

Should useless information also be inaccurate? I received this book as a gift and have only browsed it for less than an hour and have found problems. Inaccuracies call into question the validity of all other "facts" in the book. First of all, Tar Heel is 2 words. I will allow that this is more of a spelling error and not exactly a factual blunder but still . . . Secondly, the siamese twins Chang and Eng settled in North Carolina and died there. I am (probably pretty obviously) a North Carolinian. I only spent 30-45 minutes and caught these two errors that deal with NC. It simply makes me wonder how many other errors there are in the book.

I like the idea of the book and am sure most of it is accurate. I just hate that you can't really trust anything you read in it 100% and if you can't trust that the information is correct, how can you repeat it? And if you can't repeat it (or trust you are answering that Jeopardy question correctly), what is the point of such useless information? And thus what is the point of owning this book? Useless information is fine; useless inaccurate information is not.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, fast read, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Totally Useless Information (Hardcover)

This book was a fun, fast, easy read. I was surprised how many of the tidbits I already knew, however. The book didn't have any introduction/preface or "final thoughts;" it just started off with the tidbits. I don't know what kind of introductory and closing remarks I was expecting, I just know it felt like the book had a rather jarring beginning and end.

One tidbit was worth the $5.58 I paid for "Land of 10,000 Lakes," I am often asked if the state really has 10,000 lakes. I always knew the state had more than 10,000 lakes, but now I can inform the inquisitors that Minnesota actually has 14,215 named lakes (pg. 117).

All in all, quite a fun read for $5.58. (It looks like they've raised the price since I bought my copy.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good and interesting book, August 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Totally Useless Information (Hardcover)

this book was very good and worth the money, but if you check the paperback book it costs more than the hardcover. why? because the hardcover is not 720 pages like it says. it is only around 180. so i did like the book, but i just wanted to point out the error in the advertisment.