Mental Floss: Genius Instruction Manual (Mental Floss Presents) (Paperback)

~ Editors Of Mental Floss (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lot like that professor of yours who peppered his tests with raunchy jokes: it makes learning fun." (Newsweek )

"A delightfully eccentric and eclectic new magazine." (Washington Post )

"Part scholarly journal, part Spy magazine protg." (Charlotte Observer )

"For the discerning intellect, mental_floss cleans out the cobwebs." (Chicago Tribune )

"The titans of trivia." (Newsweek )

"An ideal reference to settle arguments or jog your memory." (Calgary Herald )

Product Description

Remember that time you bumped into Stephen Hawking at the clambake and his monologue on string theory went completely over your head? Man, was that awkward. Or remember the time you were at a party and someone asked, "Who knows how to perform open-heart surgery?" and you were the only one who didn't raise your hand?

Well, put all of that embarrassment behind you. Want to dazzle crowds with your wondrous knowledge of Shakespeare and surgeries? Want to learn to woo just like history's greatest minds? Well, start reading already! The Genius Instruction Manual is a foolproof finishing school for polishing your brain. All you've got to do is dive in.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060882530
• ISBN-13: 978-0060882532
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #44 in	Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Trivia
  #96 in	Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Trivia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than an Encyclopedia., November 27, 2006

By	tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The GENIUS INSTRUCTION MANUAL is the latest book from those fun and crazy people at Mental Floss, the magazine and publishing organization that tries to make trivia and learning cool (well, they are as close to cool as a trivia organization can get). Following the pattern from other Mental Floss books, e.g. COCKTAIL PARTY CHEATS, GENIUS INSTRUCTION MANUAL is full of little informational tidbits to make you at least appear to be a genius after reading the book. The book starts off with some of the hobbies that famous geniuses of the past have had as well some pastimes that famous geniuses have had that led to their ultimate demise. There's a section about time travel, modernism vs. postmodernism, the basics of rocket science, famous artists, string theory, relativity, famous artists, and some great savants of history. There are also sections on how to dress like a right-brained genius and how to dress like a left-brained genius. About every twenty pages or so, there's a page that tells you how far you are to becoming a genius, e.g. "Congratulations! You are now 60% of the way toward full-fledged Genius." I found the GENIUS INSTRUCTION MANUAL to be a very educational, entertaining, and rewarding book. I learned some things I didn't know before. For instance, I never knew that Beethoven probably suffered from lead poisoning. A great gift for any person who likes learning and who has a sense of humor (smart people with no funny-bone wouldn't get this book), e.g. a gag gift for college students.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More like short quotes, September 10, 2008

By	Elliot Berman (Plantation, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read other books by the same author, and would honestly rate this much less interesting. It doesn't really go into anything or any subject, with any depth; so don't expect to become a genuis. It will tell you which people owned dogs, then jump to who played mucsical instrutments. I find it difficult to stay focused, and honestly just skip boring pages. However, perhaps that's why I was able to purchase it for only $3.00 dollars new.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Fun, December 20, 2006

By	apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This book is a quick read but lots of fun. It has interesting trivia, short overviews on a lot of topics. It continues to demonstrate why "Mental Floss" is such a fun magazine with off the wall, smart humor.