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Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things (Paperback)

~ (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
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  Hardcover, July 31, 1987 -- -- $0.60
  Paperback, September 26, 1989 $10.88 $8.25 $0.16
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Frequently Bought Together

Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things + I Didn't Know That: From "Ants in the Pants" to "Wet Behind the Ears"--the Unusual Origins of the Things We Say + Ever Wonder Why?
Price For All Three: $27.77

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  • This item: Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by Charles Panati

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  • I Didn't Know That: From "Ants in the Pants" to "Wet Behind the Ears"--the Unusual Origins of the Things We Say by Karlen Evins

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  • Ever Wonder Why? by Douglas B. Smith

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For lovers of facts, students of popular culture, history buffs, and science enthusiasts, the fascinating stories behind 500 everyday items, expressions, and customs--from Kleenex to steak sauce, Barbie Dolls to honeymoons.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (September 27, 1989)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060964197
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060964191
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,817 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

    #10 in  Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Trivia
    #21 in  Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Trivia
    #30 in  Books > Reference > Fun Facts > Curiosities & Wonders

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More About the Author

Charles Panati
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Look Inside This Book
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

30 Reviews
5 star:
 (20)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (30 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars trivia at its finest, September 14, 2001
If you enjoy trivia and unusual
facts, then Charles Panati's
Extraordinary Origins of
Everyday Things, is the perfect
book. I have read other trivia books and I can say without
hesitation that Mr. Panati produces the best of the genre.
Many trivia books list a dry and uninspired fact sheet.
Panati, however, avoids this common pitfall and instead
entertains us with unusual and well researched trivia about
the history or origin of many everyday items and customs.
His books are formatted into logical chapter groupings
that easily flow from one topic to another. The book
is a pleasure to read and it teaches you in a pain free
style, answering questions that until now you couldn't find
answers for! Panati's words will both enlighten and
enchant you.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Really should get six stars, February 5, 2000
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
A supurb traveling or gift book, with excellent informative pieces of information which will please almost anyone. His other books are equally well written, but this is probably the best due to its diversity of information. This time, I'm getting three copies, since when it is lent out it rarly comes home!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading., November 19, 1998
By A Customer
I didn't learn this much history in school. It is amazing to learn that customs we practice today have their roots hundreds, even thousands of years ago. Ages high school to 100 will enjoy this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Speakers
This book is terrific for anyone who has to come up with an interesting anecdote once in a while. Loaded with interesting information from the invention of the napkin to the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dr. Roy Mcneill

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reads/Table books
I purchased twp hard copies of Panati's Extraordinary Beginnings of Everyday Things and I love it. To preserve books make a dust cover. [...]
Published 7 months ago by Monique A. Gordon

4.0 out of 5 stars PERFECT BOOK FOR RANDOM KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS!!
This book has enlightened me of the large amount of unknown facts that there are to discover about daily things. Read more
Published 12 months ago by AL

5.0 out of 5 stars very handy and fun book!
we love just sitting around and reading about interesting things that have happened down through history love the book! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jenny Watts

4.0 out of 5 stars a fun trivia book
It's got a lot of fun, useless information in here. Good for a bathroom reader.
Published 15 months ago by Priscilla A. Arnold

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for the trivia junkie
This is an interesting book for the trivia junkie. It is not, however, bathroom reading material unless you have a chronic condition requiring you to spend a lot of time studying... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Katie Kate

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
I love this book. This is the third time I've bought it because I keep lending it to people who lend it to people, etc. Everybody likes to find out where things came from. Read more
Published 21 months ago by E. Chambers

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
This book has alot more pages then I expected it also is well organized. The author gave enough information on each subject to satisfy one's curiosity about a subject but not to... Read more
Published on August 24, 2007 by Tinker

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Reading
Found it to be an excellent book to give to the grandchildren to help answer their questions and curiosity of where things came from.
Published on March 31, 2007 by T. J. Mal

5.0 out of 5 stars so much to know
I love this book and now have to find the rest of his books. This book alone explains tidbits of things like the origin of the comb, or the napkin, holidays... so much. Read more
Published on July 10, 2006 by tansha

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