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The Straight Dope Paperback – May 12, 1986
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateMay 12, 1986
- Dimensions4 x 1 x 7 inches
- ISBN-100345333152
- ISBN-13978-0345333155
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Product details
- Publisher : Ballantine Books; First Edition (May 12, 1986)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0345333152
- ISBN-13 : 978-0345333155
- Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 4 x 1 x 7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,649 in Humor Essays (Books)
- #7,487 in Dictionaries & Thesauruses (Books)
- #22,558 in Encyclopedias & Subject Guides
- Customer Reviews:
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It is also about the only humor book that takes itself seriously to the extent of including an index. Darn good one, at that.
Don't miss the book!
Please, please, ignore those lame, lame books like "Why Do Men Have Nipples?" and go straight to this instead. The strangest questions are asked and answered here, with numerous fascinating digressions, and the illustrations by Slug Signorino are often hilarious as well. Put this book in your bathroom, and the odds are good you'll have the entire thing read in a couple of weeks.
People think they can get all the information they need from the Internet, but Adams really performs a service here with the immense amount of information he gathers and distills, the connections he makes that people not obsessed with this stuff never would, and the amusing tone he does it in.
Aside from being informative, this book is also often very, very funny. It's a nice glimpse into just how strange and complex the world can be, and a good read for anyone with an inquisitive mind.
Cecil Adams began his quest for truth in 1973 by accepting letters from the Teeming Millions (as he calls his readers) at the Chicago Reader and his been answering bizzare trivia questions ever since. Cecil has stuck around due to his irrevrant sense of humor and willingness to answer just about anything the public can throw his way. His column is currently seen in more than 30 newspapers throughout the United States and Canada but his books are must haves!
The Straight Dope is the first in the grouping and covers all sorts of inane topics such as: What does the 'H' stand for in Jesus H. Christ? Why do pigeons bob their heads? Is it true what they say about Catherine the Great and the horse? Why is there no Channel One?
and so on... buy this book and you will be the envy of all your friends - or at least you will be on your way to becoming King or Queen of all useless knowledge. This book makes a great gift (I would know as I tend to buy it for friends) or can be useful for great party chatter!


