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Cecil Adams

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The Straight Dope Paperback – May 12, 1986

by Cecil Adams (Author)

4.7 36 ratings

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No molly coddle, he, Cecil Adams tackles the tough questions in life, including "Do cats have navels?" and "What are the real lyrics to 'Louie, Louie'?'" Uncompromising and always entertaining, he explodes myths, reveals shocking truths and answers over 400 of the most pressing questions of this or any day.

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ballantine Books
Publication date

May 12, 1986
Dimensions

4 x 1 x 7 inches
ISBN-10

0345333152
ISBN-13

978-0345333155
See all details

Bruce Murphy
40
Hardcover
80 offers from $3.00

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This collection of Adams' best newspaper columns answers with erudition and wit all the weird questions Americans ponder to distraction. Why didn't the Incas invent the wheel? Is the frequency of bald women on the increase? And how many square feet of flesh on the human body? Incredibly sarcastic, knowledgeable and entertaining, The Straight Dope makes a great bathroom book or gift book or personal treasure.

From the Inside Flap

dle, he, Cecil Adams tackles the tough questions in life, including "Do cats have navels?" and "What are the real lyrics to 'Louie, Louie'?'" Uncompromising and always entertaining, he explodes myths, reveals shocking truths and answers over 400 of the most pressing questions of this or any day.

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:
4.7 36 ratings

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4.7 out of 5

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Cameron Dale

Mammoth Blockbuster!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

Cecil Adams is a national treasure. His work is peerless, and one cannot consider one's self as educated and well-informed without it.

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Tina

Way too friggin funny!

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is one of the most hysterically funny books you can buy! Cecil used to write a column Question-Answer column and compiled questions and answers into this (and, I believe, others) book. Cecil is such a wit and many of his replies are priceless. I purchased it because of a passage regarding Schroedinger's Cat what was written by a fan in rhyme, and Cecil answered back in verse also. I highly recommend this book that can be read in snippets for people on the go, or just straight through.

One person found this helpful

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Jhs

Inquiring Minds want to Laugh!

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2000

Verified Purchase

An amazing package, all the intelligence of William Buckley, but you can actually understand what he says! And is it ever funny! There is a plot twist round nearly every sentence. Here is my favorite quote (so far), in an explanation of why "midnight" is neither "AM" nor "PM". "... you could say, '1 nanosecond after 12, AM.' I trust you see the importance of the comma between '12' and 'AM' in this expression." I know. It may not seem like much. But at the right place this is just outrageously funny. I just never thought about it in exactly that way before.
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!

4 people found this helpful

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Joe_McDonald

I enjoy the work of Cecil Adams

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a book I have read before. I enjoy the work of Cecil Adams. But that just me.

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2007

"The Straight Dope" is, hands down, without question, the best source for intelligent trivia out there. Cecil Adams's column, and his books, are more interesting and more entertaining than I can possible do justice do in a dashed-off Amazon review. Suffice it to say though, that Adams makes even subjects you thought you had no interest in fascinating, and as he does so he presents a very amusing persona as well.
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.

3 people found this helpful

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Christopher Quinn

not sure

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2007

Verified Purchase

It isn't the best or the worst. I wanted more quick facts then a long story about each one.

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2009

The straight dope used to be a TV show years ago. Cecil would answer questions, just as the book. I've always enjoyed these books, from junior high to now. They're informative and the answers provided to the questions are pretty quirky and entertaining.

2 people found this helpful

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Karen Bierman Hirsh

For Trivia Addicts everywhere!

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2001

The Straight Dope books are some of the best trivia books out there today - they cover all sorts of odds and ends from animals, media, sports to other abnormal oddities.
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!

12 people found this helpful

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