Bathroom Readers' Institute's Blog, page 8

Debunking the Myths About Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is a truly inspiring historical icon. She was a high-ranking participant in the Underground Railroad, an 1840s and 1850s network that helped enslaved Black people get out of the South and make their way to the North, where slavery was abolished. Her achievements are amazing and legendary, so much so that they’ve been […]

Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Multi-Faceted Man of Many Talents

We all study Dr. King in school, so we all know a little about the man, but there’s a lot of fascinating stuff out there to be learned about the freedom fighter, Civil Rights pioneer, and all-around great American. Learn more below, and read Martin Luther King, Jr.: Voice for Equality! for a deeper dive.

Searching For A Word?

Sometimes it can be tough to find the words to say what you mean. It’s almost as if life itself is a word search, except instead of looking for the just-perfect string of letters inside a grid of letters, you’re doing that with your brain’s language center. Here are some rare, obscure, and strange terms—each […]

This Article is “The Greatest”: Amazing Facts About Muhammad Ali

Sixty-two years ago one of the most astonishing, memorable, and important athletes and cultural figures debuted on the world stage when Cassius Clay won a gold medal in boxing at the 1960 Olympics. Read on to learn about “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, and check out his book in our Show Me History series, Muhammad Ali: […]

Happy 35th Birthday Part Three, Uncle John!

Uncle John’s Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader is on bookshelves today! We're bringing it home for this auspicious book birthday with fun facts from 2011-present. Facts, don’t fail us now!

Happy 35th Birthday Part Two, Uncle John!

We’re keeping the party going for Uncle John’s birthday—and the brand-new Uncle John’s Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader—with more fun facts from the 2000s Facts, don’t fail us now!

It’s Back to School Time. Any Questions?

The kids are headed back to school for another year of learning, while the rest of us can hang out here and learn about the origins and purposes behind some of the most fundamental elements of the classroom.

Happy 35th Birthday, Uncle John!

We’re celebrating 35 years of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader—and the brand-newUncle John’s Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader—by looking back at the last three-and-a-half-decades with amazing facts or stories from the new book from the years since Uncle John made reading in the bathroom a cultural phenomenon. We've got so much to share, this is going […]

Why is Susan B. Anthony So Famous?

You probably know that Susan B. Anthony had something to do with getting women the right to vote in the United States—the 19th Amendment guaranteeing such was ratified in August 1920—but do you know how she did it and what, exactly, she did? See below and take a look at her Show Me History biography, Susan […]

Everything You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know About Gandhi

Globally, he’s one of the best known, most revered, and important historical figures of the 20th century. However, some misinformation persists in the legacy of Gandhi, regarded as “the father of the country” of India, helping his homeland attain independence from U.K. control on August 15, 1947. Learn more below, and check out a copy […]