Discover's 20 Things You Didn't Know About Everything: Duct Tape, Airport Security, Your Body, Sex in Space...and More! – Quirky Facts on Science and Technology for Curious Minds

by Discover Magazine (Editor), Dean Christopher, Jason M. Stahl

How much do you know about . . . DISCOVER'S 20 Things You Didn't Know About Everything is the first book written by the editors of the award-winning DISCOVER magazine. Based on DISCOVER'S most eagerly awaited monthly column, "20 Things You Didn't Know About," this original book looks at many popular—and sometimes unexpected—topics in science and technology, and reveals quirky, intriguing, and little-known facts. Whether you're just curious or think you already know everything, this book is guaranteed to expand your mind.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Trivia

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2008

Reviews

[Tamara Curtin · Rating 2 out of 5]

May come in handy to have read this at a pub quiz someday

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written

[T Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

The information is solid, but it's arranged in a very unappealing manner, with subjects whipsawing wildly from the general to the specific and the trivial to the deeply disturbing. "Airport security" is the first topic, and the padded list somehow manages to rail against the current state of affairs for doing too little and too much at the same time. The next list, "Aliens," treats the growing belief that aliens have visited Earth as evidence of a mystery in need of solving, not of increased superstition in the population. I expected a lot more from Discover Magazine.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, and obviously, it isn't really everything. Given that, if they are really only going to discuss twenty or so things, why focus on sex in space (the two things I read and third thing I skimmed all being tasteless and speculative, lacking in fact) and sperm banks?

Second, well. Who needs a second? The first point says it all. Parts of it were interesting, but parts of it were clearly written for the author's inner (sex-obsessed) teenager.

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun to read. Written with a lot of flippant humour and a touch of sarcasm. The topics covered ranged from sex in space to sperm banks, to weather and much , much more. You don't need to be a particularly science-minded person to enjoy this book - just a health dose of curiosity and a good sense of humour.

[Patrick Berzinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a connoisseur of "cosmically significant trivia," and this book certainly qualifies in that category. I liked it so much, I even approached some colleagues who run an online technology TV venture about turning it into a game-show featuring college undergrad contestants.

[Freddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not as good as I was expecting, most of the things on the book were familiar to me and that can be the case. The structure is quite good and you can leave it next to the toilet for an emergency when you forget to bring your mobile with you.

A good read indeed.

[Tosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the chapters were duds.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Some really interesting facts.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read!

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate when authors of these books of facts interject their own strange little opinions about the world.

[Shawn P · Rating 3 out of 5]

smorgasbord of random factoids covering areas like UFO,airport security, duct tape etc. Fun but not fun enough.

[Lance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of subjects are interesting. Good to skim and read parts you maybe interested in.