More of the Straight Dope

The Straight Dope

by Cecil Adams

"Smart, saucy answers...the kind of book you'd buy as a goofy present for your wackiest friend--and then keep."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Since 1973, the redoubtable Cecil Adams has collected, corrected, inspected, and dissected thousands of reader's questions, reporting his sagacious findings in the popular weekly column, THE STRAIGHT DOPE. His first book amazed millions. Now he returns with another incomparable compendium of fantastic facts, insouciant information, and delicious data on every subject of import to personkind: Is it true Thanksgiving was invented by the editor of HARPER'S BIZARRE...? Why do your fingers wrinkle in the bathtub...? and hundreds more burning questions explained at last!

Genres: Nonfiction, Trivia, Reference, Humor, Essays

512 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 1988

Reviews

[Surly Gliffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the days before internet, the only way to learn the truth about our world was to write some anonymous know-it-all with a column in an alternative weekly. Thankfully Cecil Adams, with his combination of intelligence and contempt for ignorance (ignorants?), is willing to definitively resolve the remaining gaps in human knowledge.

I first encountered the Straight Dope in book form way back in high school, and it's just as entertaining now as then. This collection, though about two decades old, has aged well. Setting aside torrid technological advances, the answers are well researched and seem accurate, and Adams delivers them with refreshingly egalitarian levels of condescension. Even when he gets one wrong, which might happen, he has the good sense to insult everyone involved before offering corrections.

I think the column is still around, though I can't imagine how it's changed in the age of internet. In any event, highly recommended for frothy but edifying summer read, and that probably goes for all the Straight Dope books.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this kind of thing. Before there was the internet, there was an amusing section of books that served to answer one's random questions. Before that, I read outdated Encyclopedia Britannicas, which were not nearly as entertaining or as amusing.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

more Cecil

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawson gave this to me years ago and it is just a fun read. Cecil's writing style is hilariously sarcastic yet informative.

[SC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11074833

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. Read it and die laughing, while scratching your head in wonder.

[John Hawkins]

Find out what the "H" stands for in "Jesus H. Christ!"

[Jeremy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUNNY!

[Angela Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the straight dope books are worth reading. Not just for the Cliff Clavens in the group.