Random Kinds of Factness: 1001 (or So) Absolutely True Tidbits about (Mostly) Everything

by Erin Barrett, Jack Mingo

This latest romp through history, politics, religion, and science from the dyno-duo Barrett and Mingo is sure to tickle the fancy of trivia buffs everywhere. Amuse your date, impress your boss, bore your kids, or be the 6th caller to win a pair of tickets to the nose-flute band concert All because you know that a Twinkie in the microwave will explode in 45 seconds, that you have a 1 in 3,448,276 chance of dying from a snake bite, that 342 cases of tea were tossed into the "hahbah" during the Boston Tea Party or that white rhinoceroses are not actually white but grey (you'll have to read the book to discover why). Barrett and Mingo, partners in life and crime (er, writing) can do a thing or two with random facts, and this book ranks right up there. From the time the Wallace family made famous books of lists of one kind or another, readers have found fascination--or maybe just food for their obsessions--in books like Random Kinds of Factness .

Genres: Nonfiction, Trivia

226 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

About the author

Erin Barrett grew up in South East Asia and traveled extensively through her childhood years, instilling a lasting and deep curiosity about almost everything. This is reflected in the diversity of topics she has written about in her numerous book titles, dozens of articles, and her long-running nationally syndicated column, Random Kinds of Factness, which appeared in newspapers around the country for over seven years.

Her innate curiosity has produced a rather eclectic CV. Barrett is an editor, a certified Life Coach, an urban sustainability expert, a beekeeper and beer maker, a writing coach, a painter, photographer, singer, and fine wine specialist, with over a decade of work within the wine industry. She currently resides in Northern California with her partner and their 5 year old feline, Eleanor Rigby Soupstock.

Reviews

[Ming Terk]

For trivia fans. Just facts. Too short. Would appreciate a little more details. And some of the facts are inaccurate. Just to pass the time....

[Graham Clayton]

As the name suggests, lists of facts divided into broad subject areas. Examples include:

*The little dip in the middle of the top lip is called a “philtrum.”

*Pencils were originally cut in a hexagonal shape to keep them from rolling off tables.

*Manholes are round because a circle is the only common shape that won’t
fall through a hole if it gets tilted sideways.

*Toilet roll manufacturers wind wide rolls of paper around long tubes, and then slice them into smaller rolls.

A good book to dip into if you have a few spare minutes

[Matevž]

A decent collection of interesting facts. Not too long, not too elaborate, just right for some easy evening reading.

[bumbu]

Some a interesting, most are just facts, aka “truth without relevance”

[Patty]

Super fast read, lots of facts indeed.

[Jamie]

A few duplicate facts but overall very entertaining.

[Michelina]

Very fun book

[Elise]

Amusing and fun book

[Tricia]

Great Fun Book! I call this type of book a "bathroom" read. I enjoyed it!