Book ~ "Uncle John's UNCANNY 29th Bathroom Reader" (2016) Bathroom Readers' Institute

From Goodreads ~ What’s so uncanny about the 29th annual edition of Uncle John’s? This enduring book series has been delivering entertaining information to three generations of readers (so far) ... and it’s still going strong! 

How do they do it? 

Back in 1988, Uncle John successfully predicted the way that 21st-century readers would want their information: in quick hits, concisely and cleverly written, and with details so delightful that you’re compelled to share them with someone else (kind of like the Internet, but without all those annoying ads). 

This groundbreaking series has been imitated time and time again but never equaled. And "Uncanny is the Bathroom Readers’ Institute at their very best. Covering a wide array of topics - incredible origins, forgotten history, weird news, amazing science, dumb crooks, and more - readers of all ages will enjoy these 512 pages of the best stuff in print. 

I've bought a few of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader books over the years and find them entertaining.

The contents in this one include:

• Quotes of Bill Murray, David Bowie, etc.
• Forgotten game shows 
• Celebrity collections
• Toilet-related stories and facts
• Magic words
• What weighs the same as a newborn baby
• Alcohol laws around the world
• Woodstock reunions
• TV goofs
• Origin of greenhouses
• And lots more!

I like these books because the information is bite-size, informative and great when you feel like reading but don't have the time or inclination to get into a novel or more serious book.  And you surprisingly you can learn a lot.

In addition to the sections, there are tidbits of info along the bottom of the pages such as ...

• Three main ingredients in Mountain Dew are water, corn syrup and orange juice.
• Until 1972, you had to be a homeowner to sit on a British jury.
• Chemicals in cockroach poop attract other roaches, encouraging them to congregate.
• Public-health workers use negative Yelp! restaurants reviews to track food-borne illnesses.
• Candy corn was originally called "Chicken Feed".
• In 1954, Ernest Hemingway was in a plane crash.  He was rescued by a second plane.  It crashed too.

Book ~ "Do Geese Get Goose Bumps? & 199 More Perplexing Questions with Astounding Answers" (2016) The Bathroom Readers' Institute

From Goodreads ~ Find the answers to hundreds of life's most perplexing questions in this entertaining collection from the editors at Portable Press (the team behind the best-selling, award-winning Uncle John's Bathroom Reader line). 

"Do Geese Get Goose Bumps" is 224 pages of simple explanations for complex topics - everything from "Why is air transparent?" to "Why do late-night commercials always offer to throw in a second, identical product 'at no extra cost'?" 

Clearly written and thoroughly researched, this book will shed new light on science, history, politics, sports, animals, food, pop culture, and more. Some sample questions: 

• Can an elephant cry crocodile tears? 
• Why do clouds float? 
• Why is abbreviation such a long word? 
• What's in a hot dog? 
• Why does Hawaii have interstate highways? 
• What did they call a photographic memory before the invention of photography? 
• Why does Superman wear his underwear on the outside? 
• Why do dogs come when you call them, but cats ignore you? 
• What's a male ballerina called? 
•  And much, much more!

This book has 199 questions and answers to some of the things you have probably wondered about.  And it was interesting to read about the stuff I hadn't wondered about too.

I like these books because the information is bite-size, informative and great when you want to know something about something but you don't want to know too many details.  They cover things about around the house, geography, history, wild animals, domesticated animals, fashion, government, technology, myths & legends, science, food & drink, sports, at work business, entertainment, language and the human condition.

A couple of things I found especially interesting was how Columbia record club worked (yes, I had enrolled in their CD and DVD plans years ago) and whether TV courtroom shows (like Judge Judy) are legally binding.

Book ~ "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Attack of the Factoids: Bizarre Bites of Incredible Information" (2014) Bathroom Readers' Institute

From Goodreads ~ Weighing in at over 400 pages, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Attack of the Factoids is a fact-a-palooza of obscure information. Like what, you ask?

Well, did you know that bats always turn left when they exit a cave? How about that in the 1960s astronauts trained for moon voyages by walking on Hawaiian lava fields? Also, Lloyd’s of London insured Bruce Springsteen’s voice for 3.5 million English pounds, military toilet paper is printed in a camouflage design, Elvis Presley always wore a helmet when watching football on TV, King Henry VIII’s ladies at court had a ration of one gallon of beer per day, it takes the energy from 50 leaves on an apple tree to produce one ripe fruit, and the only country to host the Summer Olympics but not win a single gold medal was Canada in 1976. 

But that’s just the beginning! So what are you waiting for? ATTACK!

I've bought a few of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader books over the years and find them entertaining.

The contents in this one include:

• Roads & transportation
• Geography
• Doctors & dentists
• Crime and punishment
• Travel log
• Grub
• Quote me
• The human body
• Rich & famous
• Cute stuff
• TV & radio
• Major awards
• Let us entertain you
• Family ties
• And lots more!

I like these books because the information is bite-size, informative and great when you feel like reading but don't have the time or inclination to get into a novel or more serious book.

Here are some tidbits you may not know ...

• The best-selling fiction author of all time is William Shakespeare.  #2 is Agatha Christie.
• The average person speaks about 165 words a minute.
• The temperature of the lit end of a cigarette when the smoker is inhaling is about 1652F.
• Baby mice are called Kittens, pups or pinkies.
• 1 in 3 U.S. Caucasian women have blonde hair ... but 1 in 20 is natural
• Thousand Island salad dressing got its name from its birthplace - the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River along the board of the U.S. and Canada.