The Pedant's Revolt: Why Most Things You Think Are Right Are Wrong

by Andrea Barham

Irreverent, smart, and obscenely entertaining, this book shatters the myths, misconceptions, fallacies, and falsehoods about all the things people think they know  Lead pencils can give you lead poisoning . . . Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head . . . One dog year equals seven human years . . . Marie Antoinette said “Let them eat cake!” . . . Fact or fiction?  

Pedants, revolt! In chapters literary, medical, grammatical, historical, scientific, and biblical, this book sets the record straight on the facts behind the fallacies that have somehow become accepted wisdom. From insects to food, grooming to Greeks, the animal kingdom to assassinations, Harpo Marx to Shakespeare, and questionable quotes such as “It’s all Greek to me,” this remarkable book reveals the often surprising origins of the legends and folklore we mistake for the gospel truth—and teaches you to think twice before repeating them. Covering a range of diverse topics, this is the ultimate go-to book for settling many an unresolved dispute, shedding light on a wide variety of facts that we have always believed to be true, but which are, in fact, completely false.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Humor, Trivia

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2005

Reviews

[Drew Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite a nice little easy-to-read book which tries to debunk some common assertions. I'm not usually keen on pedantry but the book title is a bit of a misnomer since it mostly debunks commonly held myths (which are grossly wrong) and does not seem to fit with what the word 'pedantry' tends to mean. As such I think the title may put people off what is a reasonably enjoyable book.

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not really a curious person, I think. I have no great facts to store in my little head. I think I am the furthest from being a pedant. But I am fascinated by the world around us these days. This little book of ‘facts’ tears down many myths that just seem to have become more entrenched with each passing day.

Andrea’s tone is funny and witty, and I loved reading some of her observations on the facts she uncovers. I really didn’t know that Hitler was NOT a vegetarian, that owls can’t turn 360 degrees, and that Cleopatra was not Egyptian. My favorite perhaps was this revelation on that famous, all-time romantic quote by Tennyson: Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Ah, it broke my romantic heart to know that Tennyson wrote that grieving over the loss of his beloved friend. Indeed, you read that right. It was written for his friend. Now, let's weep over that tattoo you inscribed with those words in memory of that boyfriend. :-)

[James Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pedant: a noun, a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules, or with displaying academic learning.

Have you ever been led to believe that a coffee sobers up a drunk? Have you been convinced that an owl is capable of turning its head a full 360 degrees? Do you believe that Harpo Marx was a mute?

Well, this book corrects these theories and many more. Coffee does not sober up a drunk, an owl can only turn its head 270 degrees, and Marx stopped speaking in his movies, because of a bad review.

A thoroughly interesting book.

[Simon Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like an episode of QI, but without Stephen Fry. Sometimes informative, but rarely entertaining.

And (just to be pedantic) this book is, rather annoyingly, not really about pedantry.

[George Poulakis · Rating 2 out of 5]

One part interesting, two parts whatevs.

[Louise Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I’m glad I’ve finished this book, not because I enjoyed it but because it’s finally over.
I often had to wonder about the author as many of the surprising reveals are things I’ve known since I was about 3 years old. There were quite a few “facets” that were wrong, so she is actually perpetuating what she says she is trying to end.
The writing is quite dull and humourless and reading this door the most part felt like hard work rather than enjoyment.
It gets two stars for the few things in the book that weren’t already common knowledge.
Some people may love this book, I most definitely was not one of them. If the author had written any other books I will not read it. I have read technical text books that felt more gripping than this did.

[Todayiamadaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little book, more for dipping into rather than reading straight through. It spends anything from a paragraph to two pages debunking popular myths. Here's where you can find out why margarine was originally meant to be pronounced with a hard g (like Margaret), why getting off scot free has nothing to do with Scotland, and that droit de seigneur was actually a tax paid to consummate a marriage. Definitely a book for reading parts aloud to amaze and entertain your loved ones.

[Benj · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sets up a bunch of straw man arguments that nobody with half a brain believes, and then proceeds to demolish them. Examples include
Ostriches bury their heads in the sand
Before Columbus, everyone believed the world was flat
Bats are blind

I mean, really?!

[Martin Willoughby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular.

[Margaret Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that explains how many popular sayings do not mean what we presume they do. Also pointing out historical inaccuracy in some areas. A fascinating read.

[gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light coffee table book - would not recommend reading in one sitting lmao.

[Jamie Godsafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my usual type of book but a friend pressed me to read it because they obviously think I'm a pedant. I'm glad to say I loved it! Andrea Barham quickly draws you in with a highly personal slant and I found myself easily fascinated with subjects that wouldn't have previously have appealed to me. I can now confidently refute some of my wife's old wives tales (tho she was partly right about some) and am armed and ready to pedantically deflate my father-in-law's worst pomposities. Joking aside, this is such an easy book to read yet crammed full of fascinating truths along with accompanying internet links for many of the articles should you wish to delve deeper. I love the way that if you have a butterfly mind you can easily flit from topic to topic but also the way Andrea personalises it so that it isn't just another dry, academic historical or grammatical textbook. I loved it and am eagerly waiting more, meanwhile I'm going to go to the internet link to hear JFK call himself a jelly doughnut - or did he ?!
Enjoy...

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book; all sorts of facts refuting things I "knew." I was gratified that I did have some things right in the face of common usage, though! I knew, for example, that Cleopatra was Macedonian. I knew that the correct phrase is "another think coming," not "another thing."

I didn't know that flush toilets were available to Elizabeth I - way before Thomas Crapper's plumbing firm existed. I was unaware that bats have excellent vision - just not at night, even though they are nocturnal. I didn't know that giant pandas were once thought to be a species of raccoon, or that red pandas aren't bears at all.

This book is short, and each entry is both amusing and informative. I feel I will be much more effective at Trivial Pursuit for having read it.

[Dominic Self]

It seems silly to assign a rating to this on the same scale as whole novels, so I won't try. But it was a fun little book, albeit whimsically random, and Wikipedia's list of popular misconceptions is probably more educational.

Inevitably, a book for pedants is going to slip up itself at some point, so for the record it should be noted that Rousseau was *not* a French philosopher but, of course, Genevan... :P

[Kerry-Anne Gilowey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently most things I think are right are actually right. Hmmph. As a result I was a little bored by this book. Fair warning: it's not quite as entertaining as the blurb would have you believe. I smiled once or twice, but that's about it. I did learn a few things, but honestly, most of the "myths" covered here were either things I had never believed in the first place, or things I long ago learnt were not true. YMMV.

[Heather Browning]

An enjoyable little book, looking at the truth behind many common myths and misconceptions. There were a lot of little facts here I had taken as truth and found it interesting to discover why I was wrong. I think the take-home message is ti never believe what you hear, particularly if it comes from the internet, and always look a little deeper into apparent 'facts'.

[Ernest · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice filler of a book that seeks to expose, explain and educate about many commonly held beliefs and thoughts are actually wrong. It is a decent book to dip in and out of. I read it cover to cover and towards the end, was feeling a bit over the whole ‘this is what you think and this is why it is wrong’ concept. Still ,there is enough to engage readers.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another of those rant filled books that were the fashion for a while. It was ok - I gave up half way through because it was a little relentless but it was interesting. And I could definitely related to a lot of what Barham was saying.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a fully paid-up pedant I had to get this book!

It's full of interesting facts, though most of them had me exclaiming "I knew that!" A good book for dipping into at bedtime, as each fact is presented in a short explanation no longer than a page. The illustrations are humorous too.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good for a bit of light reading with some of our most pressing questions answered from "was Humpty Dumpty really an egg sitting on a wall?" to "would a large consumption of vitamin C really prevent the common cold?" it's worth reading.. I had giggle moments..

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I already knew the correct answers to a number of questions, but thoroughly enjoyed learning (to me ) things I was wrong about.
I thoroughly recommend this book to all that want to get things right. It is both serious & humorous.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know, Hitler wasn't a vegetarian? And Walt Disney's head isn't cryogenically frozen?? And most things you think are fact.............aren't????

This book rawks : )

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenge your preconceived ideas! Those answers you gave at quiz night may turn out to be not quite so right after all...
If you like QI, you'll like this book.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know I'm right about stuff. SOS doesn't stand for Save Our Souls and Nero didn't fiddle whilst Rome burns (that's on the back of the book so I'm giving nothing away!)

[Thieluar]

Informative. However, some of the things are way too obvious.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like a good book of
fun facts.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts concisely explained

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

satisfying for all us pedants.