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Farts Aren't Invisible: Mind-Blowing Facts From Science, History, Sport and The Universe
A mind-bending, brain-expanding cornucopia of facts for curious minds from the bestselling author of Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? and Does Anything Eat Wasps?
Own the room with this hilarious collection of fact-tastic myth-busters and jaw-dropping trivia exploring science, history, sport and lesser-known facts from across the universe.
Did you know that the Moon has a Bishop?
That ostriches DON'T bury their heads in the sand?
And that powdered rice was used as cement in the Great Wall of China?
What do souls weigh?
What can't 60% of the human population smell?
And what on earth is rhinotillexomania?
And the big one...are farts actually invisible?
The answers to these questions are all here.
Challenge your brain, turn your world upside down and relish the irresistible mix of wit and wisdom.
It's also a perfect gift for the brainiac in your life.
Own the room with this hilarious collection of fact-tastic myth-busters and jaw-dropping trivia exploring science, history, sport and lesser-known facts from across the universe.
Did you know that the Moon has a Bishop?
That ostriches DON'T bury their heads in the sand?
And that powdered rice was used as cement in the Great Wall of China?
What do souls weigh?
What can't 60% of the human population smell?
And what on earth is rhinotillexomania?
And the big one...are farts actually invisible?
The answers to these questions are all here.
Challenge your brain, turn your world upside down and relish the irresistible mix of wit and wisdom.
It's also a perfect gift for the brainiac in your life.
- GenresNonfictionAudiobook
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
8 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Mick O'Hare
26 books11 followersMick O’Hare (* 1964 in Mirfield, England) is a British editor and writer who travels between the US and the UK.
Currently, he is an editor for New Scientist, the leading British weekly for science, writing among other things the "The Last Word" column of questions and answers. He edited Profile’s bestselling book "Does Anything Eat Wasps?" and its successors "Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze?" and "Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?".
Mick joined New Scientist in 1992 after being the production editor for Autosport. He still occasionally works as a rugby league writer and also edits sports books. He has a geology degree.
Currently, he is an editor for New Scientist, the leading British weekly for science, writing among other things the "The Last Word" column of questions and answers. He edited Profile’s bestselling book "Does Anything Eat Wasps?" and its successors "Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze?" and "Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?".
Mick joined New Scientist in 1992 after being the production editor for Autosport. He still occasionally works as a rugby league writer and also edits sports books. He has a geology degree.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 20, 2023
A very good and fun book, but an easy one. How many people really turn to these gallimaufries of trivia without knowing the 100 Years War was a bit longer-lasting than the name suggests, that 38 minutes was the shortest 'war' ever, or such common-or-garden stuff about Jupiter's Big Red Spot, the Viking helmets' lack of horns, double-landlocked countries and how we should make sure we win a goat (alright, it's normally a motor car but I didn't read Ian Stewart for nothing).
That's not to say this is not without merits – I don't really want to quote all the good stuff, as that should be for you to discover. But here is a tree that makes sheep go bald, the fact that dogs poo on a north-south axis, and the allegation that a quarter of the world's hazelnuts end up as Nutella.
Yes, I started this the day before the stated factoid about the world's hottest pepper had its record taken from it, but that's a given with such a book, that it might go slightly out of date. It does seem very ancient in calling things Centigrade when they've been Celsius for some time now, I thought. Oh, and I don’t think any ‘proper’ Monopoly board has featured New York – it’s New Jersey’s Atlantic City, by renown – although apologies to all if this is a goof from the proof and not the real thing.
What I saw then was a book that front-loads the scat, with the talk about farting and stools and so on, before settling into what almost counts, as a connoisseur of such volumes, as a “My First Trivia” book. This is built of factoids that many browsers will know, from those mentioned above to how and when the Olympic Marathon distance was enhanced. Many people will have one of these books hanging around somewhere, just in case they need something to start a pub argument (they could always join those who nick the Guinness Book of Records from a public library, if really needed) and many will therefore join me in feeling a great sense of deja vu – but also a kind of naive-like nostalgia – for the contents here. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it – but anybody with any recall or shelf-space for such things will raise their eyebrows at how unfresh a lot of this seems. Four stars – but be prepared to see it as less, depending on your knowledge of what generally goes into such volumes.
That's not to say this is not without merits – I don't really want to quote all the good stuff, as that should be for you to discover. But here is a tree that makes sheep go bald, the fact that dogs poo on a north-south axis, and the allegation that a quarter of the world's hazelnuts end up as Nutella.
Yes, I started this the day before the stated factoid about the world's hottest pepper had its record taken from it, but that's a given with such a book, that it might go slightly out of date. It does seem very ancient in calling things Centigrade when they've been Celsius for some time now, I thought. Oh, and I don’t think any ‘proper’ Monopoly board has featured New York – it’s New Jersey’s Atlantic City, by renown – although apologies to all if this is a goof from the proof and not the real thing.
What I saw then was a book that front-loads the scat, with the talk about farting and stools and so on, before settling into what almost counts, as a connoisseur of such volumes, as a “My First Trivia” book. This is built of factoids that many browsers will know, from those mentioned above to how and when the Olympic Marathon distance was enhanced. Many people will have one of these books hanging around somewhere, just in case they need something to start a pub argument (they could always join those who nick the Guinness Book of Records from a public library, if really needed) and many will therefore join me in feeling a great sense of deja vu – but also a kind of naive-like nostalgia – for the contents here. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it – but anybody with any recall or shelf-space for such things will raise their eyebrows at how unfresh a lot of this seems. Four stars – but be prepared to see it as less, depending on your knowledge of what generally goes into such volumes.
October 9, 2023
An enjoyable read about fact and figures. Expect to read about farts, sports, humans, cars, and many other topics. It is entertaining and written in a way that you can read it in smaller bits, and soak in the information. It also debunks many myths. Very easy to spot it was written by a British author.
March 14, 2025
A fun, trivia book.
I read this together with my twelve year old daughter, not really expecting her to be interested beyond the first section, but the light tone and the interesting facts kept her engaged most of the time.
I read this together with my twelve year old daughter, not really expecting her to be interested beyond the first section, but the light tone and the interesting facts kept her engaged most of the time.
October 26, 2023
Absolutely enthralling! This is jam packed full of fascinating facts and dispels many urban myths to boot. The information is well organised into categories and the individual facts are explained in a shot and punchy style, ‘just right’ in terms of length and the way they’re pitched to be accessible to all.
I honestly feel like I’ve learned a lot and I’m hoping some of the information will stick so I can be ‘that person’ in pub quizzes and dinner parties (can’t say I attend many of those) to amaze my peers. I had lots of fun being educated on a wide variety of subject matter including areas I’d never have considered of interest previously. I’m really hoping this has the success it deserves so there’s a follow up. Highly recommended.
I honestly feel like I’ve learned a lot and I’m hoping some of the information will stick so I can be ‘that person’ in pub quizzes and dinner parties (can’t say I attend many of those) to amaze my peers. I had lots of fun being educated on a wide variety of subject matter including areas I’d never have considered of interest previously. I’m really hoping this has the success it deserves so there’s a follow up. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews