Facts & Fallacies

by Neil Ardley

401 stories which sift through the implausible, the unlikely and the bizarre to reveal the bare facts. This book takes a look at the truths and the misconceptions surrounding the natural and the supernatural world, its past, present and future. Who was the real Robin Hood? Do trees talk? Why are some whales suicidal? Does spinach make you strong? Is the sun going out? Did Jesus ever visit England? Every one of these mysteries and many more are solved in this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, History

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Ardley joined the editorial staff of the World Book Encyclopedia in 1962, when the London branch of the American publisher was producing an international edition. This took four years, during which time he developed the skill of editing and writing introductory material for the young. After a brief period working for Hamlyn, he became a freelance editor in 1968 (which enabled him to continue with his musical career), and then in the 1970s moved into writing introductory books, mostly for children, on natural history (especially birds), science and technology, and music, such as What Is It?.

Just as his composing and performance had been moved forward by the introduction and development of technology, so too with his publishing career as computers began to become more and more important. In 1984 Ardley began to write mainly for Dorling Kindersley, producing a series of books which included the best-selling (over three million copies worldwide) and award-winning The Way Things Work, illustrated by David Macaulay.
When he retired in 2000 Ardley had written 101 books, with total sales of about ten million.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the books from my youth I look back upon with the highest fondness. It's full of odd stories with trivia I remember to this day.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy facts. Facts are just that, facts. An example of supposedly acquiring facts would be today's watching of the news, the news is supposed to cover the facts of whatever they're reporting. This in itself is a fact but it is broken on a daily/nightly basis. It doesn't matter what channel you choose to get your news from you simply won't be getting the facts no matter what is being reported. So myself, I don't get my news from the television or any network for on these platforms you're only receiving opinionated substance, nothing more. The days of hearing about the daily events for the day in a factual way or format have long been gone. So, I choose to read, research the internet & gather the facts allowing me to formulate my own opinion of the days events as it should be. I will never consider myself as one of the herd, I decide where I'm going, how I'm going to get there & what I'm going to do once there. I will never be a part of the herd mentality & I wish there wee a lot more like myself, & I know there are but they choose to remain silent. That's their prerogative not mine. It is why I find this book, FACTS & FALLACIES so intriguing. It's all factual beyond dispute! Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes facts, no matter if it's about a butterfly of how many nails were used in building the Empire State Building. You get the facts! Read this from cover to cover & feel much more knowledgeable than before I read this book. This would be an awesome book to give to a teenager to read. It's copyright, 1988 but it's immaterial for the facts are the same. Whomever decides to read this, you will become much more knowledgeable from having done so. Take Care!

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting compendium of strange stories, predictions, and nuttiness. Published in 1986 so sometimes out of date, but sometimes prescient. Interesting seeing what actually happened compared with predictions. Interesting seeing the conspiracy theories and bizarre stories of my youth, having mostly faded away. A nice bathroom book, short segments.

[PRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book my parents bought me when I was younger. Lots of weird and wonderful things going on around the world that are hard to explain. With pictures too.

[Jere · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was my bathroom book for 2 years, even though dated, it was good!

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book. As the title suggests, it is non-fiction. Facts & fallacies. I consider this "intellectual reading".

[Cws]

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