What's the Difference?

by Mental Floss (Editor)

Enlighten Up Already!

Monet? Manet? Who can even tell the difference? Well, with the help of the newest mental_floss tome, you can! Want to learn how to tell egg rolls from spring rolls, nuclear bombs from dirty nuclear bombs, or even how to tell an idiot from a moron (there's a real scientific difference)? Piece of cake! Whether you're trying to impress your boss, your mother-in-law, attractive singles, or a pack of fourth graders (you know how they love semantics), mental_floss gives you all the tips and tricks to have you sounding like a genius.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Reference, Trivia, Education, Science

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Mental Floss (also credited as mental_floss) is a trivia and humor magazine.

mental_floss is a bi-monthly American magazine, launched in 2001 in Birmingham, Alabama, that presents facts and trivia in a humorous way. MentalFloss.com is also host to a popular blog, which contains additional trivia, features, and interesting news articles.

Reviews

[Allanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's mental_floss, what's not to love? AND this is the first m_f book that I've read while being aware that John Green is one of the editors (Also, that footnote where they talk about Hank owing them $5? That's John's brother ... who you'll know from ecogeek.org or from Brotherhood 2.0/ vlogbrothers. Well, if you're a geek like I am, you'd know all that.)

But, yes, I did feel smarter. Especially since a few days after finishing this, I got some extra answers correct while watching Jeopardy. Woot!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, enjoyed it. Interesting tidbits of info and fun humor. Only real qualm is that sometimes they only really explained one of the two contrasting items rather than more clearly elaborating on the differences. Some were better than others in that regard. But the book is fun and I enjoyed reading it—and maybe even learned a few things along the way.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and interesting little trivia book I found at my sister's house.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good news. I think I'm smarter now.

If my newfound knowledge of the interrobang, cricket, bourbon, and Cro-Magnons doesn't come in handy, I'll eat my hat. Disappointingly the origin of "eat my hat" was not included, but I'll venture to guess it has no connection with "eat my shorts." But now that I think of it, I wouldn't have hated learning the difference between the two.

Informative and funny? This is my kind of casual reading.

3.5 Stars

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Desperately Needs Illustrations

Obviously any section that involves people, needs pictures of them, plus cartoon characters, plus many historical, philosophical or religious topics, which bring forth mental reminders of things we grew up tabulating these things as.

[JustMe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky trivia and anecdotes

You will like this book if you are into trivia. It gives backgrounds on some common quandaries word origins/usage) and some political ones as well (Shia vs. Sunni).

Easy to put down and pick up at any time, as different especially are written as brief chapters in no particular order.

Ok to pick up as a freebie but not really worth a big investment. Better to enjoy their magazine and website for more current information.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about mental_floss, but I especially love their books. This one is especially handy. It explains the difference between two things that are often confused (like fusion and fission, samurais and ninjas, orchestras, symphonies and philaharmonics) and it does it in a very clever, very funny, very mental_floss way.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, quick read for anyone who is curious by nature. Even if you already know the difference between Monet and Manet or spring rolls and egg rolls, it still has enough useful little factoids and historical information to make it interesting.

[Aymee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and informative book, if you like trivial information of any and all kinds. I love the added touch of humor and the laid-back style in which it's written. A joy for information junkies everywhere. :)

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I know this was supposed to be breezy, and I did learn a few things, but I was distracted by a number of typos, and their assertion that c.f. is the abbreviation for the Latin conferre drove me fair out of my mind (the abbreviation should be cf.).

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars seems like a bit much, but am I going to limit a book by it's potential? I love mental_floss and they did a great job, as always. Also I employed some of the knowledge herein just today when I successfully identified an Ionic column.

Does this count as reading a John Green book?

[Daiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great trivia. Fun to read in small easily digestible entertaining bites.

[Misti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great little "just-to-pass-time" book, or a nice bathroom reader. This book has a nice array of comparisons and is decently funny.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fun, fun. I never knew there was difference between dynamite and TNT.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Mental_floss trivia book. I learned that woodchucks and groundhogs are the same thing, and that snooker is ridonkulous.

[SC]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11768456

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting book that I read during my breaks at work.
Amused and learned a few things along the way.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a valuable read - and quite well explained too

[deborah trout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trivia buff

I enjoyed this quite a bit. Not that it will go down in history as classic literature, but I found it funny and entertaining.

[Deke · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know most of this already.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished reading this book back in April and can't remember much about it now. Apparently it did not make much of an impression on me.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!! Great topics in a brilliant layout. Even the non-reader could appreciate it.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great bathroom read!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!"

"Those with simple needs will find them fulfilled."

[Absurd Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read on the fly. I love anything Mental_floss does.