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Lateral: Wonderful Answers to Weird Questions
Based on the hit podcast
A collection of lateral thinking puzzles, half chosen from the best of Tom Scott’s popular LATERAL podcast, half that are original to this book, featuring real-world scenarios with unexpected, fascinating answers. Questions are presented with some helpful suggestions to help you get your thoughts moving in the right direction—but even if you don’t solve the puzzle, reading the solution lets you share in the “aha!” moment, accompanied by fun supplementary details and extra commentary. For example, here's one In 1998, many of the people who bought tickets to the Brad Pitt movie Meet Joe Black walked out of theaters before the film even began. Why? The Because they’d only come to watch the trailer for Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Reportedly, some cinemas promised to play the trailer a second time at the end of the movie to encourage Star Wars fans to stick around.
A collection of lateral thinking puzzles, half chosen from the best of Tom Scott’s popular LATERAL podcast, half that are original to this book, featuring real-world scenarios with unexpected, fascinating answers. Questions are presented with some helpful suggestions to help you get your thoughts moving in the right direction—but even if you don’t solve the puzzle, reading the solution lets you share in the “aha!” moment, accompanied by fun supplementary details and extra commentary. For example, here's one In 1998, many of the people who bought tickets to the Brad Pitt movie Meet Joe Black walked out of theaters before the film even began. Why? The Because they’d only come to watch the trailer for Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Reportedly, some cinemas promised to play the trailer a second time at the end of the movie to encourage Star Wars fans to stick around.
- GenresNonfictionHumorScience
240 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2024
96 people are currently reading
3592 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 3, 2024
If you like the podcast, you'll like this book. I read it on my own, but if you have willing friends, I imagine it would make for a great group activity.
If you're unfamiliar with the podcast but like good lateral-thinking puzzles, you'll also like this book.
Each question and answer also comes with about a page of related trivia which can be a fun bonus.
If you're unfamiliar with the podcast but like good lateral-thinking puzzles, you'll also like this book.
Each question and answer also comes with about a page of related trivia which can be a fun bonus.
October 5, 2025
Didn't really know what this book was all about until we sat down and focused on it. It's really a game. Bill and I enjoyed playing the game together as a time passer when we did not have any internet or other distractions. Sometimes we gave the questions a thumbs up and other times we thought what the huh?
May 15, 2025
Enjoyed this book. Most of the questions were really interesting. Though a few of the questions felt like felt kind of lame. it is nice that you can read just one or two as you have time. Also the answer are just on the next page so you don't have to flip to the end.
January 3, 2025
Very interesting and enjoyable. I knew far less than I might have hoped. But there were a few I got right away, which made me happy.
January 17, 2025
It’s ok as a conversation starter but not that substantive of a book. The questions are supposed to be head-scratchers but they are pretty easy.
June 16, 2025
the way I found this book could’ve been a lateral question itself. perfect for anyone who loves falling down Wikipedia or YouTube rabbit holes.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews