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The Straight Dope
The Straight Dope Tells All
IF KNOWLEDGE WAS POWER, CECIL ADAMS WOULD RULE THE WORLD!
It's true! For the past twenty-five years, in his books and weekly newspaper column, world-history genius Cecil Adams has been patiently explaining to the Teeming Millions how the world works. He answered questions such as how do porcupines mate, what exactly does Barney Rubble do for a living, and where is Einstein's brain? His answers changed your life. Or at least settled a bet with a loved one. But surely, you are thinking, all the salient facts of the universe have been ascertained by now. Ha! Get a load of the mysteries The Master explores in this landmark
¸ If Teflon is such a nonsticky substance, how do they get it to stick to the pan?
¸ Is the Great Cabal implanting microchips in our brains?
¸ Do fluorescent lights cause cataracts?
¸ What do Scotsmen wear under those kilts?
¸ Can some people extinguish street lamps by force of their bodily emanations?
¸ Is the U.S. Government really hiding alien spaceships?
It's true! For the past twenty-five years, in his books and weekly newspaper column, world-history genius Cecil Adams has been patiently explaining to the Teeming Millions how the world works. He answered questions such as how do porcupines mate, what exactly does Barney Rubble do for a living, and where is Einstein's brain? His answers changed your life. Or at least settled a bet with a loved one. But surely, you are thinking, all the salient facts of the universe have been ascertained by now. Ha! Get a load of the mysteries The Master explores in this landmark
¸ If Teflon is such a nonsticky substance, how do they get it to stick to the pan?
¸ Is the Great Cabal implanting microchips in our brains?
¸ Do fluorescent lights cause cataracts?
¸ What do Scotsmen wear under those kilts?
¸ Can some people extinguish street lamps by force of their bodily emanations?
¸ Is the U.S. Government really hiding alien spaceships?
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 1998
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 5, 2016
Don't bother. Stop with "More".
May 6, 2012
The Straight Dope is a newspaper column with a simple but effective formula: people write in with difficult, odd, or random questions about how the world works, and the egotistical columnist gives them an answer (with a free bonus of attitude). This book collects many of the questions and answers, with a few updates.
For example: someone writes in, saying that every cigarette they've ever bought has been marked class A, implying the existence of other classes -- but where are they? It turns out that cigarettes are classified for tax purposes; most cigarettes that people are used to are class A, but there are some cigarettes of different sizes and shapes that fall into class B that go in and out of style periodically. The answers are generally pretty interesting, if not actually useful. And if some of the answers seem outdated, who cares? Just skip to the next one.
The attitude in the answers walks a fine line: it's usually entertaining enough, but sometimes gets annoying. Worse are the answers that don't really answer the question as given; I think these are usually the result of limited space in the newspaper column, but it would probably be better to give no answer than a half-answer.
Still, this book is entertaining and I can cruise through it: it's a great way to kill a little time.
For example: someone writes in, saying that every cigarette they've ever bought has been marked class A, implying the existence of other classes -- but where are they? It turns out that cigarettes are classified for tax purposes; most cigarettes that people are used to are class A, but there are some cigarettes of different sizes and shapes that fall into class B that go in and out of style periodically. The answers are generally pretty interesting, if not actually useful. And if some of the answers seem outdated, who cares? Just skip to the next one.
The attitude in the answers walks a fine line: it's usually entertaining enough, but sometimes gets annoying. Worse are the answers that don't really answer the question as given; I think these are usually the result of limited space in the newspaper column, but it would probably be better to give no answer than a half-answer.
Still, this book is entertaining and I can cruise through it: it's a great way to kill a little time.
December 16, 2013
Surprisingly useful and interesting information, given that it was written 15 years ago. At first I was worried because the author took a moment to explain to the reader what the World Wide Web is and talk about AOL user groups. Luckily none of the questions really dealt with technology or this book would not stand the test of time. Some of the pop culture references will be lost on those who don't clearly remember the 1990s or (possibly) the 1980s, but the historical aspects might still be enough to satisfy them. I learned quite a few interesting things, but the most memorable fact was about the Challenger explosion -- however, it was disturbing enough that I won't share it here.
August 23, 2009
It's a book about a newspaper column where readers ask questions and the columnist answers them with a tone that is both professional and casual.
The book has questions, and the book has answers. I suppose the only reason it could get *less* than five stars is if there were no questions or no answers. The author managed to include both of these elements therefore I have no idea how you could be disappointed by the book.
The book has questions, and the book has answers. I suppose the only reason it could get *less* than five stars is if there were no questions or no answers. The author managed to include both of these elements therefore I have no idea how you could be disappointed by the book.
February 18, 2012
Always loads of cantankerous, scabrous (and of course informative) fun. Not really sure the guy is quite the pantologist that he assumes himself to be, particularly about science matters (and especially since he quite literally claims to know everything)...but of course that's all part of the fun (not that I'd ever bring this up with him of course, since he'd no doubt yell me to ribbons).
July 28, 2008
A collection of Cecil Adams' Straight Dope columns - he answers all sorts of cultural, scientific and occasionally just weird questions. This collection also references the online message board (then found at AOL) - there's a couple of names mentioned that are still active members... :^)
maybe-someday
January 17, 2008Thanks, Ginnie and Ko
April 23, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11074820
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11074820
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews