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Better Than Balderdash: The Ultimate Collection of Incredible True Stories, Intriguing Trivia, and Absurd Information You Didn’t Know You Needed
Did you know that you can heat up a cup of coffee by yelling at it? How about the fact that bananas are radioactive? Or that Google hires goats as gardeners? Or that competitive slapping is a sport in Russia?
Our world is chock-full of fascinating facts, unbelievable but true stories, and mind-blowing trivia.
This book is your one-stop guide to all the extraordinary, shocking and enthralling information you didn’t know you needed to learn.
Impress your friends and family with a vast knowledge of topics guaranteed to stimulate interesting conversations!
If you want to learn some of the world’s most intriguing stories to pass the time at work, fuel the fire on your next trivia games night, or are looking for top-notch entertainment for that family road trip, then you need this book.
Inside Better Than Balderdash, you’ll discover:
● Insane facts about world history
● Bizarre stories of inventors and inventions that sound 100% made up
● Unbelievable true stories of survival
● Unusually strange trivia and fun facts about science and nature
● Shocking truths about famous and infamous people in history
… along with many more crazy fun facts and terrific tales from every facet of this wacky world.
Suitable for adults, teens and kids … Better Than Balderdash is guaranteed to be the best book gift for anyone you can think of, including yourself
Our world is chock-full of fascinating facts, unbelievable but true stories, and mind-blowing trivia.
This book is your one-stop guide to all the extraordinary, shocking and enthralling information you didn’t know you needed to learn.
Impress your friends and family with a vast knowledge of topics guaranteed to stimulate interesting conversations!
If you want to learn some of the world’s most intriguing stories to pass the time at work, fuel the fire on your next trivia games night, or are looking for top-notch entertainment for that family road trip, then you need this book.
Inside Better Than Balderdash, you’ll discover:
● Insane facts about world history
● Bizarre stories of inventors and inventions that sound 100% made up
● Unbelievable true stories of survival
● Unusually strange trivia and fun facts about science and nature
● Shocking truths about famous and infamous people in history
… along with many more crazy fun facts and terrific tales from every facet of this wacky world.
Suitable for adults, teens and kids … Better Than Balderdash is guaranteed to be the best book gift for anyone you can think of, including yourself
ebook
Published October 29, 2022
73 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Owen Janssen
11 books3 followersI am a teacher and educator with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. My love of learning was instilled in me by my father who was a professor in the educational system in Holland, my birthplace.
My family immigrated to the United States when I was just two-years-old. Myself and my family traveled the world during my formative years. This exposure to various backgrounds and cultures helped me amass a great deal of inspiration for all of my authored books, including Better Than Balderdash.
I have spent the last twenty-six years teaching elementary education and shaping young minds.
My family immigrated to the United States when I was just two-years-old. Myself and my family traveled the world during my formative years. This exposure to various backgrounds and cultures helped me amass a great deal of inspiration for all of my authored books, including Better Than Balderdash.
I have spent the last twenty-six years teaching elementary education and shaping young minds.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 14, 2022
I thank NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
Although I’m not as big a fan of trivia or a collector of weird and wonderful facts as the author, I do enjoy the topic. I watch game quiz programmes on TV most days, I used to watch QI when I lived in the UK, and regularly participate in an online quiz, so I could not resist the description of this book. Oh, and the title and the cover are great as well.
This is a fun book, easy to read, and as the author suggests in the introduction (where the talks about his love of all things trivia and how he has found it quite useful throughout his life), it makes for quite a good conversation starter. And if you have to make any kind of speech, fishing up some interesting facts relevant to the topic would also ensure you have the attention of the audience.
The copy I accessed contains, apart from the introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion, and some information about the author, although there might be extra content in the published book. The seven chapters discuss a variety of topics: world history, inventors and inventions, pop culture, science and nature, technology, famous and infamous people, and animals and insects. And, be forewarned, the conclusion includes some bonus facts, and rightly so, because all readers are bound to be left wanting more.
Personally, I had heard some of them, but not others, and even the ones I was familiar with, I enjoyed being reminded about. They go from the smallest (a bat as small as a bumblebee, for example), to the largest (living being, and no, it’s now what you think); from the sublime (a hornet that can transform solar energy into electricity) to the ridiculous (a Swedish couple’s idea of a name for their child). It is perfect to dip in an out of, check looking for something interesting, or read from cover to cover in a few sittings. It has some small illustrations, although I would have quite liked a few photographs to accompany some of the facts. Of course, this is also a great place to get people interested in doing research into their favourite topics and discovering some new ones.
This is an easy and entertaining book to read, perfect for somebody with little time and always looking for something amusing and informative to wet his or her appetite. I have discovered things I knew nothing about, and I enjoyed the selection. I look forward to more books by the author, and I am convinced he must be a truly popular teacher. There can’t be a moment’s boredom with him at the helm!
Although I’m not as big a fan of trivia or a collector of weird and wonderful facts as the author, I do enjoy the topic. I watch game quiz programmes on TV most days, I used to watch QI when I lived in the UK, and regularly participate in an online quiz, so I could not resist the description of this book. Oh, and the title and the cover are great as well.
This is a fun book, easy to read, and as the author suggests in the introduction (where the talks about his love of all things trivia and how he has found it quite useful throughout his life), it makes for quite a good conversation starter. And if you have to make any kind of speech, fishing up some interesting facts relevant to the topic would also ensure you have the attention of the audience.
The copy I accessed contains, apart from the introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion, and some information about the author, although there might be extra content in the published book. The seven chapters discuss a variety of topics: world history, inventors and inventions, pop culture, science and nature, technology, famous and infamous people, and animals and insects. And, be forewarned, the conclusion includes some bonus facts, and rightly so, because all readers are bound to be left wanting more.
Personally, I had heard some of them, but not others, and even the ones I was familiar with, I enjoyed being reminded about. They go from the smallest (a bat as small as a bumblebee, for example), to the largest (living being, and no, it’s now what you think); from the sublime (a hornet that can transform solar energy into electricity) to the ridiculous (a Swedish couple’s idea of a name for their child). It is perfect to dip in an out of, check looking for something interesting, or read from cover to cover in a few sittings. It has some small illustrations, although I would have quite liked a few photographs to accompany some of the facts. Of course, this is also a great place to get people interested in doing research into their favourite topics and discovering some new ones.
This is an easy and entertaining book to read, perfect for somebody with little time and always looking for something amusing and informative to wet his or her appetite. I have discovered things I knew nothing about, and I enjoyed the selection. I look forward to more books by the author, and I am convinced he must be a truly popular teacher. There can’t be a moment’s boredom with him at the helm!
October 9, 2022
Fantastically entertaining.
Lots of bite sized random facts to enjoy here. The vast majority of them are things I did not know with only a few that I did which was enough to satisfy my smug self and keep my quest for knowledge brain thoroughly happy. I feel I have learned quite a few things that have been on the cusp of confusing me for a number of years and I feel confident that I can retain some of these to amaze my friends and make me look vaguely intelligent *coughs*
I found the format of the facts slightly confusing as there were no visible spacing between them and no common thread or categorisation. In hindsight, however, I quite like that they aren’t in set categories as this kept my interest piqued and even if one fact wasn’t really for me, the subject quickly changed and moved on. The formatting may also be due to my reading an ARC copy and as yet not complete.
I’m not entirely sure the generic and stylised pictures added to the mix for me, I would’ve preferred some actual pictures but this isn’t a game changer. I might go and have to Google one of the flags mentioned though, to fully appreciate anecdote. I feel like you’re making me do homework there to check I was listening….
Overall really enjoyable and easy to dip in and out of and I felt a compulsion to share some of the fun facts with my darling children who also liked them. Thanks very much, recommended.
Lots of bite sized random facts to enjoy here. The vast majority of them are things I did not know with only a few that I did which was enough to satisfy my smug self and keep my quest for knowledge brain thoroughly happy. I feel I have learned quite a few things that have been on the cusp of confusing me for a number of years and I feel confident that I can retain some of these to amaze my friends and make me look vaguely intelligent *coughs*
I found the format of the facts slightly confusing as there were no visible spacing between them and no common thread or categorisation. In hindsight, however, I quite like that they aren’t in set categories as this kept my interest piqued and even if one fact wasn’t really for me, the subject quickly changed and moved on. The formatting may also be due to my reading an ARC copy and as yet not complete.
I’m not entirely sure the generic and stylised pictures added to the mix for me, I would’ve preferred some actual pictures but this isn’t a game changer. I might go and have to Google one of the flags mentioned though, to fully appreciate anecdote. I feel like you’re making me do homework there to check I was listening….
Overall really enjoyable and easy to dip in and out of and I felt a compulsion to share some of the fun facts with my darling children who also liked them. Thanks very much, recommended.
October 24, 2022
I love books about interesting facts and useless information in this book has both it has chapters on science and inventions, pop culture, sports and everything in between. You can tell the difference between someone who is just copy and pasting to make a buck and someone who really loves interesting facts and I think the author of this book is the latter. The copy and pastor will put the most interesting already been seen before fax and tidbits in the one who loves it has knew and interesting things you haven’t read anywhere else in this book is full of those. I have lots of books like this and this is the first book in a long time that one thing after another was new to me they did have a few things I already knew but for the most part it was all new and interesting. If you love useless information then I highly recommend this book it is one of the better ones that I’ve come across. Oh yes and did I mention it’s hilarious as well. I received this book from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own. Please forgive any mistakes as I dictate most of my review.
October 16, 2022
Addictive!😊
This compilation of odd facts, each related in a paragraph or two, just made me want to keep going, reading to see if the next absurdity or obscure historical or scientific fact was even better! But the way it's written and designed, it's a great book to entertain during visits to a waiting room, work breaks or commutes. This book made me a bit nostalgic. It brought to mind the Ripley's Believe It Or Not stuff I devoured in my youth.
It certainly kept me entertained and, little by little, I felt I had also acquired new arcane knowledge. If only I can retain it!
Thanks to the author, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
This compilation of odd facts, each related in a paragraph or two, just made me want to keep going, reading to see if the next absurdity or obscure historical or scientific fact was even better! But the way it's written and designed, it's a great book to entertain during visits to a waiting room, work breaks or commutes. This book made me a bit nostalgic. It brought to mind the Ripley's Believe It Or Not stuff I devoured in my youth.
It certainly kept me entertained and, little by little, I felt I had also acquired new arcane knowledge. If only I can retain it!
Thanks to the author, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
September 17, 2022
I have only one complaint about this book-it is not long enough! I was enjoying all the crazy, sometimes unbelievable facts and suddenly I turn the page and it was all over! I was truly disappointed, I love reading trivia and wanted more. My brain is full of strange, frivolous,useless information and I need more!
This book is great for trivia lovers everywhere, just try not to be too disappointed when it ends. I gave 4 stars and recommend for all trivia buffs.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
This book is great for trivia lovers everywhere, just try not to be too disappointed when it ends. I gave 4 stars and recommend for all trivia buffs.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
October 12, 2022
Great Collection of Modern Trivia
I like trivial nonsense and I love Trivia Night at the bar. This book is filled will wonderful details that you should fill your head with. These are not boring details, these are fun facts. Many of these are from the 18th. 19Th, 20th, and 21st centuries. There is an entire section about technology! There are many fun chapters and most of these factoids were new to me. This would be a great book to accompany you when you must wait for an appointment or travel in the dark. I received this ARC for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
I like trivial nonsense and I love Trivia Night at the bar. This book is filled will wonderful details that you should fill your head with. These are not boring details, these are fun facts. Many of these are from the 18th. 19Th, 20th, and 21st centuries. There is an entire section about technology! There are many fun chapters and most of these factoids were new to me. This would be a great book to accompany you when you must wait for an appointment or travel in the dark. I received this ARC for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
November 17, 2022
Balderdash indeed
I like trivia and thus I like trivia books. Some of them are good and some not so good. In this case the trivia was good. Now there were a few items that I have heard of before, but that does not make for a bad book. In fact it shows the reader, if they know trivia, just how important a trivia can be. There was only one problem for me and that was when he put the same tidbit of trivia down twice, but still no biggie. If you like trivia then try this balderdash indeed.
I like trivia and thus I like trivia books. Some of them are good and some not so good. In this case the trivia was good. Now there were a few items that I have heard of before, but that does not make for a bad book. In fact it shows the reader, if they know trivia, just how important a trivia can be. There was only one problem for me and that was when he put the same tidbit of trivia down twice, but still no biggie. If you like trivia then try this balderdash indeed.
December 17, 2022
I call this my "Bathroom Book". Do others have a book or magazine they keep in there for when they are "detained"? So I read it a little at a time. Actually, it's that kind of book and is more enjoyable that way. It contains trivia, that is awesome and a lot of it almost unbelievable! Mr. Janssen is a master! He could easily go head to head with my hero, Ken Jennings, I think.
I really wish I could mention a few instances, but at the beginning of the book, we are instructed not to quote anything without permission from the publisher. Thank you, NetGalley, for making this available!
I really wish I could mention a few instances, but at the beginning of the book, we are instructed not to quote anything without permission from the publisher. Thank you, NetGalley, for making this available!
September 16, 2022
I thought that this book was fun and informative!
There were plenty of facts in the book that I wasn’t aware of too, which is great as there are a lot of books out that are a little similar to this one so it was perfect to read!
Make sure that you carry on reading past the “end” as there are a few extra facts at the end – a great conversation starter
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
There were plenty of facts in the book that I wasn’t aware of too, which is great as there are a lot of books out that are a little similar to this one so it was perfect to read!
Make sure that you carry on reading past the “end” as there are a few extra facts at the end – a great conversation starter
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
December 1, 2022
If you want to learn some rather strange things than this is the book to use. For example, Pepsi at one time had it's own naval fleet.There's a town where it's illegal for a chicken to cross to the other side. How about squirrels being arrested for spying?
These and a bunch of others make this book really fun to read.
These and a bunch of others make this book really fun to read.
November 1, 2022
Princess Fuzzypants here: We got this book in ARC form in return for an honest review and let me tell you, I wish we had it in hardback. This is Momma’s kind of book. When she was younger, her fly paper brain used to store all sorts of useless information that made her a terror at Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. Her fly paper has lost some of its glue as she has aged but she still loves to learn new stuff and this book is jam=packed with it. She kept reading excerpts to the other humans in the house. She was so chuffed with the contents.
She did read it through in one go but this is the kind of book that belongs in a “library”- either kind will do. It is a book that will be well thumbed and read over and over again. It was a hoot. With gift giving coming up, this would be a great gift for the trivia fan. We give it five purrs and two paws up.
She did read it through in one go but this is the kind of book that belongs in a “library”- either kind will do. It is a book that will be well thumbed and read over and over again. It was a hoot. With gift giving coming up, this would be a great gift for the trivia fan. We give it five purrs and two paws up.
December 30, 2022
A fun, interesting and different kind of read. I got through this book pretty quickly but really enjoyed it and found out lots of interesting facts, which may come in handy for the pub quiz one day!
A great read for any age!
A great read for any age!
May 20, 2023
Quit when I noticed a glaring inaccuracy: Tootsie Rolls in the Civil War? Soldiers "radioed" in the 1860s?
The Story took place during the Korean War.
I don't have time for poorly written books.
The Story took place during the Korean War.
I don't have time for poorly written books.
November 22, 2022
Very interesting!
I love books with "useless" trivia. In this one, I learned even more. I'm so glad that I took the time to read it. Thank you Owen, for the new information.
I love books with "useless" trivia. In this one, I learned even more. I'm so glad that I took the time to read it. Thank you Owen, for the new information.
September 16, 2025
insightful and well organised
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews