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The trivia are written in a tongue-in-cheek manner but after a dozen of them at once my interest usually wanes and the yawning starts. I decided to give it only three stars and here are the reasons why:First, this is not quite what I expected, the imponderables are usually too trivial and of little interest to me personally. This is not bad if you suffer from insomnia.Fourth, it's huge, being a compilation of several smaller collections of imponderables and as such not very wieldy. This is not a bad thing if you really want to know why painters wear white uniforms.Second, from my perspective the book is too focused on everything American to be of use to the rest of the world. Again, this is not bad if you know about the Yellow Freight System trucks but want to know why they're orange.Third, this in not exactly a can't-put-down sort of book. This is not bad if you want to keep the book in just one place, like your bathroom and read it during these few minutes you have nothing better to do, but don't want to sink to the level of toilet humor. In fact, it's perfect.
Do you wonder what the 'Q' stands for in Q-tip. Besides imponderables with answers, there is also a section on "frustrables," or those imponderables that even the author's research could not uncrack. If there are odd little things in your day-to-day existence that puzzle you, then this might be the book for you. Have you questioned why there are no purple Christmas lights. It is the kind of book you can open at random and find enlightenment, entertainment, and a chuckle or two all in the space of several pages. Have you pondered whether cats have navels. These little imponderables, and many more, are collected here in one volume from three of David Feldman's earlier out-of-print books.
Readers are invited to provide explanations to these unanswered questions, and there is an update in the back of each book section with reader's answers. It does not answer life's major mysteries, but it does a wonderful job of answering the little ones. These include such mysteries as why doctors have illegible handwriting. Do you puzzle over why there is a worm in the bottom of some tequila bottles. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Readers are also encouraged to pose questions of their own for inclusion in future books.This collection is not only a lot of fun, but a good source of trivia as well. If you are a fan of Cecil Adam's "The Straight Dope" you will find Feldman's Imponderables a great way to round out your general trivia collection.Eileen Rieback
Personally I have loved his Imponderables books and this is the largest collection to date. People pick it up read a few and put it down. Why are peanuts listed under the ingredients of plain M&Ms. People pick it up read a few, can't put it down and take it with them to another room. Well, to be brief, they are the questions that everyone seems to ask at one time or another, but would not have the first idea where to find the answer. For example, why do weather thermometers use red mercury and medical thermometers use red mercury. David Feldman has yet another winner with this book. With this book I have a hard time keeping track of where the book is located.
The questions are the same kind of things that children ask when they are innocent and not afraid to ask questions about anything. Then later they may pick it up again and read a few more. Get in touch with the child inside you and ask the questions that you wouldn't ask anymore as an adult. While the questions are trivial this is not like traditional trivia. What are Imponderables. By the couch, by the chair, in a bedroom, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, who knows where it ends up.
Can one spider get stuck in the web of another one. Among other things, my trivia books are always where I left them. Part of the fun is also being a child again. Do Penguins have knees.
For some reason, we've retained the trait.Besides interesting questions, David Feldman also has a great sense of humor that will keep you laughing. When you read this book, you encounter questions you never really thought about but once you read them, they really make you wonder. I highly recommend this book. For example:Was Ben gay.It was invented by Dr. Ben Gué and originally called Baume Gué.What flavor is original bubble gum.wintergreen, vanilla, and cassiaWhy do we wave Polaroid prints.Back then, Polaroid prints used to be covered with a tacky polymer and we used to wave them to dry. Now if anybody can tell me why we close our eyes when we kiss. Any answers.
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