Trivia Books

Bob Harris writes of his Jeopardy! experience in terms both comic and pensive, relating his often-panicked perceptions of being on the show with a Dave Barry-ish wit, but also ruminating on the workings of human memory and the mind's ability to relate knowledge to experience in unexpected ways. A must-read for Jeopardy! hopefuls.

I bought this book to learn more about Jeopardy!, but I ended up enjoying Trebekistan at least as much for the emotional experience as I did for the information imparted about the show. Bob Harris also has a writing style that's funny and engaging. If you enjoy suspense, trivia, humor, or if you just have a pulse, then you'll like this book.

Well I finally finished it and what a wonderful book to spend a month with! Yes, it's by and about a Jeopardy! contestant, but it's much more, and unlike any book I've read. It's personal, suspenseful, hilarious beyond description, and very touching. I felt as if I was going through the last 10 years arm-in-arm with Bob rather than actually living my own life. I've come to care deeply for the people in his life as well as the profound realizations he encountered while on the Jeopardy! roller coaster. It also offered me personal hope for a continual lifelong education - a hope I desperately welcome since I've experienced a sharp and discouraging intellectual regression since becoming a stay-home mom.

If you like Jeopardy!, read it. If Jeopardy! makes you want to puke, read it. If you've ever heard of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, Sony, President Garfield, Jabberwocky, galoshes, the snowbelt, stage make-up, Bhutan, Radio City Music Hall, E.M. Forster (you'll never think of his works the same again), traffic signals or masking tape and a ball point pen, read it. Just read it.

If you're human, you'll love it.

You don't have to be a die-hard Jeopardy! fan to appreciate this book. Yes, if you do want to improve your chances of being a quiz show contenstant, this book will help, but there is much more to it. First of all, it is very well written - there is suspense, foreshadowing, and it is well organized to encompass details of the author's personal life and his Jeopardy! history and experiences, which are nonetheless intertwined. Secondly, this guy is FUNNY (he did make a living for a while as a stand-up comic). Any yes, there are many things to learn from reading this, from memory techniques, to trivia, to life lessons (at the very least, I know I am going to remember the 6th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Presidents from Bob's own experiences and memory tricks). I loved this book!

I bought this book on a whim, but was really pleasantly surprised upon reading it. It's funny, warm, and interesting. It has a lot of appeal for any trivia or Jeopardy buff, and it's also really engaging reading. And it shows why trivia is anything but trivial.

For those in the world who feel like they don't know nearly enough "stuff" (or all purpose knowledge, not specific to any one subject, like literature or history or science...), stop.

Breathe in. And behold.

"What are the Seven Wonders of the World?" and the remaining bits of title which go on for quite a bit, is a rather remarkable volume. Thick, informative, and enjoyable, it is a convenient way to learn various bits of trivia, whether simply to learn, or even to impress others (yes, I CAN name the six wives of Henry VIII!). It's fun to go through bit by bit, can be read aloud as a trivia game in itself, and is (thankfully) paperback, so weighs less than it would if hardcover.

"Wonders" gives you everything. Whether teaching about religion (quite a bit is devoted to this subject), math (triangles, trigonometry, Euclid... those things you'd hoped to forget from high school), history, architecture (yes!), music, or even the alphabet, "Wonders" maintains a light, informative feel... in small portions. Reading each informative essay one after the other might give you a bit of a headache.

Highly recommended in small doses. A great way to learn new things, as long as one carefully rations it out. 4 1/2.

Absolutley superb trivia book. Saat down and read it in my FIRST sitting. Very enjoyable. Great seller, too; very fast turnaround time!

This book is wonderfull. It doesnt matter what you are interested in, you will enjoy this book. In this book there is everything from what are the three sons of Adam and Eve to what are the 24 letters of the greek alphabet. You will always find something interesting in this book.

I found this interesting book via a book club I belong to. I've used it extensively in research for debating as well as writing fanfiction. Encyclopedic in nature (it covers a wealth of subjects from history to science to the arts) and intelligently written, I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning.

This is a clever little volume which, for the most part, I enjoyed. Essentially, it is 101 questions (see the title for an example) with answers provided in short, generally engaging essays. For a triviophile like myself, it provided a lot of interesting stuff, though it's not really a book to be read straight through. Instead, taking a few questions a night should prevent information overload.

In addition, the book does have a few weakness. First, there is the unavoidable one of the selection of questions. Depending on your tastes, some questions will likely be less interesting than others. Also, the authors have the occasional tendency to throw in a judgement with their answers which can rankle, especially in the religious realm. Finally, there is the feeling that some of the questions are a bit of a stretch, shaped to fit the format the authors have chosen.

Still, I don't get the sense that the book is meant to be a reference work. It is meant to be an engaging exploration of a potpourri of interesting questions. In that respect, it works quite well.

Looking through the book again after all these years. Back when a fast modem was 14.4 and AOheLl was new. It is good to see the faces and the "Stories We Could Tell" To learn of the 'roots' of Parrot Head Madness, this book is a must. Phlockings keep us from Growing Older But Not Up. Great to re-live the moments captured in the photos of "The Evolution of a PHan" Happy to see they are not Poloroids barely in PHocus. We can look at when we finally slow down. Great job Jackson (BubbaFreak) Quigley
"Bank Of Bad Habits" Card carrier 282

BubbaJePH
the Bubba of Buckroe

PHinally, the PHirst and PHinal PHixating PHlourish of PHan-PHlocking-tastic PHlockings, PHilosoPHy, PHreaks (BubbaFreak), and PHriends--da collectors' Book set.

It's worth any price--if only to see all the other PHans that you may have only heard about on the internet, or just IM'ed or emailed once--even ole Unca Rum is in da book.. hehehehe (you'll have to buy it and read it to find me--I'm not naming pages.. lol)

My personalized copy cost me a tix to Jimmy's Initial N'awlins Arena Bash (for BubbaFreak), and it was more than worth it. =)

The best part of this book, isn't Jimmy Buffett, but the PHs and their PHlockings that make wasted away in Margaritaville on island time a national pastime PHor those that love a bit of escapism PHrom modern times.

At a time when too many downplay healthy escapism, Jackson shows how da PHlock merges good old PHasioned PHun with more than just a lil bit of charitable civil involvement. Party hard--but also help others, harder...

BTW, I hear there will be a copy of BubbaFreak (Jackson) and Rum showing off their outlawed Bank of Bad Habits ATM cards in the sequal. =)

A parrot-heads `Alice in Wonderland".
I over paid for an autographed copy of this book at our club's annual charity event, and have loved every page - A must for your collection. -Beverly Metzger, Chicago, IL.

I usally don't write reviews but i am making an exception. If you are a parrot head or wondering what one is. this book is a must have. It is well written and the information is great. Alll around fun book. And if you ever went to a concert watch out you might be in the book:-)

You all read my pre-review: "It was 1971 and had been a long 3 months at sea and Subic Bay looked mighty good. I hooked up with my old Honey Ko, had a few San Miguel's and headed for the hotel...a shower, shave and then to bed. In the middle of a very passionate session she blurted out "Jackson Quigley". I could live with that. Afterall, I'd never promised her anything. Marriage was the last thing on my mind. Later, as she reach climax, she yelled out "JimmyDOTcom". For some silly reason I took that as an omen and the search began. 30 years later I finally found the answer......"
Now that it's here, the book is much more than I had hoped for. The amount of research and work Jackson put into this is incredible...... thankfully the "research" was enjoyable. To say this captures the "whole" parrothead experience is an understatement. Years from now (or this evening) when someone asks what a parrothead is, just hand them this. This will do what you could never put into just words and will more than answer the question. I'm just wondering what future civilizations will think when they uncover this in someone's library.... phins up, Mayday.

Just received the Walt Disney Trivia Books, Volumes 1 & 2. I've read through both and cannot wait until my next WDW vacation. Thank you, Lou, for writing the best Disney trivia books ever. Just one question, when will there be a third?

My son and I love this book and we've only read the first section. We can't believe how much we're learning and how much we didn't know. We're enjoying finding out all the "little" things we never knew about Disney World.

I purchased Lou's book after I had found his website when I was planning my latest trip to Walt Disney World. After looking at his site and even signing up for the forum, I knew I had to purchase this book I'd been reading about! And I am so glad I did. The trivia is fun if you're reading alone or if you take turns reading with a partner and it's multiple choice too. Even more, the answers are found following each section with a short statement to provide further information about the correct answer. What I really love about this book is that the layout makes it a simplistic read that doesn't get boring. Even though it isn't a guide book, anyone (or any family) planning to take a trip to WDW can benefit from the exciting learning experience the book has to offer. It is a must read for first timers and fanatics!

Fantastic book! What you may have thought you knew...but didn't! An interesting book of facts that help you understand the making of Walt Disney World. A must have book for Disney mania! Volume 1 is just as interesting!

The Walt Disney World Trivia Book is like the friend I've always wanted who flies me down to Disney (for free!)and proceeds to take me through every park, attraction, and resort, telling me things I never knew about my favorite place. With a loyalty only a true Disney connoisseur can possess ("ever hear of some guy named 'Bugs Bunny'? Hmph. Me neither."), Lou presents his information the way I like it-it's personal, frank, and fun. Kind of like Lou himself...drop him an e-mail, and you actually get an answer! If there is one Disney informant to swear by, it's Lou Mongello. Some of his facts I knew, some made me laugh, and some made me realize that perhaps I'm not the Disney expert I make myself out to be. All I know is that those around me will have to endure new rounds of Disney fact-spouting. I almost feel bad for them. They had assumed they were safe after our (sniff!) last Disney trip in 2005. Although I shouldn't really mourn the trip's passing; with the WDW Trivia Book, I'm there all over again.

If you were born during the tail end of the Baby Boom or are part of Gen-X, think of "Retro Hell" as a travel guide to Memory Lane. This book covers almost every aspect of life in the 1970's and '80's, from the most profound to the most trivial. What makes this book a joy is its ability to remind you of the little things you've forgotten -- toys, fads, fashions, one-hit-wonder bands, TV shows, commercials -- and bring back a flood of memories.

Though much of the writing is strongly tongue-in-cheek, it's not all cynical... which is quite refreshing. Not everything about the '70's and '80's was horrible; indeed, in an age of terrorism and war, roller disco doesn't seem so bad.

This book was originally published in 1997. If a newer edition is planned, adding some context would be especially helpful, now that the entire decade of the '90's has passed. For it's the seemingly frivolous things that ultimately shape our lives in unexpected ways.

Perfectly suited to its target audience both in subject matter and in presentation, this little encyclopedia is guaranteed to be incomprehensible to anyone who was not a small child during the Ford and Carter administrations. It is an exhaustive laundry list of toys, television shows, and other products marketed to children mostly in the 1970's and early 1980's. Said children grew up, went to college, and spent many a late-night dorm room session processing their mixed amusement and time-gilded fondness for these products. Generation X's strangely premature nostalgia was in the mid-'90's documented and catalogued by the staffers of a 'zine called Ben Is Dead, and subsequently released as a book, published with a silver cover, adorned with a flaming disco ball and digito-futuro typeface, called "Retro Hell".

As with any encyclopedia, this book is not to be read cover to cover. Unlike with an encyclopedia, the entries will not strain the most fragile of attention spans, as they are brief and anecdotal. Some merely invoke the commercial slogan attached to the toy in order to clarify the meaning of the item. Chances are good that if you, a friend or a sibling had a particular game, toy, or favorite TV actor in 1976, it will merit an entry in this book, presumably to your surprise and affectionate delight.

OK, let's face it. We GenX'ers (my DOB: 12/20/69) had discussions about these silly things with our friends as far back as 1986, and it all began with our laughter at the memory of the Brady Bunch, with its plaid polyester and relentless good cheer. (Surprisingly no one has ever called attention in print to the sublime musical score of the Brady Bunch.) By the mid-1990's, most of us were a bit burnt out on that sort of discussion. And yet, the sheer inclusiveness of this book guarantees that the late-night discussions will continue for at least as long as it takes to comb through it, as the diligent editors of BID have dredged up for us memories of long-forgotten things like Wacky Packages, checkered Vans, and Operation!. One can imagine that this catalogue was generated with competitive passion, as the youthful 'zinesters engaged in that most cherished of all verbal sports, "Obscurity One-Upmanship", or "Who can recall the most marginal bit of shameless pop culture detritus from the furthest corners of their memory?

Their effort is worthwhile, despite its novelty. It is as ironic as the generation it was written for, as it is in fact useful trash. It is the narrowest history of minutiae you can possibly find, and therefore the most telling. As might once have been said on a nighttime infomercial somewhere around 1980, "It makes a great gift ! "

If you were born between 1965 to 1979, this book is aimed at you. You may end up disagreeing with many of the entries, but not because they're wrong- just because it can be so embarrassing to see your past held up in a modern light.

This is an encyclopaedic recounting of pop-culture memories of many authors, and was originally published in 3 consecutive issues of Darby's magazine "Ben is Dead". One of the unfortunate side-effects of the translation from magazine to book has been the loss of a bit of material. Most/all of the supplementary articles and sidebars have been lost; a lot of pictures have been dropped (possibly from copyright or trademark infringement?); individual entries have been changed, either to remove possibly inflammatory material, or for some judicious editing. Some entries are gone all-together.

But, after 5+ years, my copies of BiD are brown and curling from acidic decay, water damage, constant re-reading. This book is a more durable, more easily transportable, more easily read and shared compendium of what is undoubtedly the best part of the original 3 issues.

For most entries, there are comments from multiple authors- if you don't like what someone wrote about your favorite subject, there's someone else right after them that wrote exactly what you wish you could say. You'll have old dusty memories jarred- both pleasant and unpleasant. You'll cringe in agony when you realize just how stupid we looked drawing a "Z" in the dirt to run faster when wearing Zips shoes. You'll recall that night you saw Pink Lady & Jeff on TV and realized adults didn't know what they were doing, either. You'll also get a lot of info on regional fads (typically southern California) that may not mean much in the rest of the country, but makes for interesting reading.

The best part about the book is the editorial decision to not just concentrate on the happy/good parts of our collective past. A lot of dirt is listed, too, which will make some people uncomfortable, but it makes the book probably the most honest of the pop-culture books that reference the 70s. Instead of sanitizing and making palatable what was, in all honesty, an incredibly vapid and tasteless era, Retro Hell is more of a catharsis for everyone who grew up in that time. The book's not just a fun read, but it'll probably make you a better person, too.

Concentrating on the period 1970-1988, this textbook of cultural anthropology covers a variety of trivial obsessions which, at the time, must have seemed extremely important. For somebody from the UK, it's like a glimse into a bizarre alternative world of Pet Rocks, Farrah Fawcett's hair and the not-at-all drugs-related H. R. Pufnstuff. Did people once vote for Jimmy Carter? Apparently so. It's written in an engagingly everyday tone by the staff and freinds of a sadly-defunct magazine called 'Ben is Dead', and the only bad thing is that it isn't ten times the size - it's great to read on the train, and my copy is now creased and tatty.

My old punk rock pal Mary Mayhem pawned off a box of old fanzines on me the other day, and there was a big stack of BEN IS DEAD magazines amongst them. I had forgotten how good that magazine was. Its a bona fide work of art (without chewing on it, okay?). The publisher, Darby Romeo, was sort of the archetypal Southern California Jewish cultcha' chick for the '80s. Besides being a brilliant writer, she had a yearning quality and a very original slant. She always seemed to be looking for the real and the authentic, even as she was wading through the shallow and phony junk that is Pop Culture. With her "Retro Hell" issues, its almost as if she's looking for God in the details (and I'm sure He's there somewhere, even amidst the Fonzie lunchboxes and Charlie's Angels posters). Face it, we were all raised amidst the blizzard of Pop Culture artifacts. We tried to create a life (or a so-called lifestyle) out of the crap pouring out of our TV sets, radios, and rock magazines. Darby Romeo graduated from high school in 1985, started publishing BEN IS DEAD in 1988 at around age 21, and I think she kept publishing it until around 1999 or so. Every issue got better, slicker, more original, and even more successful (she even copped a book publishing contract out of the deal). And then, she apparently disappeared from public view. Rumor has it she joined a weird cult. WHich I suspect is just the kind of weird rumor that Romeo would appreciate (everytime I disappear from view people just assume I'm dead, sheesh). She had a highly defined sense of irony on top of irony on top of searching for something real on top of further irony. She was the kind of Hollywood chick who hated and smirked at everything "hip." Even as she seemed obsessed with all things hip. As a little girl in the '80s she had Duran Duran posters all over her bedroom walls (well, she would've if her father had let her). Then in the '90s she launched herself into the gears of the Media Machine and got to interview Duran Duran. She even got grab-assed by Simon LeBon, or one of those hair-boys. So you see, dreams come true. Its odd and odd experience re-reading those "Retro Hell" issues of BEN IS DEAD ten years later. Its a perfectly-preserved time-capsule of the long-gone '90s fanzine scene. So I guess now its Retro Retro.

For trivia fans, 1988 stands as a landmark year. 1988 was the year "Uncle John" and the Bathroom Readers' Institute published the first BATHROOM READER volume containing interesting and oddball facts. That first book ran to 224 pages and cost $9.95. And now, praise be, here we are celebrating the 20th anniversary with this whooping 597-opus sure to delight all lovers of knowledge.

Edition 20 is the usual, entertaining collection of isolated facts, short two-four page articles on various topics and extended, multi-part articles on subjects like Music industry lawsuits, the history of bread, etc. along with the Word Origins, Court Transquips, Urban Legends, Strange Lawsuits, Bathroom Lore and other sections that have been a regular feature of the series. The series also retains its punny sense of humor as witness the following sections: Gnome Gnews is Good Gnews, The Ig Nobel Prizes and I Walk the Lawn.

Included in Edition 20 are articles on Historical Blunders, Animal Heroes, The Aloha Shirt, Weird Canada, Farts in the News, Odd Buildings, Car Name Origins, Weird Game Shows, Food Origins, Underwear in the News, The World's Oldest Calculator, Weird Wrestlers, Cockney Slang, Dumb Crooks, Comic Phrases and much, MUCH more! And all for $18.95...such a bargain!

You can't go wrong with this latest Uncle John Reader or any of the BR series ("Plunges Into," "For Kids," etc.). Total sales for the whole ball of wax is something like 7 million books so Uncle John & Co. must be doing something right. Pick up a copy of Edition 20, read and enjoy! Here's hoping we have another 20 years of Bathroom readers to look forward to!

A wonderful book for those who don't want to commit to reading some long novel. Plus, I learned so many new and unusual facts! Like, did you know that the word "calculus" means "pebble" in Latin? Learn that and so much more!

If you like trivia, Uncle Johns Bathroom readers are the best. We now own three, and the entire family enjoys reading them.

This is a great book. Full of lots of great facts and information. Not just for the 'John." I recommend this book greatly.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who can't go to the restroom without something to read.

As a huge Harry Potter fan and considering myself a fairly careful reader of the books, I was pleasantly surprised by how this book managed to not only stump me but also helped me to recall facts about the series that I never realised I actually knew.

Some of the inconsistencies of the Harry Potter world can make a book like this difficult but the author does an excellent job of explaining these issues. I particularly like how the answers to the questions cite the book and chapter that the information came from. Very helpful to settle disputes amongst fellow Potter fans :)

This is a must-have book for anyone planning a Harry Potter-themed party or event. The three levels of difficultly make is easy for both the casual reader of the books and the hardcore fans to test their knowledge, start discussions or spark debate.

I'm greatly looking forward the rest of the books in this series.

Having just finished this book, I'm going to skip ahead and say: I am delighted.


Skipping backwards, however:


- The simple skill levels provide an excellent ladder into the suprisingly voluminous information within: Young fans will be thrilled to be quizzed as Salamanders (Level 1), drawn on to learn more and graduate to Phoenixes (Level 2), and even adult fans will be challenged by Level 3, the Dragon.


- Hint boxes on almost every page make sure the reader isn't left to flounder if they're lost (or tempted to cheat!). They don't chivvy, scold, or insult, but instead encourage lateral thinking to get at the answers.


- However, the best part might be the extras. The answers are not simple, dry solutions; they are complete and filled with additional content and facts, making it a surprisingly useful reference.


- Trivia Tidbits! Never let it be said that curiosity, once fanned, was allowed to fizzle. The "tidbits" are actually quite meaty asides that often bring in real-world comparisons, point out the historical fact and mythology woven through the Harry Potter books, and encourage outside research and reading.


A wonderful idea for parents might be to purchase the book prior to a birthday and use the questions as a party game. This would work equally well for teenagers, and even adults. Harry Potter appeals to nearly everyone, and this book makes it fun to share trivia and thoughts on the series with friends.

I'll come right out and admit that I expected this book to be a cakewalk. I've read the entire series of books multiple times, and I was convinced that I'd have no problem answering even the difficult questions. Well, I've been well and truly humbled.

Ms. Maltese has gathered an incredible range of facts and tidbits from seemingly nowhere. The book itself is divided into individual quests, or areas of knowledge, then further broken down into three levels of difficulty: salamander, phoenix, and dragon. I knew I was in trouble when I started missing phoenix questions!

Fortunately, the answers are supplied at the end of the chapter, along with some fun trivia bits. I actually went and double-checked some of those answers for accuracy, and the book was right every time.

This book would be a great at a party, or for a fund-raiser trivia quiz. I think this would also be a great idea translated into other languages, since many of the character names are completely different in each country.

My hat is off to Ms. Maltese and her impeccable research skills. I challenge all Potter fans to try their hand and test their Potter knowledge!

Man, I thought I knew a lot about the world of Harry Potter before I read this book. Racheline Maltese's well-written and informative book provides hours of amusement (and in my case, frustration, because I was sure I knew the answers! Stupid Quidditch!). I highly recommend this book for any Harry Potter fan - it's an excellent addition to my library.

What I love most about this book is the level of minute and obscure detail. As a Harry Potter fan, I thought I had a good working knowledge of the world in which the stories take place. With great chagrin I found myself working my way up through the trivia levels, surprised at how much I didn't know. It's wonderful to feel like I'm rediscovering the Potter-verse, to find myself better acquainted with all the odd nooks and crannies.

This is a wonderful book to have, as it will demand the reader go pick up copies of the stories and read them again with a closer eye. I can see how it would be great fun for groups of friends or at birthday parties. Anyone who ever wanted to play Harry Potter Jeopardy only needs a copy this book to help set up the board.

If you enjoy books about strange and unusual things you will be captivated with what you'll find in this collection facts and information as to how people die;or in the words of the author,make their "Final Exits".
I have always enjoyed the unusual ,and have been a big fan of Ripley's "Believe It or Not!".This book is very similar and will keep you entertained for hours. All the entries are concise,seldom exceed a page or two,accompanied with hundreds of photographs,and overflowing with an endless stream of facts. You will find it a very easy read.It is a great book to leave around to be picked up for a few minutes at a time and you can open it anywhere and just start reading.It has 417 pages plus about 80 pages of source information and acknowledgements.So,not only is it a book to be enjoyed,it is definitely a great reference if you decide to delve further into anything in the book. The author has chosen a rather unusual way to present all this to us. He has put it in 26 chapters headed by the letters of the alphabet. Pretty much like an Encyclopedia.There is no index at the back of the book ,so if at a later date you decide to go back and find something,you may have to do bit of searching.There is also a chapter on "Epitaphs",but is surprisingly ,all too brief,however,sources for more are included.
To give any idea of the extent of things covered is impossible ;other than to say ,it covers everything imaginable;and and numerous things you never even imagined.Rather than being morbid as one might suspect ,the book would be much more appropriately described as curious and informative.
As an example of what you'll find;

Reasons for death found on death certificates of the 1880's

"Died suddenly.Nothing serious."

"Don't know the cause.Died without aid of Physician."

"Don't know cause.Had never been fatally ill before."

"Lack of ambition."

"Worn out."

Visitation of God."

Or this Epitaph from Silver City,Nevada,1878

Here lays Butch
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.

This book was very enjoyable. Its funny how strange human history is. I even was speaking with my husband on how bad the world has become, my husband's reply was simply "It's always been this bad." After reading this book, I would have to agree. I'm glad I live in the 21st century, because centuries of the past really seemed to suck! Read this book and you will know what I mean.

This is a great book. It is a little macabe, but that works for us. My children 9 and 13 love the book too. If you have ever wondered just how many deaths occur at amusement parks(including Disneyland) this is the book for you. Did you know if you paint your body all over with metallic paint, you can die, just like in the James Bond movie. If you have heard of a story of how people die( such as a date with a prostitute ended with a missing organ such as a kidney) you can look it up ( This unlawful organ harvesting never happened)

From suffocating on bean bag beads to sticking chicken bones up your hole this book has it all, every possible way for a human to die. Did you know in December 2004 a woman ate tapeworm larvae in order to lose weight or that in April 2002 gang members shot a deaf woman in the face because they thought she was flashing gang signs? Well, it happened and it's in here along with thousands of other interesting stories. It's hard to pick my favorites, but I did especially love the one about the moron who climbed on top of a cage full of tigers and started using the bathroom.

Despite the grim subject matter Largo keeps it mostly upbeat. Example: the story about "Mr. Hands" (from the infamous horse/man love video) is entitled "The Beast Within".

For more great death stories check out "Answer Me!" #3's run down of the Top 100 Suicides.

I am a medicolegal death investigator for a medical examiner's office, and this book is awesome. It is very informative and entertaining. Four of my co-workers also bought this book, and I bought one for my grandmother.

Being of Italian decent on my mother's side, I was overwhelmed by this fantastic collection of Italian accomplishments. This book gives detailed information about contributions made by Italians and Italian-Americans. Finally, a "User friendly" book which is quite addictive and difficult to put down. This reminds me of those famous stories my mother use to tell me as a boy. I only wish she had the opportunity to experience this pleasant and enjoyable reading material. I highly suggest giving this book to any young person who is trying to discovering his/her great rich Italian background. It is all here!

I enjoyed the Heritage Italian American Book immensely. Being Italian I found the book to be very informative and entertaining. The book became a wonderful gift for my family and friends. A close family friend-teacher/priest expressed to me how he was going to introduce the material in this book to his students. He complemented the true educational benefits of this exceptional book. Amore' Thank you Leon...Job well done.

Reading this book is like roaming through 2000 years of the Roman empire and all the transplanted Romans who grace the US. I loved it and I'm not Italian. And, sorry, Leon, but I don't even want to be Italian. I've got a better idea. Why don't you do one on Jewish or Irish people? They're pretty entertaining. The book probably deserves five stars, but I'd like to see some graphics in it, so I just gave it four.

When the family gets together either at home or for an outdoor picnic, we whip out our copy of "Heritage Italian-American Style!" We have a blast with this jam-packed collection of both recognized and some not-so-well-known contributions that Italians have made to better the world. Invariable, the teens and young adults chime in to test their own knowledge of their culture and are often surprised to discover in the process of "playing" a game...just how much fun learning can be! Especially, when you're learning about why we should be proud to be Italian!! The old timers are equally entertained while being secretly educated at the same time!!

As editor of AMICI Magazine, the largest Italian-American Magazine west of Ohio, I am inundated with requests to review Italian books. Leon's book is one of the few I couldn't put down. It made me think. It made me laugh. It made me proud...or prouDER, should say!!

I can tell you one the cultural tragedies of our time is that we're literally forgetting to keep our kids Italian. As silly as that sounds, the truth is many families today understandably marry outside of the culture or simply live life in fast lane and overlook the importance of story telling, carrying on Italian traditions and keeping ourselves informed about our culture. Books like Heritage Italian-American Style truly keep our heritage alive!

Once you get your own copy, you'll see why you feel inclined to buy several for your family and friends!

Radomile's presentation on Italian-American culture is a warm reflection on what has often been demeaned, or misrepresented in the press, or totally lacking in book form. I found so much information, in such a easily obtainable manner that I could not put this outstanding presentation down until I literally devoured its contents. A must read for all Italianophiles. Sincerely, A.H. Angelini

This is THE definitive book of New York City trivia. More than just informative and intelligent, it's truly fun. It's a great gift for an NYC smart aleck who thinks they know everything about the city, or for anyone who wants to learn a whole lot about what is, of course, the capital of the world. Apparently the author biked from Queens to Manhattan across the 59th Street bridge at an age when most kids wouldn't be allowed to walk to school on their own. So this is clearly a 40-year or so labor of love. Most of all, it's fun. A great buy.

Celebrate New York City with this book, one of the best ways to explore all of what is special about New York City! From the novice to the tourist, from the born and bred to the commuter who works in New York City or just for the curious planning a visit...this book has it all. Little known interesting facts will make your every day stroll down the block into a history lesson. Fun for the holidays to quiz your friends and family.

You won't be able to put it down. Test your own knowledge. Written in an easy reading style, yet thorough and detailed enough to challenge and entertain at the same time.

Enjoy!!!

Definitely a fun and interesting read. It doesn't take a trivia lover to enjoy this book. Volume 2 has its way of sparking your interest on triv-bits about NYC (even those that you normally wouldn't care to know). Once again, only John Barbieri can show you how to really appreciate NYC.

John Barbieri makes the 'second time around' even sweeter, with Mr New York's Trivia Quiz Volume 2. Mr. Barbieri has a talent in bringing us tid bits of information about the greatest city in the world, but with his own unique and entertaining spin. Run, don't walk, and buy this entertaining read.

I give this book a "10". I just couldn't put this book down. You think you know New York, but now you really know New York after reading it. It's a must have even if your not from New York. This book is proof of why there's no place like New York. New Yorkers are the most wonderful people in the world. Only a true New Yorker could write such a wonderful book. This book brings back such great memories growning up in New York. You cover 38 topics, 563 pages on sports, boroughs, politics, theatre etc... I had to go and buy another book because my friends took it and they won't give it back. Thanks for writing it.