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Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?
by David FeldmanPonder, if you will ... What is the difference between a kit and a caboodle? Why don't people get goose bumps on their faces? Where do houseflies go in the winter? What causes that ringing sound in your ears? Pop-culture guru David Feldman demystifies these topics and so much more in Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? -- the unchallenged source of answers to civilization's most nagging questions. Part of the Imponderables® series and charmingly illustrated by Kassie Schwan, Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? challenges readers with the knowledge about everyday life that encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs just don't have. And think about it, where else are you going to get to the bottom of why hot dogs come ten to a package while hot dog buns come in eights?
Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? and Other Imponderables of Everyday Life
by David FeldmanA collection of answers to those questions that millions of fans recognize immediately as 'imponderables' such as: why are gondolas black? why are peaches fuzzy? how do kangaroos clean their pouches? and many more
Why Do Dogs Like Balls?: More Than 200 Canine Quirks, Curiosities, and Conundrums Revealed
by D. Caroline Coile Margaret H. BonhamDo dogs believe pictures of dogs are real? Why do dogs turn in a circle before they lie down? Can you trust someone your dog hates? Dog owners have questions; here are the answers to more than 200 of them, provided by two of the most knowledgeable writers in the field. Fun to read, eye-opening, and filled with important facts that every fan of Fido should know, it encompasses topics ranging from doggie intelligence (Can dogs learn to read?) to canine behavior, body, and senses (Can a dog sniff out cancer?). Find out if blind dogs are sad, whether dogs should be allowed to roam, why they lick you, and why they wag their tails. You'll gain a better, deeper understanding of your best friend.
Why Do Golf Balls Have Dimples?: A Book of Weird and Wonderful Science Facts
by Wendy SadlerHave you ever wondered why golf balls have dimples or why your hair goes frizzy in the rain? Scientist Wendy Sadler has the answers in her book of Weird and Wonderful facts. Broken down into user-friendly chapters like sport, going out, the great outdoors, food and drink and the downright weird, Wendy gives the scientific answers to life's intriguing questions, likeWhy toast always lands butter side downWhy you can't get (too) lost with a satnav.
Why Do Men Have Nipples?: Hundreds Of Questions You'd Only Ask A Doctor After Your Third Martini
by Billy Goldberg Mark LeynerIs There a Doctor in the House?Say you're at a party. You've had a martini or three, and you mingle through the crowd, wondering how long you need to stay before going out for pizza. Suddenly you're introduced to someone new, Dr. Nice Tomeetya. You forget the pizza. Now is the perfect time to bring up all those strange questions you'd like to ask during an office visit with your own doctor but haven't had the guts (or more likely the time) to do so. You're filled with liquid courage . . . now is your chance! If you've ever wanted to ask a doctor . . .*How do people in wheelchairs have sex?*Why do I get a killer headache when I suck down my milkshake too fast?*Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?*Why does asparagus make my pee smell?*Why do old people grow hair on their ears?*Is the old adage "beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer . . ." really true? . . . then Why Do Men Have Nipples? is the book for you.Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Why Do People Kiss the Blarney Stone?: And 176 Other Fascinating Irish Trivia Questions
by Ryan Hackney Amy Hackney BlackwellFáilte!Brew yourself a cuppa and settle in to discover...Why Do People Kiss the Blarney Stone? It's the closest you can feel to the Emerald Isle without boarding a plane! You'll tickle your noggin with spirited questions, including:How did a white bull start a war? What is Brian Boru's connection to Guinness? Why was 1847 known as Black '47? Where does peat come from? What's so special about the Book of Kells?This terrific little tome provides the answers to those questions and many more. With information on Irish history, mythology, and culture, you'll be able to go on and on about anything and everything about The Old Sod.
Why Do Pirates Love Parrots?
by David FeldmanAre you the type of person who stays up nights wondering how they get the paper tag into Hershey's Kisses? Or why portholes are round? Even if you don't lose sleep over such matters, you have to admit that such questions are, well, worthy of consideration. Here, from David Feldman, creator of the Imponderables® series, are the latest questions on the minds of his devoted readers and fans. No question from his readers is too small or obscure for Feldman to tackle. From the return of red M&Ms (they are back, if you've missed it) to new-car smell, the answers to life's little mysteries are dissected in these pages. Although it's all done in great fun, there is also an educational edge to the answers, as Feldman ferrets out top experts in diverse fields to come up with his entertaining answers. And their answers may surprise you-from the detailed physics involved in why cans of Diet Coke float but regular Coke doesn't, all the way to why they put crinkly paper into pairs of men's socks (but only one sock, not both). Complete with drawings by longtime Imponderables® illustrator Kassie Schwan, and a special section updating answers to questions in previous books in the series, this eleventh book of Imponderables® is sure to entertain the thousands of Feldman fans who have purchased over 2 million copies to date. Prepare to be delighted!
Why Do Roller Coasters Make You Puke: Over 150 Curious Questions and Intriguing Answers (Fascinating Bathroom Readers)
by Andrew ThompsonA fun and fascinating trivia book with a wide range of intriguing questions and entertainingly written answers from a bestselling author.Perfect for trivia junkies everywhere, this new collection will surprise readers with fascinating answers to age-old curiosities, such as:• Does a goldfish's memory really only last a few seconds?• Do plants feel pain?• Why do cats' eyes glow in the dark?• Why do people seem more attractive when we're drunk?• Why didn't people smile in old photos?Each page offers another witty response to the questions of our time. From men's fashion to the meaning of life, from the educational to the entertaining, this book has something for everyone.
Why Do They Dress That Way?: People's Place Book No. 7
by Stephen ScottThis unique book, by a man who has chosen to "dress plain," describes the history and use of hats, bonnets, dresses, overcoats, and other articles of clothing used by the various religious groups who wear plain garb. This is the first comprehensive book about why more than 150,000 persons in North America wear plain clothes for religious reasons. Who are the various people who dress plain? Where do they live? Why do they do it? Where did the plain pattern come from? Don't they ever change? Answers to some common objects to plain dress! Will plain dress survive? Authoritative, yet gentle in tone, this book will be of interest to many readers.
Why Do We Say It?: The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions and Cliches We Use
by Castle BooksTHE STORIES BEHIND THE WORDS, EXPRESSIONS AND CLICHES WE USE. How did lollipops get their name? What's long about a longshoreman? Why do we pass the buck? The answers are in this fascinating volume. The intriguing origins of hundreds of unusual words and expressions are here, organized in a handy alphabetical format. Useful for reference and fun just for browsing, Why Do We Say It? is also a great way to expand your vocabulary and enjoy doing it.
Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell?: Fascinating Food Trivia Explained with Science (Fascinating Bathroom Readers)
by Andy BrunningFOOD QUESTIONS ANSWERED WITH COLORFUL GRAPHICS AND FUN, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONSHave you ever wondered...• Why bacon smells so good?• Why onions make you cry?• If eating turkey makes you sleepy?• If mixing drinks makes a hangover worse?• How energy drinks work?• Why chocolate is poisonous to dogs?• Why coffee makes you more wired than tea?• Why cilantro tastes soapy to some?The answers to these baffling questions and more are revealed in this friendly, informative collection of trivia. Not a scientist? No problem. This book&’s colorful graphics and easy-to-understand explanations make these food facts fun for everyone.
Why Does Bright Light Make You Sneeze?: Over 150 Curious Questions & Intriguing Answers (Fascinating Bathroom Readers)
by Andrew ThompsonMore than 150 new fun facts to delight, befuddle and amaze, from the bestselling author of Why Do Roller Coasters Make You Puke? This bizarre and baffling trivia collection with delight and intrigue readers, with answers to age-old questions like who was Dr. Pepper and what causes new-car smell? Written by the bestselling author of Can Holding in a Fart Kill You?, this new collection has 150 more curious questions and astounding answers. Perfect for any trivia junkie or fun fact connoisseur, this jam-packed book explains the answers to the questions you’ve always wondered, like why dogs have wet noses, why tornados never hit big cities, if vegetarians live longer, if it’s bad to “crack” your knuckles, and much more.
Why Dogs Can't Eat Chocolate: How Medicines Work and How You Can Take Them Safely
by Dr. Louise AcheyA pharmacist explains the science behind prescription medications—with helpful hints for avoiding adverse reactions and side effects. If you are one of the millions who take at least one prescription drug regularly, how can you stay safe when their effects can be so unpredictable—and occasionally even dangerous? Just as chocolate has a very different effect on your dog than it does on you, prescription drugs don&’t always work the same from person to person. In this book, a pharmacist and award-winning medical educator simplifies the complex and confusing information about pharmaceuticals, reveals the three &“Ds&” of taking medicine safely, and explains in a clear and entertaining way what happens in our bodies when we take a medicine or supplement—to help you make safer, smarter choices for your own health.
Why Dogs Eat Poop, and Other Useless or Gross Information About the Animal Kingdom
by David Haviland Francesca GouldA third installment in the delightfully disgusting miscellany series that began with the national bestseller, Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers and Other Useless or Gross Information About Your Body. In the New York Times (extended list) bestseller Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers and Other Useless or Gross Information About Your Body, Francesca Gould uncovered everything you'd want to know-and a few things you'd rather you didn't-about the human body. In Why Fish Fart and Other Useless or Gross Information About the World, she scoured planet Earth for a rich assortment of odd and/or unsavory facts. In Why Dogs Eat Poop and Other Useless or Gross Information About the Animal Kingdom, Francesca Gould and David Haviland explore a subject positively rife with gross miscellany: the animal kingdom. Indeed, animals do the darnedest things and, in this vastly entertaining book, Gould and Haviland uncover a universe of strange, hilarious, and quite often disgusting animal habits, ailments, and practices, including: -Monkey-Faced Lamb disease; -farting snakes; -dino-chickens; -and a creature you've never heard of that eats with its eyes. Why Dogs Eat Poop is sure to delight any fan of the obscure and/ or grotesque.
Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze?
by New ScientistWhat time is it at the North Pole? What's the chemical formula for a human being? Why do boomerangs come back? Why do flying fish fly? Do the living really outnumber the dead? Why does lightning fork? Why does the end of a whip crack? Everyone has at one time or another thought up odd questions like these, questions that are strange, intriguing, maybe even impossible to answer. Making your morning omelet, perhaps you've wondered why most eggs are egg shaped. Or maybe, the last time you walked on the beach, you felt compelled to ask why the sea is salty. Watching Polly sit on her perch, have you ever marveled at how she stays there -- even when she's asleep? Well, the readers of New Scientist's wildly popular, long-running column "The Last Word" thought of these questions, too, and weren't afraid to ask them. Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? is a brilliant collection of questions and answers for everyone who enjoyed the international, runaway bestseller Does Anything Eat Wasps? Guaranteed to amaze, inform, and delight with topics such as the human body, plants and animals, weird weather, and our wacky world, it'll stump you, enlighten you, entertain and amuse you.
Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches?
by Mike O'ConnorIn 1983, Mike O'Connor opened the Bird Watcher's General Store on Cape Cod, which might well have been the first store devoted solely to birding in the United States. Since that time he has answered thousands of questions about birds, both at his store and while walking down the aisles of the supermarket. The questions have ranged from inquiries about individual species ("Are flamingos really real?") to what and when to feed birds ("Should I bring in my feeders for the summer?") to the down-and-dirty specifics of backyard birding ("Why are the birds dropping poop in my pool?"). Answering the questions has been easy; keeping a straight face has been hard.Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? is the solution for the beginning birder who already has a book that explains the slight variation between Common Ground-Doves and Ruddy Ground-Doves but who is really much more interested in why birds sing at 4:30 A.M. instead of 7:00 A.M., or whether it's okay to feed bread to birds, or how birds rediscover your feeders so quickly when you've just filled them after a long vacation. Or, for that matter, whether flamingos are really real.
Why Don't You Smell When You're Sleeping?
by Mitchell SymonsDid you know...that a 'zyzzyx' is a type of wasp?that the chances of being injured by a toilet seat at some point in your life are reckoned to be one in 6.500?that the collective noun for giraffes is the very apt a 'tower of giraffes'and that snail races start with the words 'ready, steady, SLOW!'Amaze your mates and fascinate your family with these brilliant facts, and more!
Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow?
by Beth Ann DitkoffRead Beth Ann Ditkoff's posts on the Penguin Blog. Ever wondered what that small dewdrop thing is in the back of your throat? Or why you hiccup? Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow? addresses every weird question about your body that you could think of--or didn't even think to ask. Prompted by the brain stumpers her own children and patients have asked her over the years, Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff compiled a list of curious medical questions. In this book, she reveals the mysteries of the human body (gross, funny, or ugly!) to children and adults. With eye-opening questions, like "Why do toenails grow slower than fingernails?" and "Why do you have earwax?" to weird oddities, like "Why do some people have dimples?" and "Why do you get a headache when you eat ice cream too quickly?" Ditkoff also explains hilarious and bizarre anatomy "situations" that every curious kid wonders, from "If you put a pea up your nose, will it go into your brain?" to "If you eat Pop Rocks candy and drink soda at the same time, will your stomach explode?" With expert explanations throughout, Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow? is an entertaining potpourri of fun factoids packed with real information.
Why? Encyclopedia: Brilliant Answers to Baffling Questions (Why? Series)
by DKThis perfect first reference book brings key subjects—such as science, geography, and history—to life.Lavish 3-D digital illustrations and an interactive question-and-answer format together create an engaging and accessible insight into several key topics. Why? Encyclopedia focuses on the subjects children actually want to know about. It covers all of the areas you would expect in a kid’s encyclopedia—including space, animals and the human body—but presents each through questions kids ask, such as "Why does it rain?". Answers are provided through a combination of eye-catching CGI artworks, enhanced photographs, and clear text explanations.
Why, Fly Guy?: Answers to Kids' BIG Questions (Fly Guy Presents) (Fly Guy Presents)
by Tedd ArnoldFly Guy tackles kids' most popular "why?" questions in a new paper-over-board book filled with full-bleed photographs, easy-to-read text, and humorous comic strips!Come along with Fly Guy as he asks (and answers!) over fifty "why?" questions! Why do I have to brush my teeth? Why do cats climb trees if they can't get down? Why do elephants have trunks? And more! There are also science projects and fun activities -- so kids can use what they've learned in a hands-on way! With engaging full-color photographs on every page, content appropriate for a young audience, humorous artwork, and colorful comic strips starring their favorite character Fly Guy, this book is perfect for kids in Pre-K and Kindergarten! *This 128-page paper-over-board book even has eye-catching holographic foil on the front cover and spine!*
Why Hell?: Three Christian Views Critically Examined
by Steve GreggMost people believe that hell is the final state of the condemned following the final judgment. At the same time, many people cannot comprehend why God created hell for the unsaved. Respected church fathers held a variety of views dating back to the early centuries of the church. This book explains views on why hell exists: unending suffering, the annihilation of the unrepentant, and the rehabilitation of the lost. Most Christians are unaware of the scriptural basis for each of these positions. Why Hell? is meant to educate the interested reader without advocating for any one point of view. The following are some of the book's features:Biblical vocabulary of hell and positions held throughout early Christian historyPositive cases presented on three perspectives: traditionalist, conditionalist, and restorationistCritiques of each viewHelpful charts at the back of the book that summarize and cross-examine the arguments for each viewSteve Gregg provides food for thought for both trained theologians and serious Christian readers who want all the data and then consider for themselves the consequences of three Christian perspectives on hell.
Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible
by William D. MounceA Clear Guide to Help Readers Understand Why They Can Trust the BibleWe are often told we can no longer assume that the Bible is trustworthy. From social media memes to popular scholarship, so many attacks have been launched on the believability of Scripture that many have serious questions about the Bible, such as:Did Jesus actually live?Did the biblical writers invent their message?How can we trust the gospels since they were written so long after Jesus lived?How can we believe a Bible that is full of internal contradictions with itself and external contradictions with science?Aren't the biblical manuscripts we have just copies of copies that are so corrupted they don't represent what the original authors wrote?Why should we believe the books that are in the Bible, since many good ones were left out, like the Gospel of Thomas?Why trust the Bible when there are so many contradictory translations of it?If you find yourself unable to answer questions such as these, but wanting to, Why I Trust the Bible by eminent Bible scholar and translator William Mounce is for you. These questions and more are discussed and answered in a reasoned, definitive, and winsome way.The truth is that the Bible is better attested and more defensible today than it ever has been. Questions about the Bible are perhaps the most significant challenge confronting Christian faith today, but they can be answered well and in a way which will lead to a deeper appreciation for the truth and ongoing relevance of the Bible.
Why Ireland Starved: A Quantitative and Analytical History of the Irish Economy, 1800-1850 (Economic History Ser.)
by Joel MokyrTechnical changes in the first half of the nineteenth century led to unprecedented economic growth and capital formation throughout Western Europe; and yet Ireland hardly participated in this process at all. While the Northern Atlantic Economy prospered, the Great Irish Famine of 1845–50 killed a million and a half people and caused hundreds of thousands to flee the country. Why the Irish economy failed to grow, and ‘why Ireland starved’ remains an unresolved riddle of economic history. Professor Mokyr maintains that the ‘Hungry Forties’ were caused by the overall underdevelopment of the economy during the decades which preceded the famine. In Why Ireland Starved he tests various hypotheses that have been put forward to account for this backwardness. He dismisses widespread arguments that Irish poverty can be explained in terms of over-population, an evil land system or malicious exploitation by the British. Instead, he argues that the causes have to be sought in the low productivity of labor and the insufficient formation of physical capital – results of the peculiar political and social structure of Ireland, continuous conflicts between landlords and tenants, and the rigidity of Irish economic institutions. Mokyr’s methodology is rigorous and quantitative, in the tradition of the New Economic History. It sets out to test hypotheses about the causal connections between economic and non-economic phenomena. Irish history is often heavily coloured by political convictions: of Dutch-Jewish origin, trained in Israel and working in the United States. Mokyr brings to this controversial field not only wide research experience but also impartiality and scientific objectivity. The book is primarily aimed at numerate economic historians, historical demographers, economists specializing in agricultural economics and economic development and specialists in Irish and British nineteenth-century history. The text is, nonetheless, free of technical jargon, with the more complex material relegated to appendixes. Mokyr’s line of reasoning is transparent and has been easily accessible and useful to readers without graduate training in economic theory and econometrics since ists first publication in 1983.
Why Knot?: How To Tie More Than Sixty Ingenious, Useful, Beautiful, Lifesaving, And Secure Knots!
by Philippe Petit“Mr. Petit is the perfect teacher” in this fascinating, educational volume on knot-tying—an art and science that has held civilization together (The Wall Street Journal). Philippe Petit is known for his astounding feat of daring when, on August 7, 1974, he stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City. But beyond his balance, courage, and showmanship, there was one thing Petit had to be absolutely certain of—his knots. Without the confidence that his knots would hold, he never would have left the ground. In fact, while most of us don’t think about them beyond tying our shoelaces, the humble knot is crucial in countless contexts, from sailing to sports to industrial safety to art, agriculture, and more. In this truly unique book, Petit offers a guide to tying over sixty of his essential knots, with practical sketches illustrating his methods and clear tying instructions. Filled with photos in which special knots were used during spectacular high-wire walks, quirky knot trivia, personal anecdotes, helpful tips, magic tricks, and special tying challenges, Why Knot? will entertain and educate readers of all ages. “In reading Philippe’s book we are cogently reminded that without the ability to secure a rope, or tether a goat, or make fast the sheets of a galley, much of the civilization that we take for granted would disappear as easily as a slipknot in the hands of a Vegas conjuror.” —Sting, musician and activist “His descriptions are clear, he deploys humor frequently and he makes his points with anecdotes that are colorful and memorable. Explaining the purpose and creation of knots and thanks to those flawless drawings Mr. Petit earns perfect marks.” —The Wall Street Journal
Why Manners Matter
by Lucinda HoldforthYou know what it's like: whether it's the leafblower blaring at 7am or the queue-jumper cutting in at the cinema, there's nothing like an act of rudeness to spoil the day. But why do so many of us get worked up about these examples of incivility? Isn't that just life? Do manners really matter, anyway? Yes! says Lucinda Holdforth in this passionate and elegant essay, drawing on history's great writers and thinkers to argue, unashamedly, that manners are absolutely essential to civilisation. Holdforth wrests the case for good manners away from the knife-and-fork snobs, the exclusivist bores and the corporate fakers, to show how courtesy protects our rights and freedoms, strengthens our communities, and adorns our individual humanity. She shows us that privacy can co-exist with neighbourliness, that intellectual freedom can flourish within agreed social rules, and that civility saves us from over-legislation. Bold, brimming with anecdote and brilliantly conceived, Why Manners Matter is as witty as it is timely, and as forceful as it is charming. This important yet thoroughly entertaining little book will ensure you never take courtesy for granted again.