The Second Book of General Ignorance

September 26, 2011
Fans of the popular British quiz show QI and trivia fiends alike will appreciate this latest volume of fascinating, if somewhat random, minutiae from the show’s creator and head researcher, respectively. Stressing the importance of curiosity in his introduction (or “Forethought”), show host Fry separates the mere gathering of facts from the continual absorption of new information, something that should always be encouraged. Structured as a series of questions mimicking the quiz show’s final round—known as “General Ignorance,” where questions with seemingly obvious but wrong answers are posed to the four panelists and points are awarded and deducted for clever and dull responses, respectively—the book is a hodgepodge of knowledge on myriad subjects. Often, the fact that the question is being posed clues the reader in to the trickiness of the answer (here’s a hint: oranges aren’t always orange and pure water doesn’t freeze at 32ºF). The lack of organization isn’t an issue simply because of the wide net Lloyd and Mitchinson cast. From Molotov cocktails (not invented by Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Skriabin, better known by his “Molotov” pen name, but by Finns during WWII as a response to Molotov’s Stalinist tactics) to Houdini’s real cause of death (appendicitis, not a punch to the stomach), there’s a plethora of information here that makes for a fun casual read or a primer before pub trivia night.

September 15, 2011

According to authors Lloyd and Mitchinson (The Book of General Ignorance), their new book of factoids is a celebration of curiosity. Using a question-and-answer approach to more than 150 queries, they tell readers the best way to weigh their heads, how to get a husky to move, and how to milk a yak. Other, more relevant information includes the best treatment for a jellyfish sting, a good reason to resist free peanuts in a bar, and how to tell which direction is north in a forest. It's a fun book that can be easily picked up and set down--great for reading on long car trips or while waiting in a doctor's office.

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