The Straight Dope: A Compendium of Human Knowledge - Softcover

Adams, Cecil; Zotti, Ed

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0914091549 ISBN 13: 9780914091547

Publisher: Chicago Review Pr, 1984

Synopsis

Answers questions about animals, the human body, religion, history, science, politics, technology, language, music, money, food, television, and movies

About this title

Review:

Cecil Adams is a self-proclaimed omniscient whose wisdom was first imparted to the masses in 1973 in the pages of the Chicago Reader, a weekly alternative newspaper. In Adams's column, "The Straight Dope," he delivered answers to readers' questions--however bizarre and diverse--in sarcastic prose that has been called "strangely addictive, in an irritating sort of way."

How can a mother hen sit on a fragile egg without crushing it to bits? Why do men have nipples? How are coins taken out of circulation? Fearlessly embracing readers' questions on topics ranging from history to body parts, Adams feels his peculiar brand of information dissemination contributes to the public's basic life competence. "Before my arrival," he says, "people would go to their graves without ever knowing why wintergreen Life Savers make clouds of sparks when you chew them in the dark." Not only is Cecil Adams funny, his books also tell you things you really want to know. This particular collection of questions and answers is based on the best of Adams's first eleven years of columns, but a number of other "Straight Dope" volumes exist as well in case you find yourself strangely addicted.

From the Publisher:

This is the book that STARTED IT ALL! It's Cecil's very first book collection! We've been dying to publish this book in trade paperback to match the other book in the series ever since we started publishing the "Straight Dope" columns in book form. And now we're finally able to make this format available to all of the fans who have Cecil's other books in this size. So enjoy! --E. Zack, Sr. Editor

About this edition

• Publisher: Chicago Review Pr
• Publication date: 1984
• ISBN 10: 0914091549
• ISBN 13: 9780914091547
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 301