A wittily illustrated collection of incredible facts, perfect for lovers of strange-but-true trivia What a weird and wonderful world we live in. Countries banning letters of the alphabet, the accidental teabag, and have you ever wondered how much horsepower a horse actually has? Well, you'll be amazed and amused by the revelations and illustrations inside this book of fascinating facts - I shit you not. From bestselling author and professional brain-teaser Hugh Jassburn, this quick-fire collection of unbelievable truths includes such insights as: A strawberry is not technically a berry, but a banana is There are twice as many kangaroos in Australia as people Baby tiger sharks eat each other in the womb until only one or two sharks are born 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 A superb addition to anyone's bedside table or bathroom library, this book could help you win at your next quiz or at least give you a bunch of fun facts to spout when you're out and about.

This brand new edition, redesigned in hardback for 2019, makes the perfect gift for the rugby obsessive in your life.

Rugby fans will delight in this astonishing collection of outlandish stories from the past 150 years of the game. Here you'll find, among many other curious events, the Irish international who arranged his marriage in order to play against England, the team of top soccer players who beat their rugby counterparts at their own game, the day the entire Wales team was sent off, and when in an astonishing turn of events underdog Japan trimphed and beat South Africa (and who doesn't love an underdog).

The tales in this book are bizarre, fascinating, and, most importantly, true.

Discover 366 fun and surprising stories about Wales - each linked to a specific day of the year. Did you know that the recipe of Tennessee's famous Jack Daniel's whiskey is rumoured to have originated in Llanelli, or that the world's first radio play was set in a Welsh coal mine? Why was a showing of the Jurassic Park film in Carmarthen so special, and how is Rupert Bear connected to Snowdonia? Delve in to discover the stories that most history books leave out.

From Eastenders to Dr Who, Desert Island Discs to Monty Pyton, The Office to Peaky Blinders, test your knowledge of the history of the BBC and all your favourite programmes with this OFFICIAL puzzle book. From casual quizzers to trivia obsessives, everyone will love this light-hearted and fun book of puzzles and quzzes, released to mark the 100th birthday of the oldest and most famous broadcasting company in the world. Learn about the organisation's history, from its beginnings right up until the present day, discovering all about its fantastic programmes, from comedy, drama and news to soaps, quiz shows and documentaries, along the way. Catch up with your favourite shows, stars and characters and learn about the history of the BBC on the way. You'll find long-standing, iconic series like Dr Who, Eastenders, The Archers or Desert Island Discs as well as cutting-edge dramas such as I May Destroy You and Peaky Blinders. There are also classic comedies like Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and Dad's Army as well as genre-changing hits like The Office or Fleabag. Each spread includes a lively, brief history together with puzzles that will suit all levels of knowledge and skill, making this title the perfect book for everyone to to enjoy. Over its hundred years the BBC has been at the heart of family entertainment and information, known throughout the world for the quality of its output. Packed with history, facts, puzzles, and images of favourite stars and programmes, this is the perfect gift for Christmas and beyond!

Festive fun for all the family! Do you know… • Which band has had the most Christmas number ones? • How many cover versions of ‘All I Want for Christmas’ have been recorded? • Which Christmas song is the most popular single ever released? Can you… • Identify a classic Christmas song from a line sung backwards? • Fill in the blanks of iconic Christmas film lines? • Guess the Christmas film from the critic’s review? Get ready to beat your friends and family in a game of festive charades, discover the joys of Christmas-song Mad Libs, test your competitive side with a game of Who’s in Santa’s Bag?, have a good old-fashioned Rockin’ Robin team quiz, indulge in some merry drinking games; or escape with a Jollyword Puzzle. You’ll soon have Christmas all wrapped up! You’ll find hours of festive fun inside to make sure everyone has a very Holly Jolly Christmas!

'Utterly fascinating' Daisy Goodwin, Sunday Times Benjamin Franklin took daily naked air baths and Toulouse-Lautrec painted in brothels. Edith Sitwell worked in bed, and George Gershwin composed at the piano in pyjamas. Freud worked sixteen hours a day, but Gertrude Stein could never write for more than thirty minutes, and F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in gin-fuelled bursts - he believed alcohol was essential to his creative process. From Marx to Murakami and Beethoven to Bacon, Daily Rituals by Mason Currey presents the working routines of more than a hundred and sixty of the greatest philosophers, writers, composers and artists ever to have lived. Whether by amphetamines or alcohol, headstand or boxing, these people made time and got to work. Featuring photographs of writers and artists at work, and filled with fascinating insights on the mechanics of genius and entertaining stories of the personalities behind it, Daily Rituals is irresistibly addictive, and utterly inspiring.

Strap on the deerstalker of the world's most famous detective: in this interactive puzzling adventure you choose which steps to take. Enter the mind palace of Sherlock Holmes as you view the most testing mysteries through his very eyes. You must choose your own path at every step as you attempt to solve the riddles of three classic cases, based on the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Your task is to decipher the clues, solve the puzzles and make the right choices to solve each fiendish case. Do you have what it takes to step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes?

How much do you know about Scottish history? We all know bits of it. This book by the authors of Scottish History: Strange but True sets out to show how these 'bits' fit together - how the characters and events of Scottish history made the country of Scotland. We do not ponder 'WHY?' we demand 'HOW?' How was Scotland founded by refugees? How did the Vikings make Scotland happen? How did King David save Scotland AND give it away? How did Robert the Bruce forget Scottish history? How did a King of Scots declare war on Scotland? How did the Jacobites win every round, yet get smashed in the final - twice? How did Scotland embrace kilts and tartan after it banned them?

What's the perfect boredom buster for any occasion, be it a cozy night at home or a long family road trip? A riddle! And this irresistible little tin contains 50 of them.

Fifty thought-provoking questions about players' pasts will spark sweet memories and lively discussion.

A revised and expanded reissue containing over 1,200 brain-teasing questions on the legendary works of J.R.R. Tolkien, published to coincide with the release of the third and final The Lord of The Rings movie. How many Hobbits joined the Fellowship of the Ring? What colour is the Orcs' skin? Why did Gandalf have difficulty in opening the West-door of Khazad-dum? Who betrayed Berien and Luthien to Thingol? What was Farmer Giles' full name? The worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, from the saga of Middle-earth to a brief visit to Wootton Major, are so rich and varied that they inspire legions of followers of different ages. This peerless revised and expanded quiz book offers over 1,200 questions and answers, including easy starter questions and more difficult tie-breakers, to test the range and depth of your knowledge. And whereas every right answer will confirm your mastery over your subject, every wrong answer will be a learning experience all of its own!

Which are the oldest museums in the world? What is a cabinet of curiosities? Who haunts Hampton Court? What is on the FBI's list of stolen art? 'A Museum Miscellany' celebrates the intriguing world of galleries and museums, from national institutions such as the Musee du Louvre, the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to niche collections such as the Lawnmower Museum and the Museum of Barbed Wire. Here you will find a cornucopia of museum-related facts, statistics and lists, covering everything from museum ghosts, dangerous museum objects and conservation beetles to treasure troves, museum heists and the Museum of London's fatberg. Bursting with quirky facts, intriguing statistics and legendary curators, this is the perfect gift for all those who love to visit museums and galleries.

INSPIRATION FOR THE TV SHOW If ever there were a book to make you switch off your television set, The Dangerous Book for Boys is it. How many other books will help you thrash someone at conkers, race your own go-cart, and identify the best quotations from Shakespeare? The Dangerous Book for Boys gives you facts and figures at your fingertips – swot up on the solar system, learn about famous battles and read inspiring stories of incredible courage and bravery. Teach your old dog new tricks. Make a pinhole camera. Understand the laws of cricket. There's a whole world out there: with this book, anyone can get out and explore it. The Dangerous Book for Boys is written with the verve and passion that readers of Conn Iggulden's number one bestselling novels have come to expect. This book, his first non-fiction work, has been written with his brother as a celebration of the long summers of their youth and as a compendium of information so vital to men of all ages. Lavishly designed and fully illustrated in colour and black and white throughout, it's set to be a perfect gift for Father's Day and beyond. Chapters in The Dangerous Book for Boys include: The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, Conkers, Laws of Football, Dinosaurs, Fishing, Juggling, Timers and Tripwires, Kings and Queens, Famous Battles, Spies, Making Crystals, Insects and Spiders, Astronomy, Girls, The Golden Age of Piracy, Secret Inks, Patron Saints of Britain, Skimming Stones, Dog Tricks, Making a Periscope, Coin Tricks, Marbles, Artillery, The Origin of Words and The Solar System.

Who wore the first pants? Who painted the first masterpiece? Who first rode the horse? Who invented soap? This madcap adventure across ancient history uses everything from modern genetics to archaeology to uncover the geniuses behind these and other world-changing innovations. Who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? Who drank the first beer? Who was the murderer in the first murder mystery, who was the first surgeon, who sparked the first fire--and most critically, who was the first to brave the slimy, pale oyster? In this book, writer Cody Cassidy digs deep into the latest research to uncover the untold stories of some of these incredible innovators (or participants in lucky accidents). With a sharp sense of humor and boundless enthusiasm for the wonders of our ancient ancestors, Who Ate the First Oyster? profiles the perpetrators of the greatest firsts and catastrophes of prehistory, using the lives of individuals to provide a glimpse into ancient cultures, show how and why these critical developments occurred, and educate us on a period of time that until recently we've known almost nothing about.

This supremely challenging cryptic collection contains 50 jumbo-sized, large grid puzzles, conceived to really challenge your word skills. Selected by The Times' Crossword Editor, Richard Rogan, this original collection will challenge even the most experienced crossword buff. The ultimate and only jumbo cryptic crosswords available, these puzzles will allow you to give the grey matter a real workout. With unique grids of 23 x 23 squares (in comparison to the standard 15 x 15 grid), they require serious word power and cryptic puzzling skill. Put your linguistic prowess to the test with these quality puzzles from the Times’ crossword writers.

What can be found in the Vatican's Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin's library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats? Bursting with potted histories, quirky facts and enlightening lists, this book explores every aspect of the library, celebrating not only these remarkable institutions but also the individuals behind their awe-inspiring collections. From the ancient library at Alexandria to the Library of Congress in Washington DC, A Library Miscellany explores institutions both old and new, from the university library to that of the humble village. It opens the door to unusual collections such as herbaria, art libraries, magic libraries and even the library of smells, and charts the difficulties of cataloguing books deemed to be subversive, heretical, libellous or obscene. Packed with unusual facts and statistics, this is the perfect volume for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles and readers everywhere.

A quiz in a grid. Test your memory and all round general knowledge with these 80 new crosswords. Not only for crossword lovers, but quizzers of all abilities. This Crossword appears weekly in the Monday edition of The Times. The puzzles offer a fair challenge for all quiz lovers. The clues are less testing than the Sunday Times General Knowledge crosswords, but stretch your memory and brain cells, and provide hours of entertainment.

A bumper-size quiz book with all new questions to test your general knowledge, with 500 quizzes and 10,000 questions. Includes 30 picture rounds to get you scratching your head! Perfect for playing with friends and family. Arranged in easy, medium and hard sections, these quizzes offer something for everyone. Have a go at these questions: Which acid is used in lead-acid car batteries? Sulphuric acid. How many eyes does a bee have? Five. Taking its name from one of the largest rivers in the nation, the kwanza is the currency of which African country? Angola. This is the ideal gift for all budding quizzers, whether playing at home with friends and family, or practising for a night down the pub. The answers are quick and easy to find so that anyone can pick this up and test themselves or play quiz master.

Learn shocking stats and facts that will surprise you, expand your knowledge, and help you impress your friends! Astonish yourself and your friends with Stats to Blow Your Mind & Everyone Else You're Talking To. Seeing is believing with the many intriguing charts and graphs in this book. Take your learning on the road, this book is perfect for reading during family vacations or to friends at parties. This is the perfect gift for someone who loves to learn. Spark your own curiosity with the compelling statistics in Stats to Blow Your Mind & Everyone Else You're Talking To.

Improve your powers of memory and recall and unlock your full potential with this brand-new title in Mensa's brain-training series. This full-colour book guides you through eight chapters, each focussed on your memory, how it works, and how you can both maintain and improve it. From tricks of visualisation and linking to mnemonics and mind palaces, as you progress your memorization skills will improve in both the short and long-term. The book will take you through the science behind memory, give instruction on how to improve yourself, and provide you with a series of puzzles and exercises to get you started on your memory-improving journey!