Michael seems like such a noble name. Hmm . . . maybe not. The name Michael is held by some of history's most notorious criminals, scoundrels and utter failures. In this book, you'll encounter killers, con men, spies, mobsters and corrupt politicians - all named Mike. Meet the gunslinger that began a war over cows, the doctor who killed more than he healed and the gangster who just wouldn't die. It's the perfect book for anyone named Michael, Mike and Mickey.

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!

John seems like such a noble name. Hmm...maybe not. The names John and Jonathan are held by some of history's most notorious criminals, scoundrels and utter failures. In this book, you'll encounter killers, con men, spies, mobsters and corrupt politicians--all named John. Meet the boy who turned the papal residence into a brothel, the emperor who was a cannibal and the sailor with a hook for a hand. It's the perfect book for anyone named John, Jonathan or Jack.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant started the podcast Stuff You Should Know back in 2008 because they were curious-curious about the world around them, curious about what they might have missed in their formal educations, and curious to dig deeper on stuff they thought they understood. As it turns out, they aren't the only curious ones. They've since amassed a rabid fan base, making Stuff You Should Know one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Armed with their inquisitive natures and a passion for sharing, they research and discuss a wide variety of topics-always working to uncover the weird, fascinating, delightful, or unexpected pieces of any given subject, and then talking about it together in an accessible and humorous way. The pair have now taken their near-boundless "whys" and "hows" from your earbuds to the pages of a book for the first time-and with it comes loads of new content, covering subjects about which they've long wondered or wanted to explore in greater detail. Follow along as they dig into the underlying stories and interesting ways things fit into the world, touching on everything from the origin of Murphy beds, to the history of facial hair, to the psychology of being lost. An additional layer of visual material allows the duo to further embellish their engaging storytelling and bring these topics to life in a snappy new way-including charts and graphs, illustrations, and sidebars for rabbit-hole tangents and wandering digressions. Have you ever wondered about the world around you, and wished to see the magic in everyday things? Come get curious with Stuff You Should Know. With Josh and Chuck as your guide, there's something interesting about everything (...except maybe jackhammers)

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post ______________________ The huge variety of colourful phrases contained in the English language are notoriously varied and, often, notably odd. From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (an image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), the fascinating expressions that make up our language are explored in Humble Pie and Cold Turkey. In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that: If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general? If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet? If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship? If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster? Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will prompt you to question the downright bizarre idioms we use to express ourselves, and answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.

In his wildly entertaining, winningly irreverent, "New York Times" bestselling Don't Know Much About(R) series, author Kenneth C. Davis has amused and edified us with fascinating facts about history, mythology, the Bible, the universe, geography, and the Civil War.

Now, the sky's the limit in his latest irresistible installment--a grand tour of knowledge that carries us from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Berlin Wall, from the Salem Witch Trials to Watergate, from Michelangelo to Houdini. Brimming with busted myths, gripping true stories, and peculiar particulars about a plethora of people, places, and events, this captivating compendium is guaranteed to delight information lovers everywhere as it feeds our insatiable appetite to know "everything!"

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.

When was smoking banned on trains? Which actor restored kippers to the menu of the Brighton Belle? What regular lineside event did Dickens describe as 'a shave in the air'? Perfect for a trivia night or a long trip, Train Teasers will both test your knowledge of this country's rail system and enlighten you on the most colourful aspects of its long history. Meet trunk murderers, trainspotters, haters of railways, railway writers, Ministers for Transport good and bad, railway cats, dogs and a railway penguin. This is NOT a book for number-crunching nerds. Many of the answers are guessable by the intelligent reader. It is a quiz, yes, but also a cavalcade of historical incident and colour relating to a system that was the making of modern Britain.

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!

(Applause Books). "If you're a fan of the celluloid musical, get ready you are about to have one terrific time." Shirley Jones "It's here. The perfect gift for anyone who likes a good movie musical ... This is complete coverage: from stats through awards, to fun dirt on ten of everyone's favorite movies. It grabs you and you can't quit nibbling." 4-Front "Kurtti challenges even the most astute music fan." Edge . Includes more than 100 photos!

It's time to celebrate your inner geek with this treasure trove of lists and prime cuts of knowledge. Time to brush up on what you'd forgotten or misremembered, and discover what you never had a clue was true. Ranging across history, science and the natural world, taking in sport, film, food and much more, Man Facts gives you a wealth of up-to-date stats and eye-opening trivia that will make you a general-knowledge genius, or at least help you nail your next pub quiz. Dig in.

The elephant is the world's largest land mammal. Elephant tusks are teeth, not horns. Elephants sleep up to 8 hours a day. Can you spot the odd fact out? Pull a card and ask the other players to identify which of three pieces of trivia is not actually true! With trivia challenges ranging from history to pop culture to geography and more, these cards will put your knowledge to the test.

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.

Amazing and Extraordinary Facts: Wales takes you on an absorbing journey around Wales to unearth the adventures, inventions, legends, firsts and birthplaces that have shaped the unique history of Wales. From the ancient mines of the Great Orme to the Severn crossing, the tsunami of the 1600s to the Turlough Lake, from bog snorkelling to Tom Jones' phone box, this intriguing compendium of facts and stories will give you a captivating insight into the Land of Song and the ideas and events that have shaped the individual identity of this remarkable country. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.