- Author
- William Harston
- ARRSE Rating
- 4 Mushroom Heads
Why does Homo Sapiens have 46 chromosomes and the Great Apes have 48?
What was the origin of laughter?
Is telepathy possible?
These are just a few of the many questions raised in this book; 501 questions, actually. And they are answered too. Ranging from Aardvarks to Zymology*, the book runs the gamut of just about every subject that one could be curious about - including those that we may never have thought of. It is a veritable cornucopia of knowledge, useful and offbeat, that would be a boon to anyone who has a thirst for knowledge.
It is not a book that one would normally sit and read to pass the long winter's evenings, not a novel or a thriller, yet it is utterly fascinating in it's scope and depth, and ensures that we know that Joan of Arc was not the wife of Noah! I also know now who 'the person from Porlock' was that disturbed Coleridge during his writing of 'Kubla Khan'
The author - William Hartston - is the writer of 'Beachcomber' for the Daily Express, as well as being the opera critic. He is a mathematician and industrial psychologist, educated at Cambridge, and is also an international chess champion.
The book is informative, witty and well written. Easy to dip in and out of and very, very useful, if, like me, you relish learning about those things that you know little. I heartily recommend it as a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.
What was the origin of laughter?
Is telepathy possible?
These are just a few of the many questions raised in this book; 501 questions, actually. And they are answered too. Ranging from Aardvarks to Zymology*, the book runs the gamut of just about every subject that one could be curious about - including those that we may never have thought of. It is a veritable cornucopia of knowledge, useful and offbeat, that would be a boon to anyone who has a thirst for knowledge.
It is not a book that one would normally sit and read to pass the long winter's evenings, not a novel or a thriller, yet it is utterly fascinating in it's scope and depth, and ensures that we know that Joan of Arc was not the wife of Noah! I also know now who 'the person from Porlock' was that disturbed Coleridge during his writing of 'Kubla Khan'
The author - William Hartston - is the writer of 'Beachcomber' for the Daily Express, as well as being the opera critic. He is a mathematician and industrial psychologist, educated at Cambridge, and is also an international chess champion.
The book is informative, witty and well written. Easy to dip in and out of and very, very useful, if, like me, you relish learning about those things that you know little. I heartily recommend it as a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.
