Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Presents Flush Fiction


Book Description

Quick fiction for readers on the go! Quick fiction for readers on the go! Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Presents Flush Fiction is a tantalizing collection of 88 short-short stories custom-picked for the Bathroom Reader aficionado. We scoured the nation for talented writers and asked them to send us their best quick reads. The result: mysteries, horror, sci-fi, adventure, plenty of laughs--and a few gasps--in these startling short stories. They’re like little movies for your mind! Some titles to entice you: * “Nothing” * “Mr. Agreeable” * “Dead Man’s Float” * “The Unseeing Eye” * “Checking out a Geezer” * “My First Foreign Woman and the Sea” * “Rusty the Pirate (A Historical Feghoot)” * “The Loom of Doom Galls Mainly in the Tomb” What are these stories about? Check out Flush Fiction and you won’t be disappointed!




Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Great Lives


Book Description

Look beneath the surface of the world’s most interesting people--past and present--to uncover what makes them tick. Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges into Great Lives looks beneath the surface and uncovers fascinating but little-known stories behind the famous, the near-famous, the infamous, and the should-have-been famous. You’ll meet child prodigies, spies, traitors, celebrities (and sidekicks), gossips, hermits, humanitarians, and zealots. There are incredible stories here, and every one is true. Sit back and prepare to be amazed when you read about: * America’s first prima ballerina * The man who invented tap dancing * Stephen Hawking and his ongoing quest for love * Vidal Sassoon: hairdresser by day, freedom-fighter by night * Sex therapist Dr. Ruth’s early years as an Israeli soldier * The other Boleyn girl in Henry VIII’s bed * The nerd who changed the world * Six degrees of Kevin Bacon And much, much more!




Uncle John's Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader


Book Description

One of Uncle John’s all-time bestselling editions, Supremely Satisfying is everything a Bathroom Reader should be: informative, funny, surprising, thought-provoking, weird, and a little bit gross. Supreme satisfaction awaits you in Uncle John’s 14th all-new edition, which covers a whole host of topics—from the silly (a branding iron for hot dogs) to the bizarre (an exploding whale) to the profound (the rise of the Democratic and Republican parties). Where else could you learn how soap works, why people started tipping, and the history of chocolate? Uncle John rules the world of information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained. Read all about… Dumb 9-1-1 calls 22 things that fell from the sky How Star Trek went from failed series to cult phenomenon The origins of football, photography, soap operas, and paperclips Quack medicines from yesterday and today The “uplifting” history of the bra And much more!




Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood


Book Description

Take One. Action! Uncle John's Plunges into Hollywood uncovers Tinseltown's best-kept secrets--from murder mysteries Hollywood style to leading lady rivalries. Hooray for Hollywood! Uncle John takes on Tinseltown in this fascinating look at the movies and the people who make them. Come for the trials, tribulations, and trivia! Stay for the mysteries, magic, and mayhem! You’ll go behind the scenes for the sordid scandals, biggest bombs, greatest triumphs, and the unsung heroes who make it all come together. Featuring quotes, puzzles, quizzes, and Uncle John’s famous “running feet” facts at the bottom of every page, this book will give you a new appreciation for the Silver Screen (and you’ll know exactly what a gaffer and best boy do). What else is in here? Check out these previews! * Bad boys on location * The origin of Variety * The biggest cult movie of all time * The “Blond Bombshell Murder Mystery” * How Ray Harryhausen brought fantasies to life * Wretched reviews (for what are now considered great films) * The strange Pink Floyd and Wizard of Oz connection * The “Taglines of Terror” quiz * Bathrooms on the big screen * Unfortunate remakes * Haunted Hollywood And much, much more!




Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History


Book Description

The trivia gurus behind the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series plumb the depths of history in this compendium of easily digestible diversions. Whether you’re a history buff, or you just like reading great stories, you’ll see the past in a whole new light after reading Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges into History. Uncle John uncovers the truth behind some of history’s most persistent myths and flushes out information you were never taught in school. Where else could you learn about the 10 most-forgotten people in history, mistakes that led to great discoveries, and how a certain fish had a hand (er, fin) in beating Napoleon? Read all about . . . The short history of underwear Odd deaths of famous figures Abe Lincoln, fashion icon The real Lady Godiva Royal inbreeds and promiscuous popes The true story of Braveheart And much more!




Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Tunes into TV


Book Description

Uncle John channel-surfs through America’s favorite pastime: television. What does Homer Simpson call “friend…mother…secret lover?” Television, you meathead! Here comes your wacky neighbor Uncle John to present TV the way only he can. From test patterns to Top Chef, from My Three Sons to Mad Men, as well as TV news, advertising, scandals, sitcoms, dramas, reality shows, and yadda yadda yadda, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Tunes into TV is “dy-no-mite!” Read about… * Gilligan’s seven deadly sins * The inside story of TV’s first commercial * What goes on behind the scenes of Jeopardy! * The most incredibly bizarre shows from around the world * Why Gene Roddenberry tried to beam the original Star Trek cast into space * What reality show producers don’t want you to know * How the King of Late Night crushed his competition * What really went down on the island of LOST * Unexpected sitcom fatalities * TV’s greatest chimps And much, much more!




Uncle John's Weird, Wonderful World Bathroom Reader


Book Description

Uncle John is back with the 36th annual Bathroom Reader, an all-new collection of entertaining articles that explore the weird and wonderful world we live in. In this 36th edition of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, longtime fans and new readers alike will be astounded by a treasure trove of wonderfully weird (and true!) stories that explore the realms of pop culture, history, sports, science, and everyday folks, including the always popular misadventures of dumb crooks. Uncle John and his team at the Bathroom Readers’ Institute have reached into all corners of the world to bring you this all-new collection of entertaining and informative articles that include short reads for a quick trip to the throne room as well as longer page-turners for when you take an extended visit. You’ll also find a plethora of amusing lists, odd factoids, quotes, and quizzes that will tickle every trivia enthusiast’s fancy.




Around the Map at Last


Book Description

In these difficult times, when cultural, political and geographic differences are contributing to a climate of distrust and outright animosity, we need a reminder that we in the United States live in a great nation comprised of 50 interesting states, each with fascinating people and inspiring locations to visit. Over the course of his lifetime (no short-term travel blog here), Bob Garrison finally managed to visit every state and find something thoughtful or funny (sometimes both) to write about each one. And what’s more, he has plans to visit each state again and writes about those destinations too. Whether getting extricated from a locked Montana campground, assisting a rollover accident victim on a Louisiana highway or waxing lyrical about Nebraska’s Sand Hills, Garrison writes authentically about time spent in each state in the country we call home.




Now I Know


Book Description

Covering 100 outrageous topics, Now I Know is the ultimate challenge for any know-it-all who thinks they have nothing left to learn. Praise for the Webby Award-winning newsletter: “I eagerly read Now I Know every day. It’s always fresh, always a surprise, and always interesting!” —Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and Wikia ​Did you know that there are actually twenty-seven letters in the alphabet, or that the US had a plan to invade Canada? And what actually happened to the flags left on the moon? Even if you think you have a handle on all thing’s trivia, you’re guaranteed a big surprise with Now I Know. From uncovering what happens to lost luggage to New York City’s plan to crack down on crime by banning pinball, this book will challenge your knowledge of the fascinating stories behind the world’s greatest facts.




Countdown


Book Description

The story of a formative year in 12-year-old Franny Chapman's life, and the life of a nation facing the threat of nuclear war. Franny Chapman just wants some peace. But that's hard to get when her best friend is feuding with her, her sister has disappeared, and her uncle is fighting an old war in his head. Her saintly younger brother is no help, and the cute boy across the street only complicates things. Worst of all, everyone is walking around just waiting for a bomb to fall. It's 1962, and it seems that the whole country is living in fear. When President Kennedy goes on television to say that Russia is sending nuclear missiles to Cuba, it only gets worse. Franny doesn't know how to deal with what's going on in the world -- no more than she knows how to deal with what's going on with her family and friends. But somehow she's got to make it through. Featuring a captivating story interspersed with footage from 1962, award-winning author Deborah Wiles has created a documentary novel that will put you right alongside Franny as she navigates a dangerous time in both her history and our history.