Praise for Your Brain on Facts
“A fun collection of facts that will leave you full of information you never knew you needed to know!”
—Sophie Stirling, author of We Did That?
“Like most seekers of knowledge, I am always searching out unusual and unique books on a wide range of topics. If you are the same, look no further than Your Brain on Facts. If you love the eponymous podcast, then you know that Moxie is a relentless and excellent purveyor of hidden history and long-lost facts. Read enough of this book and you’ll be the most popular person at any cocktail party!”
—Alicia Alvrez, author of The Big Book of Women’s Trivia
“I like to read this book for ten to fifteen minutes every night before bed or when I first wake up in the morning. It has bite-sized nuggets of information I have never seen anywhere else. I love how author Moxie LaBouche has uncovered so many random events in history and facts on everything obscure. She is an excellent researcher and this book delivers big on delight!”
—Becca Anderson, author of Badass Affirmations
“Your Brain on Facts cannot describe this book (and the podcast on which it’s based) more accurately! Once you open the book, the facts hit you at full speed. Moxie doesn’t hold back her trivia-filled brain. She is a natural sponge for knowledge, and I am so happy she gets to squeeze all that knowledge—well, maybe only a portion of how much she actually knows—into a full book! I’m looking forward to reading this over and over again and leaving it out for my kids because these are the types of books that will keep them curious for years to come. This is truly a book that belongs in any trivia lovers’ house.”
—Emily Proko, podcaster and author of The Story Behind
“If you are looking to entertain your brain with some unusual facts, you will love Your Brain on Facts. Moxie’s humorous delivery of the facts keeps you turning the page. I love learning something new every time I read the book!”
—Joyce Glass, The Write Coach
“I’ve been a fan of Moxie’s Twitter feed for a while now…but it’s even nicer to have all of these delightful facts and stories packaged in book form! Thumb through the pages, pause anywhere, and I’m certain you’ll find something that not only tickles your brain, but makes you smile too.”
—Mangesh Hattikudur, cofounder of Mental Floss
“LaBouche’s witty writing, along with the smorgasbord of facts, makes this book a must-read for family trips, classrooms, and should claim the coveted spot on the bathroom reading shelf. LaBouche bring fun back to learning. I highly recommend this book for every coffee table, waiting room, and break room. You will walk away laughing and learning.”
—Cherrilynn Bisbano, author of Shine, Don’t Whine
“Moxie LaBouche takes readers on an adventure through several well-researched categories of facts and trivia. There’s plenty to learn here, perfect for beginners or the most devoted of trivia fans who enjoy their facts with a dash of humor. Enjoy choice information from the owner of Your Brain on Facts podcast, like Vsauce in novel form.”
—Elise Hennessy, author of the Blood Legacy series
Things You Didn’t Know,
Things You Thought You Knew,
and Things You Never Knew You Never Knew
Coral Gables
Copyright © 2020 by Moxie LaBouche
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover Design, Layout & Design: Morgane Leoni
Cover Illustration: © Meranna/shutterstock.com
Mango is an active supporter of authors’ rights to free speech and artistic expression in their books. The purpose of copyright is to encourage authors to produce exceptional works that enrich our culture and our open society.
Uploading or distributing photos, scans or any content from this book without prior permission is theft of the author’s intellectual property. Please honor the author’s work as you would your own. Thank you in advance for respecting our author’s rights.
For permission requests, please contact the publisher at:
Mango Publishing Group
2850 S Douglas Road, 2nd Floor
Coral Gables, FL 33134 USA
For special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions and corporate sales, please email the publisher at [email protected]. For trade and wholesale sales, please contact Ingram Publisher Services at [email protected] or +1.800.509.4887.
Your Brain on Facts: Things You Didn’t Know, Things You Thought You Knew, and Things You Never Knew You Never Knew
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2020933907
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-253-4, (ebook) 978-1-64250-254-1
BISAC category code GAM012000, GAMES & ACTIVITIES / Trivia
Printed in the United States of America
To my mother,
for supporting all of my endeavors,
even the really stupid ones.
Contents
What’s in a (Scientific) Name?
