Product DescriptionWHAT IS REALITY, ANYWAY? FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK. Washington Post columnist Joel Achenbach refuses to take 'I don't know' for an answer. In Why Things Are, he gave you a world of answers in a nutshell. Well, once again it's time to get cracking. Just ask Achenbach, who's out to crack every mystery in the book. After all, why stop asking why when there's no end of questions left to be asked? * Why is the Oval Office oval? * Why is it so darn hard to lose weight? * Why did Napoleon keep his hand tucked in his vest? * Why is Muzak everywhere even though people claim they dislike 'elevator music'? * Since we're mostly made of water, why don't we slosh around more? * Why are people so obsessed with talking, thinking, and hearing about sex? * Why is the interior of the Earth still hot after 4.6 billion years of letting off steam (and lava)? Why doesn't this thing ever cool off? Truly outrageous and outrageously true. That's the name of Joel Achenbach's game in this wildly original collection of questions and answers. If you have a taste for the unusual, here's a book that's just as fun as a box of assorted chocolates--but far less fattening.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - not as good as the 1st and 2nd, but still great
I didn't like this one quite as much as the 1st and 2nd Why book (part 2 seems to be out of print), mainly because it lacked the Special Reports which were the best part of its predecessors. But this is a minor complaint and like the other books in the series I've read this one so many times that I have practically memorized it. That won't stop me from reading it many times more.
Ivan Rorick
Rating: - Why Things Are & Why Things Aren't
Achenbach is a genius at observation, very interesting questions and wonderful and witty humor. If you loved his previous books you'll love this one. I was sad to finish it.
Rating: - Accurate, informative and hysterically funny
This book is for the insatiably curious, and it is a joy to read. Not only is it incredibly funny but it's full of accurate scientific information, and provides answers to questions you didn't even realize you had. The author is obviously an incredibly talented writer who is having a good time with the subject matter. A great little book and suprisingly profound!
Rating: - not bad.
It was nice reading this book. Its more entertaining than filed with knowldege, but you do learn a few things among the jokes. Did you know that a diet coke can will float in water but not a normal coke can?
Rating: - A wonderful book.
Too bad information wasn't provided to us this way in school: utterly engaging, intelligent, funny, full of wise humor. Reading this is like eating potato chips except that its really good for you which is pretty amazing. Joel is hip and savvy.
- not bad.
