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Friday, October 31, 2008

Don't Know Much About Anything Else

by Kenneth C. Davis

This author's first book was Don't Know Much About History. Since then he's added several more titles to his fun and factual Don't Know Much About books.

I received 'anything else' from Harpers to review. The timing was perfect because I was leaving in a few days for a road trip to the lovely, beautiful and memorable state of Oregon. I took this book along and each day read a few entries to Candleman and my Mom.

The chapter headings include Famous People, Exceptional Places, Historic Happenings & Civics, Holidays & Traditions, Everyday Objects & Remarkable Inventions, Space & the Natural World, Sports, Entertainment, And More! Each chapter has 20- 60 pages with an entry on each page. The entry starts out with a few paragraphs about the topic followed by several questions. The answers to the question are on the back side of the page.

The first page under Famous People was about Clara Barton. Candleman, who knows something about everything (I thought), had never heard of Clara Barton. There were six true or false questions. Try your hand at one: When the Civil War ended, she led the effort to locate missing soldiers.*

We had lots of fun doing this each day while driving. Sometimes we think we're kind of smart, but this book humbled us. It was fun to learn the interesting tidbits, though. I plan on reading a couple entries everyday and then buying another of Davis' books. You all know about my sad memory, but I hope everything I put in that little mind will be there in the hereafter. In the meantime, learning provides good exercise for the brain.

7 comments:

Shelley said...

I've read a couple of his books and found them very interesting and entertaining. This one sounds good.

Tricia said...

What a fun book!

Anonymous said...

His books are always entertaining.

Your beanies are cute!

Framed said...

I know who Clara Barton is but I don't know the answer to the question. I'd better read this book.

Booklogged said...

I meant to leave the answer. It's true. Barton formed a bureau to search for missing men and the office marked more than 12,000 graves in the infamous Andersonville prison in Georgia.

Bookfool said...

That sounds like a really fun book. I don't think I've ever read any of the "Don't Know Much" series, although my memory is fading, these days. Didn't Clara Barton found the Red Cross? I didn't know about the search for missing soldiers.

Paula said...

What fun! I think I'd really like the history one. Definately adding that to my wish list!