2007-12-26 Perfect stocking filler

I write this a mere day after receiving this very book in my annual Christmas haul. An unassuming little package, it managed to suck in my attention for much of the rest of the day, except for the occasional moments when I would treat the people around me to an interesting nugget or two.

This is a lovely little book of facts which enters into a crowded market with two things to separate it from the competition: the cute little celebrity Q&As, and the simple fact that every single question contained within was asked, via text message, by a member of the public. Some (indeed, most) are plainly an attempt to cheat at a pub quiz; some are attempts to settle long-standing arguments (the 'who would win in a fight between...' ones being especially amusing); some are the product of late-night wandering minds; and some are the tragi-comic peeks into the lives of the bored, the lonely, and the desperate.

This human element is what, for me, makes the book better than the fact-laden likes of Ripleys or Guinness - behind every question is a person, and that person must have had a reason for asking. Taking guesses as to what that reason might have been adds a whole new element to the book, and the temptation to pose your own question is very great, especially given the chance of inclusion in the next book.

Pick this book up for the truth junkie in your life, but be prepared not to speak to them for hours after - and also to be blamed for a suddenly-increased phone bill.