Trivia

Biting the Wax Tadpole delves into the intricacies of different languages and their quirks, making it a great read for anyone interested in linguistics or culture. The author's witty writing style and humorous anecdotes make the book both entertaining and informative. You'll learn about the unique challenges of translating different phrases and words between languages, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of communication.

"Do Penguins Have Knees?" is perfect for those who are naturally curious and love to learn new things. This book has a unique approach to satisfying the reader's curiosity, making it a must-read for the inquisitive type. The author uses humor to provide answers to complex, inexplicable questions, making this book both entertaining and informative. Readers will find themselves entertained and educated in equal measure, a definite must-have for all trivia lovers out there.

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich.Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkins’s Encyclopedia of the Exquisite focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A com­pendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty.Each entry features several engaging anecdotes, illuminating the curious past of each enduring source of beauty. Subjects covered include the explosive history of champagne; the art of lounging on a divan; the emergence of “frillies,” the first lacy, racy lingerie; the ancient uses of sweet-smelling saffron; the wild riot incited by the appearance of London’s first top hat; Julia Child’s tip for cooking the perfect omelet; the polarizing practice of wearing red lipstick during World War II; Louis XIV’s fondness for the luscious Bartlett pear; the Indian origin of badminton; Parliament’s 1650 attempt to suppress Europe’s beauty mark fad; the evolution of the Japanese kimono; the pil­grimage of Central Park’s Egyptian obelisk; and the fanciful thrill of dining alfresco.Cleverly illustrated, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is an ode to life’s plenty, from the extravagant to the eccentric. It is a cele­bration of luxury that doesn’t necessarily require money.

Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? is a great read for fans of science, as it provides simplified answers to various scientific questions. The book's unique feature is that it tackles seemingly simple questions, that actually have complex explanations. Readers will appreciate the book's ability to make science entertaining and easy to understand, as well as the range of questions it addresses, from the trivial to the bizarre.

Biting the Wax Tadpole is a delightful book for language lovers who want to explore the unique grammar of various languages in a fun and accessible way. Elizabeth Little takes the reader on a tour of the grammar of different languages, from Lithuanian to Navajo and even delves into the meaning of Swedish names of IKEA products. The book is filled with fun facts, stories and explanations that are easy to understand and provides a unique perspective on grammar that is enjoyable to read.