Your Brain on Facts: Things You Didn't Know, Things You Thought You Knew, and Things You Never Knew You Never Knew

by Moxie LaBouche, Emily Prokop (Foreword by)

Overview

The host of the eponymous podcast “takes readers on an adventure through several well-researched categories of facts and trivia . . . with a dash of humor” (Elise Hennessy, author of the Blood Legacy series).

So what if you picked up some historical inaccuracies (and flat-out myths) in history class. Your Brain on Facts is here to teach and reteach readers relevant trivia. It explains surprising science in simple language, gives the unexpected origins of pop culture classics, and reveals important titbits related to current issues.

Get ready for trivia night done right. Inside, find true facts, strange facts, and just plain weird facts. Your Brain on Facts features general trivia questions and answers, offering science, art, technology, medicine, music, and history trivia to brainiacs everywhere.

Learn:

• What’s the language of the stateless nation in the Pyrenees mountains
• Where the world-changing birth control pill was tested
• Who wrote lyrics for the Star Trek theme song that were never used

“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?

“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, co-founder of Mental Floss

“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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642502541
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	06/16/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	290
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Moxie LaBouche was a burlesque performer and producer, goat farmer, and salesperson before starting the Your Brain On Facts podcast. She is also creator and co-host of the Science With Savannah, Age 7 podcast and YouTube channel. Moxie currently lives in Virginia with her husband and dozen or so pets.

Read more at http://www.yourbrainonfacts.com/

Emily Prokop graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in journalism and has worked in newspapers, magazines, and even as a puzzle editor, but always loved picking up random trivia and sharing it with her not-quite-as-enthused friends and coworkers. Luckily, she was able to combine her passions for trivia and podcasting when she created The Story Behind podcast in 2016 and wrote a book based on it in 2018. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, and two cats.

Read an Excerpt

From the Foreword by Emily Prokop, host of The Story Behind podcast and author of The Story Behind

Humans are weird. I am raising two small humans and they remind me of this fact on a daily basis. But aside from the obvious idiosyncrasies we all have, humans are also weird because we are the only species that questions the world around us.

Cats don’t stop to wonder why they land on all fours. They just do it and move on.

But humans couldn’t just accept that as fact. We questioned it for hundreds of years, probably to the detriment of many cats who were unwilling participants in these trials. It wasn’t until we had new technology that we were finally able to watch a cat using what’s now known as his Righting Reflex to maneuver his body so he can land on all four paws.

And we, weird humans that we are, probably celebrated this new knowledge while the first cat ever to be recorded on video went along his day probably thinking to himself, “humans are weird!”

But that’s what makes us human. Some doctors even think our ability to wonder “why?” about the world around us separates us from every other species.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction 12

Chapter 1 Science & Medicine 15

What's in a (Scientific) Name?

Love Hurts

Physician, Test Thyself

Unsung-est Heroes of Medicine

Chapter 2 Culture & Religion 49

Surprise Polyglot

Good Mourning To You

Baptism By…

Chapter 3 History 77

Mixed Bags of History

Them's Biting Words

Fighting Girlfriend and the Night Witches

Chapter 4 The Arts 103

Read a Rainbow

To Boldly Go Where Only White Men Had Gone Before

Lights, Curses, Action!

Chapter 5 Business & Technology 125

Fake a Need and Fill It

Veteran of the Format Wars

Laws of the Internet

Chapter 6 Daily Life 149

What's a Drink Without a Nosh?

A World of Pizza

The Real Cost of Food

Chapter 7 People 169

Concave Earthers

And the Little Child Shall Lead Them

Swiss Army Wife

Afterword 193

Acknowledgments 195

Index 196

Bibliography 202

About The Author 234

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“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

“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, pocaster 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, co-founder 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

“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