Gary Fuller’s entertaining and informative guide uses geographic trivia questions as a springboard to learning about non-trivial aspects of our globe. An enlightening book for all readers, it enhances geographic know-how with good, old-fashioned fun. Discover who named the kangaroo; where can you find Lakers and Salties; what chili peppers, pineapple, chocolate, and vanilla have in common; where Shangri La was; and who was the most successful pirate in the Caribbean. An inveterate traveler and geographer extraordinaire, Fuller provides extensive background, engaging maps and photos, and thorough explanations for each intriguing trivia question. Challenging today’s global generation to truly get to know their world, his book is a delight to read and an essential antidote to our lack of geographical knowledge.
Gary Fuller taught at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for thirty-five years before broadening his scope to lecture aboard cruise ships. He was named a Teacher of the Year by the National Association for Geographic Education, captained a championship College Bowl team, and was a winning contestant on Jeopardy! His Trivia Lover’s Guide to the World won the 2012 Book of the Year Silver Award from Foreword Reviews.
Table of Contents
List of Maps Acknowledgments Introduction 11 Geographic Ignorance Still Prevails 12 Why Can My Students Find Australia on a Map? 13 Place Names: Pronunciations and Translations 14 Borders and Boundaries 15 Islands 16 Battles 17 Airports 18 The British Empire 19 Missionaries: Agents of Geographical Change 10 Nearest Neighbors 11 Explorers Rescued from Oblivion 12 Diseases 13 Population Density 14 Fleets 15 Spice Seekers 16 Principal (Rare) Products 17 Pirates 18 Imaginary/Mythical/Legendary Places 19 Deep in the Heart of. .. 20 World Population 21 Other Populations 22 Dangerous Watery Places 23 Forced Migration 24 Forbidden Places 25 Earthquakes and Tsunamis 26 Extreme Points 27 Minerals and Mines 28 Landscapes of Fear Index About the Author Maps The Lost Squadron in Greenland Cook’s Voyage in Endeavour Classical Place Name Belt Mexico and Texas Andesite Line Cuba and Tarawa Superimposed on the United States European Battle Sites Source of the Nile California Missions Palk Strait Germany 1871–1945 Shackleton’s 1914 Expedition Bering’s Voyages Da Gama’s and Magellan’s Voyages Barbary Coast Realm Geographic Centers of the United States Mouth of the Columbia River Skagerrak and the Battle of Jutland Salvation Islands Radcliffe Line North Brother Island Mount Chimborazo Point Nemo Marcellus Shale Range of Sleeping Sickness Llano Estacado
