The Joy of Quiz - Hardcover

Connor, Alan

4.06

101 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1846148685 ISBN 13: 9781846148682

Publisher: Particular Books, 2016

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'An absolute must-read for anyone who loves quizzes ... I loved it!' Richard Osman

A jaunty journey into the world of the quiz, from the question editor of BBC2's Only Connect, sometimes in the form of 300 excellent quiz questions

In 1938 Britain started to quiz. Since then, quizzes have become ubiquitous entertainment from pubs to primetime, suffered major criminal investigations, created unlikely folk heroes and been subjected to the rigours of question checkers. The Joy of Quiz tells the history of quiz and its makers, wonders how we came to make a game out of remembering scraps of information, looks at the tactics of professional quizzers and reveals the shadowy worlds of setters and checkers. Along the way, it asks questions such as 'What is a fact, anyway?' and 'Whatever happened to prizes like sandwich toasters?'

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Review:

An absolute must-read for anyone who loves quizzes. Alan knows everything, knows everyone, and writes beautifully too. I loved it! (Richard Osman)

Knowledgeable and playful ... An absolute delight (Simon Humphreys Mail on Sunday)

An entertaining new book on quizzing ... Connor has again succeeded in explaining the enduring popularity of a curious pastime. The Joy of Quiz offers an entertaining sideways social history that takes in debates over quizzing and public morals, government oversight, and - I've started so I'll finish - the strange things otherwise ordinary people will undergo to win a round of drinks (John Gallagher Guardian)

Alan Connor has the mind of an entertainer and the soul of a quizzer. I can't think of anyone better placed to lead readers through this weird, wonderful, competitive and dastardly trivial pursuit (Victoria Coren Mitchell)

From the Back Cover:

'An absolute must-read' Richard Osman

You may think you love to quiz. But do you know the best way to win? Who Britain's greatest quizzer is? When pub quizzes began? The worst (and best) cheats? The quiz show based on being a prisoner of war? Why taxi drivers are natural quizzers? What happened to prizes like sandwich toasters?

Wonder no more. The answers to all these and more (plus 300 quiz questions to test yourself on) are inside this book: the ultimate celebration of all things quizzical.

'Entertaining ... Alan Connor uncovers the history of one of our stranger pastimes: sitting around and answering questions on various topics, sometimes in the hope of winning a speedboat or a ham' Guardian

'I can't think of anyone better placed to lead readers through this weird, wonderful, competitive and dastardly trivial pursuit' Victoria Coren Mitchell

'A treasure trove of good stuff' Stuart Maconie

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