Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivial Pursuits
Language: English
Published by Villard, NY, 2006
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Daedalus Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.Daedalus Books
AbeBooks seller since September 15, 1997
Association member: CBA
Condition: Used
£ 9.32
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Fine in dustjacket.; 8vo.
Seller Inventory # 162548cd
- Title
- Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivial Pursuits
- Author
- Jennings, Ken
- Publisher
- Villard, NY
- Publication year
- 2006
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1400064457
- ISBN 13
- 9781400064458
- Edition
- First Edition.
- Item weight
- 2 pounds
- Seller catalogs
- Games
Jennings had always been minutiae-mad, poring over almanacs and TV Guide listings at an age when most kids are still watching Elmo and putting beans up their nose. But trivia, he has found, is centuries older than his childhood obsession with it. Whisking us from the coffeehouses of seventeenth-century London to the Internet age, Jennings chronicles the ups and downs of the trivia fad: the quiz book explosion of the Jazz Age; the rise, fall, and rise again of TV quiz shows; the nostalgic campus trivia of the 1960s; and the 1980s, when Trivial Pursuit® again made it fashionable to be a know-it-all.
Jennings also investigates the shadowy demimonde of todays trivia subculture, guiding us on a tour of trivia hotspots across America. He goes head-to-head with the blowhards and diehards of the college quiz-bowl circuit, the slightly soused faithful of the Boston pub trivia scene, and the raucous participants in the annual Q&A marathon in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, The Worlds Largest Trivia Contest. And, of course, he takes us behind the scenes of his improbable 75-game run on Jeopardy!
But above all, Brainiac is a love letter to the useless fact. What marsupial has fingerprints that are indistinguishable from human ones?* What planet has a crater on it named after Laura Ingalls Wilder?** What comedian had the misfortune to be born with the name Albert Einstein?*** Jennings also ponders questions that are a little more philosophical: What separates trivia from meaningless facts? Is being good at trivia a mark of intelligence? And is trivia just a waste of time, or does it serve some not-so-trivial purpose after all?
Uproarious, silly, engaging, and erudite, this book is an irresistible celebration of nostalgia, curiosity, and nerdy obsessionin a word, trivia.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Daedalus Books
Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 15 business days | 2 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 4.92 | £ 9.08 |
Payment methods
- Paypal
Store description
Our store carries a wide variety of scholarly titles in many fields and is especially strong in history, literary studies, judaica, medicine and linguistics, philosophy and classical studies. We are always interested in purchasing books in these fields as well as military and music titles.
Specialty
medicine, science, music, linguistics, literary studies, poetry, medieval and renaissance studies, judaica, history, philosophyAssociation member
Seller's business information
Daedalus Books
2074 NW Flanders St.
Portland, OR U.S.A. 97209
Terms of sale
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and PayPal (Verified/Confirmed). We do accept Paypal for international orders processed through AbeBooks. Payment should accompany order unless credit has been established.
Standard Media Mail shipping costs $5.40, and covers books weighing up to four pounds. Priority Mail is $11.95, and covers books weighing up to four pounds. If a book exceeds those weights, we will ask for more money for shipment. If we receive no reply, the order will remain unprocessed, as per Abebooks. We will hold books for a maximum of 10 days for domestic orders and 14 days for international orders, unless special arrangements are made. All prices are NET.
Books may be returned in their original condition within 10 days of receipt via usps media mail.
Due to post office restrictions, we cannot guarantee delivery of books to addresses outside of the US. If you want guaranteed delivery, you must inquire before purchasing. All international shipping prices are designed for books weighing up to two pounds. If shipment will cost more than the listed shipping price, we will request additional funds. If the shipment will cost considerably less than the listed shipping price, the rate will certainly be decreased. We are always glad to address any questions or concerns, and welcome the chance to communicate with our customers.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Daedalus Books, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.