Learn Something New Every Day

What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?¹ What color did carrots used to be?² Why do many American spellings differ from their British counterparts?³ What does it mean 'to have one's eyes lined with ham'? ⁴ If you know the answers to these questions, then you're John Hodgman. If you had to look for them below, you need this book.⁵

Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered, returns with a year's worth of facts on the arts, history, language, natural history, religion, and science to build up your brain. From 'What is the only sea without coastlines?' to 'How did the tradition of April Fool's Day begin?', this book is the best way to know more stuff than that other guy.⁶

Learn Something New Every Day is the ideal gift for anyone with an inquisitive mind and an appreciation of the wonders of the world around us. But don't give it to them. You don't want them to know more than you do.

1. Bagged bread. 2. Purple. 3. Blame—or thank—Noah Webster. 4. That's the Italian expression for 'can't see the wood for the trees.' 5. You'd enjoy it too, Mr. Hodgman. 6. Discovering more than one fact per day can cause increased confidence. We've probably already put you at risk with the four above. Learn safely.

Kee Malesky, National Public Radio's longest-serving librarian, is a member of the team that provides fact-checking, background research, and grammar and pronunciation guidance to NPR's radio programs and digital media projects.