Uncle John S Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Music

Uncle John channel-surfs through America’s favorite pastime: television. What does Homer Simpson call “friend…mother…secret lover?” Television, you meathead! Here comes your wacky neighbor Uncle John to present TV the way only he can. From test patterns to Top Chef, from My Three Sons to Mad Men, as well as TV news, advertising, scandals, sitcoms, dramas, reality shows, and yadda yadda yadda, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Tunes into TV is “dy-no-mite!” Read about… * Gilligan’s seven deadly sins * The inside story of TV’s first commercial * What goes on behind the scenes of Jeopardy! * The most incredibly bizarre shows from around the world * Why Gene Roddenberry tried to beam the original Star Trek cast into space * What reality show producers don’t want you to know * How the King of Late Night crushed his competition * What really went down on the island of LOST * Unexpected sitcom fatalities * TV’s greatest chimps And much, much more!

An entertaining trivia compendium flush with fun facts about all things science. Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges into the Universe is your anecdote to boring science textbooks. Uncle John and his loony lab partners will take you back to the Big Bang and forward to the distant future. You’ll see the science in everything around (and inside) you, and learn the truth about the most egregious science myths (such as—you can’t “sweat like a pig” because pigs don’t sweat). How many amazing facts await your visual cortex in these 494 pages made up of atoms (print version) or bits and bytes (e-book)? As Carl Sagan would have said, “Billions and Billions!” So put on your thinking cap and check out: · Pluto denied · Kitchen chemistry · Football gets physics-al · Planet Earth’s sudden hot flashes · Food’s incredible journey . . .through you · The science of surfing, skating, and snowboarding · How they plugged the hole in the ozone layer · How “defenseless” animals stay alive · Sci-fi that’s more fi than sci · Ancient astronomers · Know your clouds And much, much more

An entertaining trivia compendium flush with fun facts about all things music. From boogie-woogie to Beethoven, from Prince to Pavarotti, from the bards of Broadway to the rebels of rock ’n’ roll—it’s all here. Uncle John has created this harmonious collection of tuneful tales for music lovers everywhere. Uncle John has proven once again that he is in tune with our legion of loyal readers. This 516-page musical masterpiece dedicated to all things noteworthy ranges from silly one-hit wonders to culture-changing musical milestones. You’ll get a glimpse into the future of music and go back to the days when prehistoric man first started communicating in song. So, plug in your amp, turn the dial up to eleven, and have a blast reading about: · The origins of nearly every genre and style of music—including rock, country, jazz, the blues, rhythm-and-blues, hip hop, punk, folk, polka, opera, Muzak, disco, and even marching bands · Musical legends, from “outsiders” like the Shaggs and the Carter family, to giants like the Beatles, Elvis, and Weird Al Yankovic · The stories of legendary music venues like the Grand Ole Opry, the Apollo, and the Fillmore · How a computer glitch led to Right Said Fred’s 1991 hit “I’m Too Sexy” · Why waltzing was considered as scandalous in its early days as rock was in its early days · The birth of the banjo, the electric guitar, karaoke, and the Stradivarius violin · How John Williams struck a universal chord with his score for Star Wars · Go underground to play the world’s largest natural musical instrument · What happened at Woodstock and other weird concert mishaps And much, much more

History repeats itself as Uncle John once again takes the plunge into the past! For our big number-two, we dug ever deeper into our bottomless vaults to bring you more of history’s most colorful characters, cultural milestones, funniest mishaps, and earth-shattering events. More than 500 pages of great stories, fascinating facts, and fun quizzes await you. Read about… * Philosophers who fought with fireplace pokers * “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!” * Where are they now—the Goths * The golden age of wife-selling * History’s most horrible dentist award * The French monks who invented tennis * Women of the Gold Rush And much, much more!

Discover strange gadgets you never knew existed in this volume from the nation’s top collector of curious and interesting information! The writers behind Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader present this totally true treasury of amazing gizmos—devilish devices you never knew existed, created by people who thought the world absolutely needed what they had to offer and sell. Read all about: * The onesie that turns your crawling baby into a mop * The fart-stifling blanket * The square watermelon * The video game you control with your mind * The weight loss device that sucks food out of your stomach, and much much more!

From Jersey tomatoes to the songs of the Boss and the Chairman of the Board, this newest Uncle John's bathroom reader captures the imagination. The book presents over 300 pages of interesting and entertaining articles covering tons of little-known facts about the Garden State. Illustrations & maps.

Strange-but-true stories, colorful characters, and big-league bizarreness for fans of America’s pastime! Why is baseball such a great subject for a Bathroom Reader? Because it’s steeped in history and tradition, it’s rife with scandals and controversy, and most of the men that dedicate their life to it are just a little bit . . . weird. Uncle John’s spirited take on the game takes you deep into that history to paint a detailed picture of where the game came from and where it may be going. You’ll go behind the scenes at spring training, listen in on pitcher’s mound conferences, and meet the players, coaches, fans, and broadcasters who make this the greatest game in the world! Swing for the fences as you read about . . . * Minor league mishaps * The violent history of umpiring * The true story of Lou Gehrig’s heroic rise and tragic fall * The man who pitched a no-hitter while tripping on LSD * The origins of gloves, baseballs, bats, uniforms, helmets, and more * Baseball’s most famous call and how it was saved for posterity * The best and worst teams of all time * Animals in the outfield * The birth of Little League * The Abner Doubleday myth * and much, much more!

What do Yoopers and Trolls have in common? Not much to hear them tell it, but both types of Michigander appreciate great bathroom reading. And they're proud to call Michigan home! Celebrate the state that brought us Motown, Henry Ford, and the world's only floating post office. So no matter which peninsula you call home, get ready for a funny, unforgettable visit. Read about... * Feather bowling * Shipwrecked in Paradise * Go to Hell and back in Hell, Michigan * Michigan's other famous Ford: a president named Gerald * The Red Flannel Festival, and other ways Michiganders brave the winter * How a 1966 Michigan State University game changed football forever * Michigan's role in the birth of rock 'n' roll * Test your knowledge of the Great Lakes * Detroit's Whiskey River * Smelt dipping 101 And much, much more!