Synopses & Reviews
Ever wonder why Americans switch knife and fork back and forth across their dinner plate?
Within these pages, intrepid writers Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls answer this and many more questions of historical, cultural, and travel miscellany from around the world.
Drawing from their decades of exploring the globe, they recount with infectious enthusiasm the true stories behind such compelling, need-to-know matters as:
Who really was the Jack of Hearts?
What were werewolves doing at the ancient Olympics?
Why does Monday come after Sunday?
When is it ever a good idea to boil mummies?
Where does chess originate from?
And much more!
Guaranteed to provide hours of absorbing reading – and a wealth of conversational fodder – this utterly fascinating book will tell you the answers to questions you didn't even know you had.
Synopsis
Why Americans Zig Zag When They Eat is a fascinating, entertaining, wry and utterly absorbing book, combining hilarious yet unbelievable snippets from their travels, with an array of historical, cultural and travel miscellany and tittle-tattle from around the world.
Table of Contents
contens
spurious notice no. 1 (1) the homeric riddle (1) belly buttons of the world (2) the egyptian labyrinth (6) what happened to the seven wonders of the ancient world? (8) the postman's marathon (13) the werewolf gold medalist (16) never turn your back on a republican (18) a very baroque recipe (20) the everlasting humbug (21) the wild goose chase (25) gertie (28) how the united nations got its name (31) one small step (32) the tits and the cream (32) mark this closely (34) the squirrel light fantastic (35) mr dodgson;s symbolic logic: no.9 (36) why monday comes after sunday (36) the world's oldest computer (38) no eight (40) long and hot in thailand (41) more tedious long words (42) do, a deer (44) where are we? (44) seen in frech letters (46) a modern greek dialogue (47) notable deaths of ancient greeks (49) mr dodgson's symbolic logic: no 20 (50) perfidious albion: the first prince of wales (54) royal nicknames (55) death by lamprey (57) the happiest spice (58) the oldest recipes int he world (60) satchel paige's six rules for staying young (61) pasta (62) from turckwith love: marching bands, tulips and maybe pizza (65) add two cups of revolution and stir (67) white punks on fungus (710) the green fairy (73) on stilts (78) croquet and civilization (79) spurious notice no. 2 (81) 'architecture's most brilliant century': france (81) undercover gluttony: how to eat an ortolan (84) we'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you (85) nights int he gardens of spain (86) the devil's book (88) ont he orgins of chess (92) mr dodfson's symbolic logic: no33 (95) the lady and the dragon (95) oil for the madonna (97) spurious notice no. 3 (100) the immortal fool (101) the famous insult to the genoese (103) new world decadence (104) secret weapons (106) lighter than air (108) when left is right (110) why americans zigzag (113) mr dodgson's symbolic logic: no. 2 (115) some useful inventions (115) from lothal to sitzpinkel (118) the catalan christmas crapper (121) spam spam spam spam (122) 'architecture's most brilliant century': usa (126) spurious notice no. 4 (129) desperately seeking normalcy (129) the streets of baltimore (132) shelley goes boating (137) who's who in hell (138) simon the pillar-sitter (145) funny faces (148) patch of pulchritude (149) mr dodgson's symbolic logic: no.60 (151) who's that creepin' around? (151) patron saints (155) traditional unlucky days (159) the worst pope (160) invasion of the body snatchers (162) boiling down mummies (166) pickled commanders (168) don's he look natural? (170) 'architecture's most brilliant century': russia (173) don't mess with pacifists (174) three black American proverbs from the state of maryland (177) prohibition-era synonyms from the usa (177) mr dodgson's symbolic logic: no. 47 (177) from our forebear, Aubrey's Miscellanies (178) notes and further reading (179)