What Did We Use Before Toilet Paper?: 200 Curious Questions and Intriguing Answers (Fascinating Bathroom Readers)

**BAFFLING AND BIZARRE.ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING.**This witty and compulsive collection of trivia will captivate and surprise you with its fun and funky revelations:**•Why is New York called "the Big Apple"?•How do people count cards at casinos?•What keeps the head on a glass of beer?•Why don't you ever see baby pigeons?•Why is getting married called tying the knot?** Cover......Page 1 ISBN 978-1-56975-814-4......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?......Page 18 WHY ARE MOTHS ATTRACTED TO LIGHTS?......Page 19 CAN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA BE SEEN FROM SPACE?......Page 20 WHY WERE NECKTIES INVENTED?......Page 21 WHAT CAUSES JET LAG AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED AND CURED?......Page 23 WHY DO WE YAWN AND WHY IS IT CONTAGIOUS?......Page 25 WHAT IS A BLUE MOON?......Page 26 DOES WATER TRAVEL DOWN THE DRAIN IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES?......Page 28 DO YOU GET WETTER WHEN WALKING IN THE RAIN THAN YOU DO WHEN RUNNING?......Page 29 IS ONE DOG YEAR EQUAL TO SEVEN HUMAN YEARS?......Page 31 WHY DO BUSES OFTEN COME IN THREES?......Page 32 WHY DO WOMEN TALK MORE THAN MEN DO, BUT CAN’T READ MAPS AS WELL AS MEN?......Page 33 WHY DO PEOPLE NEED SLEEP?......Page 35 IS THE DRINK RED BULL DANGEROUS?......Page 36 WHY DO PEOPLE OFTEN WAKE UP JUST BEFORE THE ALARM?......Page 37 DO WE REALLY USE ONLY 10 PERCENT OF OUR BRAINS?......Page 38 HOW DO MOBILE PHONES WORK?......Page 40 WAS THE 1969 MOON LANDING A FAKE?......Page 41 WHEN DID THE GAME ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS BEGIN?......Page 43 WHY DO PEOPLE TWITCH AS THEY FALL ASLEEP?......Page 45 WHAT IS THE COMMON COLD AND HOW IS IT CURED?......Page 46 WHAT IS THE INTERNET AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB?......Page 47 WHEN WAS TOILET PAPER INVENTED AND WHAT WAS USED BEFORE THEN?......Page 49 WHY DO PEOPLE DREAM?......Page 50 HOW SIMILAR ARE HUMANS TO APES?......Page 51 WHO WROTE THE BIBLE, AND WHEN?......Page 53 WHERE DOES THE SAYING “AS MAD AS A HATTER” COME FROM?......Page 54 WHY DO WOMEN AND NOT MEN TAKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS?......Page 55 WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TONSILS?......Page 56 HOW INTELLIGENT ARE DOLPHINS?......Page 58 HOW DO PEOPLE COUNT CARDS IN CASINOS?......Page 59 WHY DO SOME COINS HAVE RIDGES AROUND THE EDGE?......Page 61 DID ROBIN HOOD ACTUALLY EXIST?......Page 62 WHAT CAUSES HANGOVERS AND HOW ARE THEY CURED?......Page 64 WHERE DID THE TERM “ROCK ’N’ ROLL” COME FROM?......Page 66 WHY IS THE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CALLED THE WORLD SERIES?......Page 67 HOW DO PEOPLE PICK LOC......Page 68 WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA?......Page 70 DO HAIR AND FINGERNAILS CONTINUE TO GROW AFTER PEOPLE HAVE DIED?......Page 72 WHY DO PEOPLE CRY?......Page 73 CAN BABIES HEAR VOICES WHILE INSIDE THE WOMB?......Page 74 ARE CATS AND DOGS COLORBLIND?......Page 75 HOW DO PEOPLE SPEED-READ?......Page 76 WAS NOSTRADAMUS ABLE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE?......Page 77 WHAT IS SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING AND DOES IT WORK?......Page 79 WHY DOES THE DATE FOR EASTER CHANGE?......Page 80 HOW DO SALMON FIND THEIR EXACT BIRTHPLACE?......Page 81 WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM “RULE OF THUMB”?......Page 83 WHERE DID THE NAME “KU KLUX KLAN” ORIGINATE?......Page 84 HOW DO RABBITS AND HARES DIFFER?......Page 85 WHAT IS THE SMALL THING THAT HANGS AT THE BACK OF THE MOUTH?......Page 86 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OCEAN AND A SEA?......Page 87 WHY IS NEW YORK CITY CALLED “THE BIG APPLE”?......Page 88 WHY DO MEN AND WOMEN GAIN WEIGHT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY?......Page 90 WHAT MAKES A VALUABLE DIAMOND?......Page 91 WHY DO WHALES BEACH THEMSELVES?......Page 93 WHY DOES COFFEE KEEP YOU AWAKE?......Page 94 WHY DO PHONE NUMBERS IN MOVIES ALL START WITH 555?......Page 95 WHY IS BELLYBUTTON LINT GENERALLY BLUE?......Page 96 HOW DID THE MARATHON RACE BEGIN?......Page 98 WHAT ARE APHRODISIACS AND DO THEY WORK?......Page 99 WHY DOES HUMAN HAIR TURN GRAY?......Page 100 WHY DOES CATNIP AFFECT CATS?......Page 101 HOW DO MIRRORS WORK?......Page 103 WHY IS FRIDAY THE 13TH THOUGHT TO BE UNLUCKY?......Page 104 HOW DID THE WORD “SHIT” ORIGINATE?......Page 105 HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS LYING?......Page 106 WHY DO MEN FEEL SLEEPY AFTER SEX?......Page 108 WHY DO SNOOZE ALARMS GO OFF EVERY NINE MINUTES?......Page 109 WHY IS “GOD BLESS YOU” SAID AFTER A SNEEZE?......Page 110 WHY CAN’T YOU TICKLE YOURSELF?......Page 111 WHY DO BOTTLES OF TEQUILA CONTAIN WORMS?......Page 113 WHY DO MANY PRICES END IN NINETY-NINE CENTS?......Page 114 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIDS AND HIV?......Page 115 HOW CAN DIRECTION BE FOUND WITHOUT A COMPASS?......Page 116 WHERE DID THE FABRIC DENIM ORIGINATE AND WHY IS IT STITCHED WITH ORANGE THREAD?......Page 118 WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE APPENDIXES?......Page 119 WHY DO GOLF BALLS HAVE DIMPLES?......Page 120 WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM “OK”?......Page 121 DOES AN ELEPHANT TRULY NEVER FORGET?......Page 123 WHY DOES SWEAT SMELL?......Page 125 WHY DOES METAL RUST?......Page 126 WHY DO WE HAVE EARWAX?......Page 128 WHY DO PEOPLE SHRINK WITH AGE?......Page 129 WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?......Page 130 WHAT IS ACID RAIN AND WHAT CAUSES IT?......Page 131 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PUBIC HAIR AND WHY IS IT CURLY?......Page 132 DOES CHEWING GUM REALLY TAKE SEVEN YEARS TO DIGEST?......Page 133 WHY DID KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN CHANGE ITS NAME TO KFC?......Page 134 IS DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER BAD FOR YOU?......Page 135 WHY ARE UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE CALLED JOHN AND JANE DOE?......Page 136 WHAT IS COCA-COLA MADE FROM AND DID IT ONCE CONTAIN COCAINE?......Page 137 HOW DO CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS DIFFER?......Page 138 WHY DID THE ROMANS WEAR TOGAS?......Page 139 WHY DO WE HICCUP, AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?......Page 140 WHY DO ONIONS MAKE PEOPLE CRY?......Page 141 CAN IT BE TOO COLD TO SNOW?......Page 142 WHY IS GETTING MARRIED CALLED “TYING THE KNOT”?......Page 143 WHY DO PEOPLE STICK OUT THEIR TONGUE WHILE CONCENTRATING?......Page 144 HOW DOES THE ATKINS DIET WORK?......Page 145 WHAT MAKES STOMACHS GROWL?......Page 146 WHY DO PEOPLE SOMETIMES SEE “STARS”?......Page 147 IS CHOCOLATE ADDICTIVE?......Page 148 IS USING A TANNING BED BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?......Page 149 HOW DOES VIAGRA WORK?......Page 151 WHY IS A DOLLAR CALLED A “BUCK”?......Page 152 WHERE DO FLIES AND MOSQUITOES GO IN WINTER?......Page 153 WHY ARE PEOPLE’S EYES DIFFERENT COLORS?......Page 154 DOES SHAVED HAIR GROW BACK THICKER AND DARKER?......Page 155 WHAT ARE RAINBOWS AND HOW ARE THEY FORMED?......Page 156 DO SWIMMING POOLS REALLY CONTAIN A CHEMICAL THAT REVEALS URINE?......Page 157 HOW DID THE SAYING “DRESSED TO THE NINES” ORIGINATE?......Page 158 WHY DO PEOPLE GET DIZZY IF SPUN AROUND?......Page 159 WHAT CAUSES “RINGING” IN THE EARS?......Page 160 WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE HAMBURGER AND THE HOT DOG?......Page 161 WHAT IS MENSTRUAL SYNCHRONY AND DOES IT EXIST?......Page 163 DOES WATER PRESSURE PLUMMET DURING TELEVISION COMMERCIALS DURING THE SUPER BOWL?......Page 164 WHY DO RESTAURANTS ALLOW YOU TO TASTE WINE BEFORE BUYING IT?......Page 165 WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ST. VALENTINE’S DAY?......Page 167 WHAT ARE COMPUTER VIRUSES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?......Page 168 WHY DOES ALCOHOL CAUSE PEOPLE TO URINATE SO MUCH?......Page 169 WHEN WAS LIPSTICK INVENTED AND WHAT WAS ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE?......Page 170 WHY DOES THE SOUND OF SCRAPING FINGERNAILS MAKE PEOPLE CRINGE?......Page 171 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HURRICANE AND A TYPHOON?......Page 172 HOW DID THE WORD “COCKTAIL” ORIGINATE FOR SOME ALCOHOLIC DRINKS?......Page 173 WHY IS IT THOUGHT THAT BLONDE WOMEN HAVE MORE FUN?......Page 175 WHY IS THE PIRATE FLAG CALLED THE “JOLLY ROGER”?......Page 176 WHY DOES THE PENIS SHRINK WHEN IT’S COLD?......Page 177 IS THE CAESAR SALAD NAMED AFTER JULIUS CAESAR?......Page 178 HOW DO FLIES LAND AND WALK UPSIDE DOWN?......Page 179 DOES SPEAKING TO PLANTS ENCOURAGE THEM TO GROW?......Page 181 WHAT MAKES PEOPLE GET MOTION SICKNESS?......Page 183 WHAT IS THE HORIZON AND IS THE DISTANCE TO IT ALWAYS THE SAME?......Page 184 WHY DO PREGNANT WOMEN GET MORNING SICKNESS?......Page 186 WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TATTOO?......Page 187 WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE’S EARS TO POP?......Page 189 WHAT IS THE G SPOT AND WHERE IS IT?......Page 190 HOW DO HUMMINGBIRDS HOVER?......Page 191 WHAT IS CANCER?......Page 192 WHY DO YOU NEVER SEE BABY PIGEONS?......Page 194 WHY DO PEOPLE GET ACNE?......Page 195 HOW DID THE “MISSIONARY POSITION” GET ITS NAME?......Page 196 WHY DON’T IGLOOS MELT ON THE INSIDE?......Page 197 DOES WEARING TIGHT UNDERPANTS AFFECT A MAN’S SPERM COUNT?......Page 198 WHY ARE PARROTS THE ONLY BIRDS THAT TALK?......Page 200 WHY DO PEOPLE SNEEZE?......Page 202 DOES SITTING CLOSE TO THE TV OR READING IN POOR LIGHT RUIN YOUR EYES?......Page 203 HOW DID APRIL FOOL’S DAY ORIGINATE?......Page 204 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONKEYS AND APES?......Page 205 HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS FLIRTING WITH YOU?......Page 206 WHY IS THE NUMBER THIRTEEN REFERRED TO AS A “BAKER’S DOZEN”?......Page 208 WHEN AND WHERE DID THE GAME OF CHESS ORIGINATE?......Page 209 WHY ARE THE TERMS “BULL” AND “BEAR” USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE STOCK MARKET?......Page 210 WHAT ARE THE JFK ASSASSINATION THEORIES?......Page 211 WHY DOES ALCOHOL MAKE PEOPLE DRUNK?......Page 213 DOES PENIS SIZE VARY DEPENDING ON RACE?......Page 215 WHAT MAKES ANIMALS WARMOR COLD-BLOODED?......Page 216 WHY DO PEPPER SHAKERS HAVE MORE HOLES THAN SALT SHAKERS DO?......Page 218 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DONKEY, AN ASS AND A MULE?......Page 219 IS SUICIDE ILLEGAL?......Page 220 HOW DO MICROWAVE OVENS COOK FOOD?......Page 221 IS HOMOSEXUALITY A GENETIC TRAIT?......Page 223 DID DRACULA REALLY EXIST?......Page 224 WHY DO KAMIKAZE PILOTS WEAR HELMETS?......Page 226 WHY DO MEN OFTEN SHIVER AFTER URINATING?......Page 227 WHAT ARE THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD?......Page 228 WHAT CAUSES A HEART ATTACK?......Page 229 WHY DO SOME BEER HEADS DISAPPEAR FASTER THAN OTHERS?......Page 231 WHAT IS HYPNOSIS AND IS IT POSSIBLE?......Page 232 WHERE DOES THE WORD “HOORAY” COME FROM?......Page 234 WHY ARE MEN MORE LIKELY TO CHEAT ON THEIR PARTNERS THAN WOMEN ARE?......Page 235 DO CAMEL HUMPS CONTAIN WATER?......Page 237 WHAT IS GRAVITY AND EINSTEIN’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY?......Page 238 WHY DO PEOPLE CRAVE SALT, AND WHY IS TOO MUCH CONSIDERED BAD FOR YOU?......Page 239 ARE GREEN POTATO CHIPS POISONOUS?......Page 240 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN HERB AND A SPICE?......Page 241 DO TAXI DRIVERS HAVE BETTER THAN AVERAGE MEMORIES?......Page 242 CAN STRESS CAUSE ILLNESS OR DEATH?......Page 243 HOW CAN WATER BE FOUND IN DRY CONDITIONS?......Page 244 WHY DOES THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER GIVE PEOPLE THE URGE TO URINATE?......Page 245 WHERE DID THE TERM “RED HERRING” ORIGINATE?......Page 246 WHAT ARE THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING?......Page 247 WHY WAS STONEHENGE BUILT?......Page 248 WHY IS THE MONA LISA PAINTING SO FAMOUS?......Page 250 WHAT ARE CROP CIRCLES AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?......Page 251 WHY DO PEOPLE SAY “CHEERS” AND CLINK GLASSES BEFORE DRINKING?......Page 252 HOW CAN A FIRE BE LIT WITHOUT MATCHES?......Page 253 WHAT EVIDENCE EXISTS ABOUT THE LOCH NESS MONSTER?......Page 254 WHAT IS SEA LEVEL AND DOES IT VARY?......Page 256 WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMMOBILIZE OR KILL A PERSON USING BARE HANDS?......Page 257 WHAT CAUSED THE TWO WORLD WARS?......Page 258 WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?......Page 260 Photo Credits......Page 262 Other Usses Press Boo......Page 264 About the Author......Page 265 Answers to the questions that keep you up at night—from Why is bellybutton lint generally blue? to Why does catnip affect cats?BAFFLING AND BIZARRE.ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING.This witty and compulsive collection of trivia will captivate and surprise you with its fun and funky revelations. You'll learn... Why New York is called “the Big Apple”How people count cards at casinosWhat keeps the head on a glass of beerWhy you never see baby pigeonsWhy getting married is called tying the knotPraise for Andrew Thompson and his popular trivia books“A very handy book that could honestly, save their life—or just answer all those questions they're maybe too embarrassed to even google.” —Buzzfeed

It's not information anyone needs to know. There are no answers to important test questions. There's nothing that'll make anyone better at their job. And that’s exactly why these facts are so much fun! This weird and wonderful collection of trivia captivates and surprises readers with funky revelations like: Why is New York called the Big Apple? Did the Romans have toga parties? Why don't you ever see baby pigeons? Why are yawns contagious? Did Nostradamus predict anything accurately? Witty, informative, and compulsive, What Did They Use Before Toilet Paper? is an indispensable companion for any lover of knowledge. From the everyday to the fantastical - it's all here.