By any standard of normal behavior, sports cannot escape the definition of weirdness. Sports achievements have the capacity to inspire and excite watchers, whether through athletic brilliance or magnificent team performance, but there are times when our athletes and teams go wacko on us, and the most peculiar things break out with no warning to provide wide-eyed astonishment or laugh-out-loud responses. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs landed on the disabled list due to a back injury caused by sneezing too hard. Minnesota Vikings football stalwart Jim Marshall ran the wrong way with a recovered fumble. Former NBA player Dennis Rodman spearheaded American diplomacy with North Korea. The lyrics and music creators of “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” authored one of the most sung songs in American history without ever having seen a baseball game. And more! While those spontaneous combustions may result from someone rising from the weird side of the bed, they’re often the most memorable.

Check out the weird and wonderful facts in this massive encyclopedia of alphabetized oddities: HUMANS ARE THE ONLY ANIMALS THAT ENJOY SPICY FOOD (there’s a reason no one sells Tabasco-flavored cat food). NAPPING CAN SAVE YOU FROM A HEART ATTACK (assuming you are not operating heavy machinery at the time). PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN ASSESS YOUR PERSONALITY FROM HOW YOU DIP FRIES IN KETCHUP (nice fries, sociopath). SURFING THE INTERNET ACTUALLY MAKES YOU SMARTER (but not as smart as reading this book will). Now the next time someone tells you smugly that Pluto isn’t a planet, you can counter with any one of these hundreds of weird facts and remain king or queen of the cocktail (or kegger) chatter.

Buckle up for a very odd ride through history with entertaining trivia about the odd things humans have done . . . This book is packed with fun facts about: Quirky inventions: Everyone knows about mousetraps, but did you know they were originally inspired by burglar alarms? Bizarre beauty and fashion fads: Discover wooden bathing suits, breast enhancers in the shape of toilet plungers, and death-inducing cosmetics. Strange superstitions and folklore: Do you know about the centuries-old Banana Curse, the origin of the Tooth Fairy, or our weird obsession with shoes? Covering these and other subjects from very odd jobs to gross medical cures, this collection of our species’ accomplishments is likely to leave you wondering, We did that?

This book offers all kinds of weird facts that are amazing, creepy, unexpected, gross and astonishing-but true!

With hundreds of books dedicated to conventional sports and activities, this encyclopedia on the weirdest and wackiest games offers a fresh and entertaining read for any audience. Weird Sports and Wacky Games around the World: From Buzkashi to Zorbing focuses on what many would consider abnormal activities from across the globe. Spanning subjects that include individual games, team sports, games for men and women, and contests involving animal competitors, there is something for every reader. Whether researching a particular country or region's traditions or wanting an interesting read for pleasure, this book offers an array of uses and benefits. Though the book focuses on games and sporting activities, the examination of these topics gives readers insight into unfamiliar places and peoples through their recreation—an essential part of the human experience that occurs in all cultures. Such activities are not only embedded in everyday life but also indelibly interconnected with social customs, war, politics, commerce, education, and national identity, making the whimsical topic of the book an appealing gateway to insightful, highly relevant information.

A latest collection of nose-wrinkling facts, presented by Judy Moody's encyclopedia-reading little brother, features more stomach-churning scientific trivia that is cross-referenced with related Stink and Judy Moody titles. Original.

An colorfully illustrated encyclopedia of fart facts, jokes, riddles, and more! Flatulently funny and perfect for ages 7–12! With humorous entries that include types of farts, food items that cause gas, what farts are called in different countries, jokes and riddles, sidebars, science, rules, advice, how to’s, and more, this book is the gassiest gift for the fart fan in any family. It contains a mishmash of information, perfect for bathroom reading and rippin' jokes with your pals. Entries include: Dog, the: Who you blame when you pass gas at the dinner table. How to save a fart for later. Fart in a glass Mason jar. Quickly put the lid on and screw it tightly. Have a friend open it later. Once you’ve done this, send us a note telling us whether or not it worked. "Hoof Hearted Ice Melted:" Say it out loud five times. You’ll get it. Pull my finger: What someone says to a friend when they have a fart locked and loaded. Once the friend pulls the finger, the fart is unleashed. Great trick that only works once. Silent but deadly (SBD): A fart that comes out with barely a whisper but then knocks everyone out with its noxious stench.