Why Moths Hate Thomas Edison: And Other Urgent Inquires Into the Odd Nature of Nature

by Hampton Sides

Book Overview

Do beavers ever get squashed by the trees they're gnawing down? Why are there so many worms writhing on the sidewalk after a storm? What good are goosebumps? Why do llamas spit? What is the oldest living creature on earth? Focusing on natural history and outdoor lore, this collection ranges from the gothic to the comic to the cosmic. It includes the sorts of questions that most of us stopped asking (at least out loud) when we were eight years old...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393321509
• ISBN13: 9780393321500
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

For the child at heart

"Why Moths Hate Thomas Edison And Other Urgent Inquiries into the Odd Nature of Nature" is filled with all the stupid, ridiculous, silly, or `obvious' questions we're too afraid to ask, or feel we should already know the answers to. Best of all, the folks at Outside Magazine tracked down the most obscure of experts to get the answers. So if you've ever wanted to know precisely why a tongue will stick to cold metal (and what to do about it if it should happen to you), you can find that out in here. If you want to know how goose down is collected, that's in here too. The book debunks common myths, such as the idea that eagles mate in midair and sometimes fall to the ground and die during the act. It explains the exact science behind that distinctive smell in the air when it rains, and the factors that have created the misconception that tornadoes are somehow attracted to trailer parks. Next time someone gives you guff over your male pattern baldness you can point them to the argument in here for why it's actually a sign of virility and fertility. The editors turn seemingly dull questions into far more entertaining discourses. For example, the question of how high birds can fly becomes a catalogue of the highest KNOWN flights, most of which had rather... sudden... ends. If you're the kind of person who hasn't given up their sense of wonder at the universe, this is a great book to have around. It makes a great conversation starter, but it's equally fun to just sit down and read for enjoyment's sake.

Very funny facts.

217 pages of funny answers to weird questions asked about the world, nature and, in general, the universe around us. Like, how many times can a stone skip on water? Is Pluto really a planet? What is foxfire? How do ducks float? Where does the white go when the snow melts? Are blue moons really blue? Why do worms always show up after the rain?The book comes with an index, so you can look up facts fast, and the intro comes with an e-mail address because 'The Wild File' which the book is based on still lives on the pages of 'Outside' magazine and they still need questions!Easy to read, funny and with answers anybody can understand. I would suggest this book for anybody, young or old.

Love it

Everything you never wanted to know! Perfect book for that know-it-all in your life. We all have one!

Teachers need this book.

This book is great. It's fun to read, I read it in about 24 hours but I did nothing else till I finished. It is presented in a question and answer format and is well indexed so it's easy to look up your topic. The explanations are well written, the science is strong, and the language makes it easy to understand even when the subject is complex. When school starts this book will be on my desk for all those strange questions my students ask.

Answers your questions

This book answers those weird or stupid questions you might have about the world. Questions such as: "Do scarecrows really work?" or "Why are polar bears so mean?" and "Can bees really detect fear in humans?" This is a great book that I definitely recommend, especially for people with too many questions.