One of my favorite parts of The Da Vinci Code were areas in which he went off on tangents about interesting facts (yes, I know not all of them are true, but I was able to differentiate the truth from the fiction). I mean I know about Phi, the golden number, but some things like "horny" coming from the Egyptian god of fertility having horns, etc., is very cool.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has read any good books that give you interesting facts to quote around the water cooler, per se. Yes, I know it's a cheap way to feign being well-read, but I'm obviously reading out of interest. The book can have a plot, but it doesn't have to. I'm not necessarily looking for exclusively history-based or art-based information either, although I am interested in that. Hopefully not stuff most people already know, either. Just some facts that could come into context and be quoted, a la the Da Vinci Code or CSI.
So, any good books of "interesting facts" to recommend? Thanks!
(sorry if this is a repost. didn't get any hits)
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has read any good books that give you interesting facts to quote around the water cooler, per se. Yes, I know it's a cheap way to feign being well-read, but I'm obviously reading out of interest. The book can have a plot, but it doesn't have to. I'm not necessarily looking for exclusively history-based or art-based information either, although I am interested in that. Hopefully not stuff most people already know, either. Just some facts that could come into context and be quoted, a la the Da Vinci Code or CSI.
So, any good books of "interesting facts" to recommend? Thanks!
(sorry if this is a repost. didn't get any hits)