All facts considered : the essential library of inessential knowledge

For the bestselling miscellany market, an NPR librarian's compendium of fascinating facts on history, science, and the arts

How much water do the Great Lakes contain? Who were the first and last men killed in the Civil War? How long is a New York minute? What are the lost plays of Shakespeare? What building did Elvis leave last? Get the answers to these and countless other vexing questions in All Facts Considered. Guaranteed to enlighten even the most seasoned trivia buff, this treasure trove of "who knew?" factoids spans a wide range of intriguing subjects.

Written by noted NPR librarian Kee Malesky, whom Scott Simon has called the source of all human knowledge
Answers questions on history, natural history, science, religion, language, and the arts
Packed with valuable nuggets of information, from the useful to the downright bizarre

The perfect gift for every inquiring mind that wants to know, All Facts Considered will put you at the center of the conversation as you show off your essential store of inessential yet irresistible knowledge.

• Introduction p. 1
• Part 1 On Memory And History
• 1 Battles and Bigwigs p. 9
• Ancient and Modern, Sacred and Civil History
• 2 Deviations and Wonders p. 39
• The Natural History of Land, Sea, Animals, and Vegetables
• 3 Fish or Weapon? p. 49
• The Natural History of Crafts and Manufactures
• Part 2 On Reason and Science
• 4 Links in the Chain of Being p. 63
• The Science of God: Theology, Religion, and Superstition
• 5 Letters in Plain Sight p. 77
• The Science of Humanity: Thinking, Remembering, Communicating
• 6 Sin versus Virtue p. 93
• Ethics and Law
• 7 Modus Mundi p. 101
• The Science of Nature: Physics, Mathematics, Geography
• 8 Ugly Bags of Mostly Water p. 119
• Zoology, Physiology, Medicine
• 9 The Wild Blue Yonder and What's Below p. 134
• Astronomy, Meteorology, Botany, Mineralogy, Chemistry
• Part 3 On Imagination, Poetry, and Art
• 10 Perfect Circles p. 157
• Sacred and Profane Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
• 11 Rhapsodies in Bloom p. 173
• Music Theory and Practice
• 12 Love Songs and Lost Words p. 191
• Literature, Drama, Narrative
• Acknowledgments p. 205
• Notes and Sources p. 207
• Index p. 257