Following this statement, it would be a reasonable assumption that a liberal arts education would not be valued by members of our society. The incredible book of useless information by don voorhees. Useless facts 108 facts you can impress your friends. This fascinating volume covers hundreds of facts and legends, quotes and anecdotes, facts on people, places and events. Feb 06, 2017 this brief book includes flexners timeless 1939 essay alongside a new companion essay by robbert dijkgraaf, the institutes current director, in which he shows that flexners defense of the value of the unobstructed pursuit of useless knowledge may be even more relevant today than it was in the early twentieth century. The usefulness of useless knowledge institute for advanced. As you note, useless knowledge has a way of finding uses for itself, and if increased sensitivity to other creatures is one of those uses, it can only be to the good. On the other hand, as a book of useless knowledge, well, the book is pretty useless itself.
The usefulness of useless knowledge is a book that should be in the library of all those who undertake any manner of inquiry, be it scientific or humanistic, amateur or professional. Furthermore, it should not be read only once but turned to again and again for inspiration, for. Its inventor, gauss, though recognized by his contemporaries as a distinguished mathematician, did not dare to publish his work on noneuclidian geometry for a quarter of a century. The usefulness of useless knowledge hardcover quail ridge. Even more pointlessly unnecessary knowledge don voorhees isbn. The longest word that can be typed using only the right hand is lollipop. With higher education coming under increasing scrutiny in todays economic climate, is a liberalarts education still a. More things you didnt need to know but are about to find out paperback. Stewardesses and reverberated are the two longest words 12 letters each that can be typed using only the left hand. Mar 15, 2017 book launch for the usefulness of useless knowledge this event will celebrate the publication of the usefulness of useless knowledge princeton university press, which features ias founding. The usefulness of useless knowledge highlights with robbert dijkgraaf duration. Hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.
Don voorhees is the author of the incredible book of useless information, the super book of useless information, the indispensable book of useless information, the perfectly useless book of useless information, the essential book of useless information, and disgusting things. The usefulness of useless knowledge by abraham flexner, 9780691174761, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A small book of essays promoting fundamental research. Dec 19, 2017 you dont need to know all the useless facts in this article but it doesnt hurt to read and find out. The useless school of sports it takes 3,000 cows to supply a single seasons worth of footballs to the nfl. It contains facts about topics ranging from inventions to animals to famous people. With the tombstone blues the geometry of innocence flesh on the bone causes galileos math book to get thrown at delilah who sits worthlessly alone but the tears on her cheeks are from laughter now i wish i could give brother bill his great thrill i would set him in chains at the top of the hill then send out for some pillars and cecil b. No number from 1 to 999 includes the letter a in its word form. You dont need to know all the useless facts in this article but it doesnt hurt to read and find out. Now they present a new collection of their most fascinating, hilarious, and wholly trivial findings. The book of useless information contains hundreds of facts about things that i never would have even thought about. The usefulness of useless knowledge abraham flexner.
Each year there is one ton of cement poured for each man woman and child in the world. Usefulness of useless knowledge 547 mathematical work of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was the non euclidian geometry. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. I love trivia but i simply couldnt keep reading this book only 89 pages in. The library of useless knowledge, by athanasius gasker, like. This brief book includes flexners timeless 1939 essay alongside a new companion essay by robbert dijkgraaf, the institutes current director, in which he shows that flexners defense of the value of the unobstructed pursuit of useless knowledge may be even more relevant today than it was in the early twentieth century. The bbc laid out the story behind the word, which comes from the book of st albans also known as the book of hawking, hunting and blasing of arms, written by juliana berners, a 15thcentury english benedictine prioress. Even more pointlessly unnecessary knowledge by don voorhees at barnes. She came up with multiple terms to describe groups of animals including a swarm of bees and a gaggle of geese. Book launch for the usefulness of useless knowledge youtube. The author of the 1939 essay the usefulness of useless knowledge, abraham flexner 18661959, was also the founding father of the institute of advanced study in princeton, new jersey, established in 1930. Useless knowledge by david samson overdrive rakuten. Hydrogen solid is the most dense substance in the world, at 70. What a change this will be from my former useless knowledge.
A reader of this page stated that this statement is not true. Most of the book consists of random ramblings of his and jjs experiences. The book of useless information answers these teasers and is packed with facts and figures that will captivate youand anyone who shares your joy in the pursuit of pointless knowledge. The paperback of the the incredible book of useless information. Cowles wife jj said he was filled with useless knowledgeso he decided to write it down and share his information with the world in the book of useless knowledge. Useful knowledge is good, too, but its for the fainthearted, an elaboration of the real thing, which is only to shine some light, it doesnt matter where on what, its the light itself, against the darkness, its whats left of gods purpose when you take away god. Its mission is to be a temple of unrestricted scholarship, an intellectual playground, and a haven for unfettered fundamental research. The book of useless information the paragon catalog. Unless you live in the united kingdom where its proper to. The usefulness of useless knowledge princeton university press. Skepticisms is the longest word that alternates hands. A new book by princeton university press, the usefulness of useless knowledge, features institute for advanced study founding director abraham flexners classic essay of the same title, first published in harpers magazine in 1939, and includes a new companion essay by robbert dijkgraaf, director and leon levy professor at the institute. The book of useless information by noel botham goodreads. Even more pointlessly unnecessary knowledge don voorhees on.
If you are a big trivia person, this is certainly the book for you. The book of useless information answers these teasers and is packed with facts and figures that will captivate youand anyone who shares your joy. Consuming knowledge can be fairly useless if you dont pair it with intelligent behavioral design and systems. The paperback of the the extraordinary book of useless information. The book of useless knowledge kindle edition by david w. In his book, graber examines the historical and philosophical roots of the liberal arts, saying that it is a kind of knowledge noted above all for being relatively useless. Valuing useless knowledge ebook by robert bates graber. The useless information society presents thousands of facts that will captivate readers with the joy of pursuing pointless knowledgelike the fact that organized crime accounts for ten percent of the united statess annual income, and fish scales are used to make lipstick. Book launch for the usefulness of useless knowledge this event will celebrate the publication of the usefulness of useless knowledge princeton. Table of contents hide 2 interesting general knowledge trivia facts. More things you didnt need to know but are about to find out by noel. Feb 24, 2017 the ultimate book of knowledge duration.
Aerogel is the densest solid in the world at 1mgcc. All trivia buffs on earth must start scrounging for loose change in the sofa now and find the money to purchase this book. The useless information society presents thousands of facts that will captivate readers with the joy of pursuing pointless knowledge like the fact that organized crime accounts for ten percent of the united statess annual income, and fish scales are used to make lipstick. May 07, 2017 a small book of essays promoting fundamental research. The usefulness of useless knowledge by flexner, abraham ebook. Or maybe knowing some of this will help you break the ice in a conversation and appear more interesting in parties. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Its such a delight, and i really cant wait to start impressing people with my newfound useless knowledge.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of useless knowledge. Book trailer for the usefulness of useless knowledge youtube. Totally useless facts courtesy of the freeman institute. How, for example, a story about a neighbors beagle who crawls under a outbuilding at a construction site constitutes useless knowledge is beyond me. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
When knowledge is useless a wealth of common sense. You could be in a trivia with a question that has the answer on this list. In their groundbreakingly useless book, the book of useless information, the members of the useless information society proved that knowledge doesnt have to be useful to be entertaining. The most useless facts you will ever read another useless. Be the first to ask a question about the book of useless information. Here are some funny and useless facts you can amaze your friends with. Two defenses of research on useless knowledge ars technica.
The book of useless knowledge kindle edition by cowles, david w download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. What you may so cavalierly call useless information could prove invaluable to someone else. Theres so much more to knowledge than what you learn in your text books. Every time you lick a stamp, you consume 110 of a calorie.
You can read all the dieting or investment books you want but they wont help you get fit or become a better investor if youre unable to make better decisions when the time comes. Dijkgraafs argument takes the form of a small book, the usefulness of useless knowledge. The book of useless information by noel botham, paperback. Mar 01, 2019 the author of the 1939 essay the usefulness of useless knowledge, abraham flexner 18661959, was also the founding father of the institute of advanced study in princeton, new jersey, established in 1930. Jun 05, 2007 as you note, useless knowledge has a way of finding uses for itself, and if increased sensitivity to other creatures is one of those uses, it can only be to the good. In the form of a lively and eccentric course catalog, useless knowledge, the brainchild of the creator of the wildly successful useless knowledge website offers up loads of facts of little consequence for the hardcore trivia buff or the casual enthusiast. Useless knowledge ebook by david samson rakuten kobo. Some people only rote learn everything their course book says and do not. Its inventor, gauss, though recognized by his con temporaries as a distinguished mathe matician, did not dare to publish his work on noneuclidian geometry for a quarter of a century. The library of useless knowledge, by athanasius gasker, isbn 046183023x, isbn 9780461830231, like new used, free shipping in the us. Read valuing useless knowledge an anthropological inquiry into the meaning of liberal education by robert bates graber available from rakuten kobo. But to the useless information society, any fact that passes its gaspinducing, notalotofpeopleknowthat test merits inclusion in this fascinating but ultimately useless book.
For those who want to know everything about everything. The book of useless knowledge kindle edition by cowles. The useless school of history not that he was immature, but napoleon concocted his battle strategies in a sandbox. Mar 09, 2015 here are some funny and useless facts you can amaze your friends with. A native of morris county, new jersey, he now lives in pennsylvania. Popular useless knowledge books showing 148 of 48 the amazing book of useless information. The average secretarys lefthand does 56% of the typing. Furthermore, it should not be read only once but turned to again and again for inspiration, for motivation, and indeed, even for comfort. The most fascinating facts that dont really matter by don voorhees at. This fun gift, the book of useless information, features witty writing, quirky illustrations and more info than anyone needs.
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