We are generally a bunch of law-and-order types here at Commonplace Fun Facts, and we cannot condone the wanton violation of the law. That being said, there are times when even the […]
The words “presidential” and “scandal” unfortunately show up together far too often. It has gotten to the point where it is assumed that every presidential administration will have at least one significant […]
Certain historical figures are worth studying for the sheer entertainment value. Near the top of that list would be Sir Thomas Urquhart, the Scottish author of the 17th century. What can we […]
The entertaining (and downright weird) book Unlikely Stories, Mostly by Alasdair Gray becomes entertaining — and downright weird — before the reader gets to the first story. When it was released in […]
Some people seem destined for greatness on the basis of their names, alone. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, for example, may have achieved success as secretary of the interior and associate justice of […]
In the world of eccentrics, Lord Timothy Dexter stands in a class by himself. He made several fortunes through either the keenest business instincts in history or by the wildest strokes of […]
It is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s also true that the title of a book does not tell the whole story. Sometimes, however, the title tells […]
We have already delved into the longest sentence ever published in a book, the beloved children’s book written in response to a bet, and the shortest poem on record. Oddly, we have […]
If you are ever lost in the jungle and you are about to give up hope, there is one sound that will instantly let you know that help is on the way. […]
For book lovers, when it is cold and snowy outside, nothing can compare to staying inside and diving into a good book. Perhaps it is because of the perpetual wintery weather that […]
History so often hinges upon accidents, such as the time Gutenberg was forced to invent the printing press because he missed an important date by an entire year, or the time Constantinople […]
Do you have a tendency to collect books but never get around to reading them? The Japanese have a word for you: tsundoku. Read more words we need. Read more fun facts about […]
Thomas Jefferson was a man of great abilities, but modest tastes. The man who wrote of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, described the things that would […]
“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.” — Ronald Reagan Read more fun facts and stories […]
When Ernest Vincent Wright published his novel Gadsby in 1939, it was an immediate sensation. The plot centers around the life of a man who is committed to transforming his community through […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 