Richard Wiseman writes in a easy engaging style about some of the more quirky and very interesting studies that he and various international colleagues have undertaken into the science of everyday life.
Do you wonder why all the spoons go missing in communal kitchens? What is the funniest joke in the world? Why women should get men to write their personal ads? or whether your surname influences your life? These are all the subject of scientific studies carried out and reported on in this book.
I found myself wanting more information about many of the studies, especially the one about lost gloves (!) - but luckily this book is written well and each study is fully referenced with an excellent bibliography at the back.
There is a website (www.quirkology.com) to follow up things afterwards, and lots of quirky bits of information to share with friends and family.
Who can resist the following facts -
The Mona Lisa seems enigmatic because Leonardo da Vinci painted her so that her smile appears more striking when people look at her eyes rather than her mouth.Yep, all of these facts are as a result of serious study. Little do we know that we are being watched and questioned by an army of researchers, taking down notes about our every action!
People would rather wear a sweater that has been dropped in dog poo and not washed, than one that has been dry-cleaned but used to belong to a mass murderer.
The personality of lemons is seen as dislikeable, onions as stupid and mushrooms at social climbers.
Words containing the 'K' sound - such as duck, quack and Krusty the Clown - are especially likely to make people laugh.
I loved this book and didn't want to finish it, i'm off to see what else Richard Wiseman has written.
Lent to me by Liz.
14 April - 11 May 2009
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