Who, or Why, or Which, or What...? by John Oldale
WHO...was the only modern leader to return fire during an assassination attempt? WHY...is kissing on trains banned in France? WHICH...island used to be home to a crocodile that jumped on its prey from trees? WHAT...was the first song to be sung in Outer Space? With a reasonable claim to be the most useful book ever written, John Oldale's Who, or Why, or Which, or What...? is a cornucopia of history, travel, politics, wildlife, language - indeed, a celebration of everything which makes this planet so fascinating. With an entry for every country, from the impenetrably immense (China) to the most completely marginal (San Marino - although it has stiff competition), this beautifully illustrated book is jammed with the most peculiar, fascinating and surprising information. Whether you are interested in man-eating catfishes, the use of wizards to influence archery contests or the location of the Land of Hum, this is the book for you.
Bona fide facts, presented with a refreshingly earnest charm.. an information-compendium of ... infinite fascination about every country on our sweet earth ... Oldale organizes his ceaseless flow of facts in a droll, inviting way that reveals as much about his own sensibilities as it does about the subjects themselves * Wall Street Journal *
Dr John Oldale is a scientist by training, a lawyer by profession and an explorer by passion. His life can be summarized as a four-decade struggle between sound career advice and following his heart. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, speaks five languages and has travelled some half a million miles, visiting over ninety countries. He has outrun knife-wielding brigands (twice), been rescued from a sub-Antarctic beach, faced down a charging buffalo and breakfasted on thirty-seven sorts of mushroom in a Korean monastery. He lives with his family in a former village pub in Hampshire.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846143366 |
| ISBN 10 | 1846143365 |
| Title | Who, or Why, or Which, or What...? |
| Author | John Oldale |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2011-09-29 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |