What's the Difference?: Mental Floss
by
Mental Floss
Order:
USA
Can
Collins, 2006 (2006)
Softcover, e-Book
Read an Excerpt
Reviewed by Hilary Williamson
M
y teen sons and I have enjoyed previous
Mental Floss
offerings, so I dived into
What's the Difference?
with enthusiasm. The authors start by illustrating the difference between
Foreword
,
Preface
and
Introduction
with amusing examples of each. Reading all three informed me that, by turning the pages of this small volume, I'd learn the difference between mayonnaise and Miracle Whip, Monet and Manet, and much more.
T
hese delightful and diverse distinctions are categorized under:
English
;
Home EC
;
Social Studies
;
Science
;
Band, Art, P.E.
; and
Not So Different After All
. Each headline is followed by summaries on
The Dilemma
,
People You Can Impress
, and
The Quick Trick
. Learn such vital facts as when to use the En Dash vs. the Em Dash, and how to tell if you're a Geek, Nerd, or Dork. Decide whether you want to eat an Egg Roll or a Spring Roll, while imbibing a Lager or an Ale. Understand Taoism vs. Confucianism before you next visit China, how to recognize a Grizzly vs. a Black Bear before you head into the woods, and whether it's a Quasar or a Pulsar you're gazing at through the telescope lens.
I
'd love to use the
interrobang
but my keyboard doesn't have one,
polyamory
sounds like fun, and I'd recognize Monet's work but not Manet's. I also loved the comparison of Churchill and Mae West under
Not So Different After All
. Looking for bathroom reading, or a source of party wit and humor? Then dip into Mental Floss's
What's the Difference?
, which meets its claim to be '
Perfect for Knowledge Junkies!
'
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