History buffs, science students, lovers of popular culture, and natural-born detectives will plunge right into this ultimate guide for curious minds. Itʼs absolutely fascinating, with background on the origins of more than 300 modern phenomena, objects, sayings, stories, and superstitions that most people take for granted. Complete with humorous illustrations and easy-to-navigate chapters, the eye-opening explanations and amazing anecdotes reveal the truth behind the birth and brilliance of the brown paper bag; the 4,000-year history of toothpaste and its torrid past; and the reasons for the staying power of popular puzzles from Rubikʼs Cube to sudoku. Find out why we have Nature to thank for Velcro, Valium, and the Guggenheim; why we get the blues and not the reds; and why Heinz has the Romans to thank for its saucy success. Guaranteed to absorb, amuse and delight, itʼs also a great way to impress friends with your arcane knowledge! Describes the origin of more than 400 garments, machines, foods, sports, places, phenomenon and other everyday things that most people take for granted. Arranged alphabetically.

Also includes information on aerosol can, airbag, air conditioning, Alka Seltzer, aluminum foil, animation, antiperspirant, artificial limb, aspirin, atlas, audio cassette, automatic teller (ATM), ballpoint pen, Band Aid, banking, Barbie Doll, bar code, barometer, battery, bicycle, bikini, blood band, boots, Botox, bowling, bra, breast implants, brown paper bag, bubblegum, bucket seat, Bubble Wrap, bungee jumping, can opener, car radio, cellophane, cellular phone, cesarean section birth, cheese, chess, chewing gum, chocolate, cigar, cigarette, cocktail, coffee, computer disk (CD), computer mouse, condensed milk, condom, contact lenses, cotton, darts, denim jeans, dental floss, dentures, digital watch, drive-in movies, drive-in restaurant, eight track cartridge, electric guitar, electric razor, electric toothbrush, elevator, escalator, Etch A Sketch, fax machine, French fries, Frisbee, hamburger, handcuffs, happy hour, helicopter, hologram, horoscope, hot air balloon, hot dog, Hula-Hoop, ice cream, indoor tanning, Internet, Jet Ski, kaleidoscope, ketchup, kite, Kleenex, kilt, Kool Aid, laptop, laser beam, Lego, linoleum, liposuction, lipstick, mayonnaise, microscope, microwave oven, Monopoly, motel, Neoprene, organ transplant, pacemaker, pantyhose, pencil, photocopier, pinball machine, pizza, popcorn, potato chips, pressure cooker, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), radio, razor, sari, Scrabble, seat belt, silk, skateboarding, smiley emoticon, SMS text messages, Spam (spam), speed dating, Stetson, surfing, sunglasses, table fork, tattoo, TV commercial, Tupperware, vacuum cleaner, x-ray, yo-yo, zipper, etc.