9 Must-Read Books For Trivia Fans

Books About Facts: Our 9 Picks

Tips For Becoming A Trivia Champion

• Play trivia games to hone your skills with friends
• Study topics like history & chemistry
• Hang a nice map in your home
• Use an SAT prep book to re-learn information you may have forgotten since high school
• Flip through illustrated encyclopedias
• Learn another language to hone your memorization techniques

How Bar Trivia Fosters Community

In Depth

There are some who enjoy pub quiz nights simply for the chance to socialize and have fun, but you are not one of those people. You want to win, and you're always looking for ways to add more information to your arsenal. For those with a wonderful memory for facts who delight in picking up new tidbits about history, culture, and art, here are some excellent reads that can increase your knowledge, listed in no particular order.

In the #1 spot is "853 Hard To Believe Facts" by Nayden Kostov. The founder of RaiseYourBrain.com has put together a well-researched collection of surprising true statements that challenge common assumptions on a vast array of topics. From fun anagrams to mind-blowing revelations about history, time, and sexuality, this volume offers plenty of choices for you to bust out at your next social gathering.

For #2, we have Simon Garfield's "On the Map," which focuses on the often-misunderstood field of cartography. From the "discovery" of new lands to the development of nations and empires, map-making has informed the way we think about and set up societies. In this eye-opening book, Garfield uses the history of cartography to explore how the borders we create shape our culture to this day.

In this eye-opening book, Garfield uses the history of cartography to explore how the borders we create shape our culture to this day.

At #3 is "Whirlwind" by John Ferling. Chances are, even if you can recall the basics of the American Revolution, you're missing a lot of the fascinating, dramatic details. For anyone curious about what really went down during the War for Independence, this fast-paced, story-driven retelling of the momentous conflict will fill you in on everything you missed while you were busy catching some shut-eye in your high school history class.

At #4 is David and Ben Crystal's "Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary." Many of us studied plays and sonnets by William Shakespeare in school, but unfortunately, we didn't understand half of it because of the writer's confusing wordplay. Offering insight into some of Shakespeare's most tongue-twisting one-liners and pointed insults, this work will help students and casual readers decipher the great master with ease.

Coming in at #5 is "Ninja" by John Man. Thanks to popular culture, we all have a specific image in mind when the word "ninja" is spoken. But what's the story behind these mysterious fighters, and were their lives as cool as we imagine them to be? This chronicling of one of our most enduring archetypes will clue readers into the rich history of these brave "Shadow Warriors" who lived and died by the sword.

But what's the story behind these mysterious fighters, and were their lives as cool as we imagine them to be?

The #6 pick is Claire Handscombe's "Conquering Babel." There's nothing like booking your first big international trip, then downloading a bunch of apps and buying a stack of books to learn the local language before you go. Then, you spend the next six months not learning a thing because staying motivated to master a new tongue is a daunting task. Author Handscombe's philosophy can help intimidated readers find a better, more sustainable way to improve grammar and expand vocabulary so they can confidently chat with locals.

For #7, we get Mark Forsyth's "A Short History of Drunkenness." Cultures all over the world have enjoyed alcoholic beverages for thousands of years, and each one treats the effects of that consumption a little differently. This deeply-researched volume tells the story of intoxication in all its forms. History lovers can curl up with this cozy read and a glass of wine for the perfect night in.

#8 is the "Guinness World Records Diamond Anniversary Special." Since 1955, the Guinness Book has chronicled some of the most extraordinary feats accomplished by man. With this commemorative edition, you won't just be able to cite bizarre facts at dinner parties about who ate the most Big Macs in history. You'll also be able to rattle off tidbits about the world's longest mustache and the largest rubber duck collection in history.

Since 1955, the Guinness Book has chronicled some of the most extraordinary feats accomplished by man.

Finally, at #9, is Susan Wise Bauer's "The Story of Western Science." Don't be intimidated by the title. This easy-to-read, incredibly well-researched history tells the tale of Western philosophy and medicine from the days of Hippocrates to the rise of Earth science in the 1970s all the way to the present day. Anyone who's enchanted by the nature of progress and the story of the enlightenment will love the way the author busts myths and pays tribute to the rich history of scientific discovery.