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Charles Panati
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Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things Paperback – October 17, 1989

by Charles Panati (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 336 ratings
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For lovers of facts, students of popular culture, history buffs, and science enthusiasts, the fascinating stories behind 500 everyday items, expressions, and customs--from Kleenex to steak sauce, Barbie Dolls to honeymoons.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    480 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  4. Publication date
    October 17, 1989
  5. Dimensions
    6.12 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0060964197
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0060964191
  8. Lexile measure
    1260L
  9. See all details
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Panati's Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias: The Origins of Our Most Cherished Obsessions
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (October 17, 1989)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060964197
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060964191
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1260L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 336 ratings

About the author

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Charles Panati

Charles Panati

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Charles Panati is a physicist, and for many years was the science editor of Newsweek. He's published 13 non-fiction books, and two novels. Most of his books are now available as ebooks in the Kindle Store. His 'Browser's Book of Beginnings' was the basis for the TV show THE START OF SOMETHING BIG, hosted by comedian Steve Allen, and written by Panati. In his early twenties, Panati was an escort for several Miss America contestants, and in September of 1965 the girl he escorted, Debbie Irene Bryant, became Miss America of 1966. Panati's most recent non-fiction is a Kindle book: ANIMALS PRAY - In Their Own Way. As a passionate animal lover, Panati has imagined what prayers animals would say to a Heavenly Being, their joys and laments. As well as what kind of Bill of Rights they'd have drawn up, and Declaration of Independence, their Golden Rule, Ten Commandments, Eight Beatitudes, and the like. He calls himself an 'editor' of the book, a confidant and complier, lending his ear as the animals themselves speak their minds.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
336 global ratings
Great bathroom book
5 Stars
Great bathroom book
Teflon to ice cream. This book describes the origins of many common things we use today.
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Top reviews from the United States

Anthony R. Thomke
5.0 out of 5 stars Want to know WHERE things originated?
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is bursting with origins of everything from shoes to jeans to soap to air conditioning. It is a wonderful collection of facts about what we use, where the ideas came from, and how spin-offs of one idea led into an entire product market.... by accident. Amazing read.
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April Block
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift idea
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
People love this book as a gift. They can read a little or a lot and skip around. Lots of interesting trivia, some of it naughty.
2 people found this helpful
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Darlene Epstein
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Nice for people who enjoy obscure trivia. Worth it.
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wendy baum
5.0 out of 5 stars Great bathroom book
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Teflon to ice cream. This book describes the origins of many common things we use today.
Customer image
wendy baum
5.0 out of 5 stars Great bathroom book
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
Teflon to ice cream. This book describes the origins of many common things we use today.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
2 people found this helpful
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mydiamondpk
5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Non Fiction Book... ever
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2011
Verified Purchase
This is a goofy book I stumbled across at Half Price Books, and have since purchased several copies for friends. I love this book! It tells all kinds of obscure (and not so obscure) origins of things we have all over our house, and our world. Kids love it, adults love it... it's just fun to read about how things came to be (did you know "Uncle Sam" was a Real guy? or that Germans invented shampoo in the 1890's? the brassiere was from Greece 2500 BC? or that high heels were developed over time in France beginning in the 16th century because the King (Louis XIV) was short?!) I guarantee there's something in there that would appeal to anyone you know. I have yet to find someone that can't find something they thought was interesting in this book...
8 people found this helpful
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Tina lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever!!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
A bucket of knowledge
You will learn so much
Easy to remember
AND A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY HOME.
great Christmas gifts idea
One person found this helpful
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Robert J.Lemanek
5.0 out of 5 stars Trivia Bonanza But Not Trivial
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2010
Verified Purchase
For anyone wanting to know the history and background of almost everything common in our lives, this is the Source. It may not be a one-sit-read, just too much to enjoy. Speaking for myself (ergo a personal review), I like picking it up when I'm bored as it's a real pick-me-up. And it will guarantee that you will never be a "Bore" at any party. Just let go with some facts in the book such as who invented popcorn, why the fat turkey (the bird) at Thanksgiving, I'll explain the "why" about your non-favorite superstition, etc.

Buy the book and read about the etc. because it's too good to ignore. Speaking for myself (again), this book gets the very rarely stated: "My Highest Recommendation".
2 people found this helpful
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Maxwell Styke
3.0 out of 5 stars Good if you are not buying for someone else
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2017
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Okay, good overall, but dog eared top right hand cover, which just sucks because I am giving this book as a gift :(
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jennifer Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars A great ‘bathroom’ book
Reviewed in Canada on September 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
A cool book you can pick up and open to any page to find an interesting little origin story or fact. A great gift!
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H. Nieuwenhuizen
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
Very interesting but only for dipping into and reading bits when you feel like it. A lot of it can be found on the internet nowadays but it's well researched and is an easy reference book. Unlike one of the scathing reviews which mentioned the Levi Strauss story as incorrect and condemned the book on that basis the book story matches the Levi Strauss website story, so it gave me more confidence in the other stories too.
It's a book to dip into and use from time to time and being a paperback it doesn't take much room lying around and won't drop to pieces. Well worth the money.
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Davide
3.0 out of 5 stars Interessante
Reviewed in Italy on October 16, 2013
Verified Purchase
Simpatico e utile, alla fin fine. Il giudizio non va sopra le tre stelle perché il libro è molto incentrato su oggetti, marche e usanze americane.
Comunque lo consiglio.
One person found this helpful
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Wendy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book, very entertaining
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steve taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
not read christmas present
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