Comments on: The Big Book of Amazing Facts

Question: The Big Book of Amazing Facts

SpacemanStix — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:59:02 -0800

I'm looking for a book from my childhood.

From the 80's, it was called The Big Book of Amazing Facts. It was one of those thick telephone-sized books that toy sections used to sell on the wall in the U.S., along with puzzle type books. Lower quality paper if I remember right (the more fibrous, thicker type), and I believe it had a light blue cover with a man on it (drawing) who had an inquisitive look on his face. It was filled with interesting stories, urban legends, and just random facts about a lot of things.

I've found a few random references to it online, but I'd love to be able to purchase a copy of it. Any idea where to track it down?

By: pointystick

pointystick — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:07:02 -0800

There are a few books by that title in WorldCat (world cat.org) and one listing on AbeBooks.com. Have you checked those to see if one is possibly it?

By: pointystick

pointystick — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:08:16 -0800

Whoops. Link: Abe listing

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:12:02 -0800

I've found a few books with that title that fit your description [with no cover view, alas]

Big Book of Amazing Facts
Author: David Burnie; Linda Gamlin

The Big Book Of Amazing Facts [cover here]
Author: Melvina Vogel, Melvina Vogel

Big Book of Amazing Facts: A Children's Guide to the World [cover here]
Author: Reader's Digest Young Families

Both the available covers look like they're not hte book you're looking for, but the other one is supposedly hardcover. ABE Books has at least one of them. Do you have an ISBN or know more about it?

By: SpacemanStix

SpacemanStix — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:15:05 -0800

It's tricky to tell if that's the right one, as there have been others that have gone by the same name. But the one at AbeBooks from 1980 might be the right one. If they had a picture of the cover, it would confirm things for sure.

By: SpacemanStix

SpacemanStix — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:28:24 -0800

The Big Book Of Amazing Facts [cover here]
Author: Melvina Vogel, Melvina Vogel

That's it! I guess I was misremembering what was on the cover, but that's definitely it.

Awesome. Thanks for the quick response.

It's hard to tell if pointystick's purchase link is the right one. No author listing, but the year is correct. Under worldcat, it has a different publisher. It looks like there's an option to contact the book seller, so perhaps I can drop a note to get a better book description.

By: thebrokedown

thebrokedown — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:29:02 -0800

I'm sure that the Abe seller would be happy to answer any questions you might have. There's a "ask the seller a question" button on the right of the Bookseller and Payment Information tab. Sellers are generally really helpful--he might even send you a scan of the cover.

By: SpacemanStix

SpacemanStix — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:32:48 -0800

Thanks, I just sent an email to the seller.

By: SpacemanStix

SpacemanStix — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:36:19 -0800

Just a quick update: the seller isn't able to get me the information without actually placing an order (something to do with warehouse locations and how things are processed), but this is enough to get me going. Thanks again for all the help.