The first and best compendium of facts weirder than fiction, of intriguing information and must-talk-about trivia has spawned many imitators - but none as addictive or successful.

For nearly three decades the editors researched curious facts, unusual statistics and the incredible stories behind them. The most entertaining and informative of these have been brought together in this edition.

"Impossible to put down" - * Independent on Sunday *

"Imaginatively insane" - * Sunday Herald *

"Packed with more fascinating, trivial, vital and perverse non sequiturs than you can shake an encyclopedia at" - * New York Times Book Review *