Popular Errors Explained

Oct 7, 2024 12:24 AM

Author:Stewart McCartney

In 1841 John Timbs wrote a book called Popular Errors Explained. It went on - with Timbs' other great series 'Curiosities of ...' - to become one of the great popular books of the 19th century, running into many editions and selling hundreds of thousands of copies. Some say the popularity of his one hundred and fifty volumes led him to outsell a certain Mr Dickens.

Stewart McCartney, under the Timb's title of Popular Errors Explained has created a new book, capturing the zeal and enthusiasm of the original, to be 'agreeable, by way of abstract and anecdote so as to become an advantageous and amusing guest at any intellectual fireside.'

The book has completely new material - around 200 or so 'popular errors' from science and literature, history, sport, popular culture and so on. Each entry will have that eyebrow raising 'I didn't know that!' or 'Surely that cannot be true!' feel. Every one will explode a commonly held misbelief.

Reviews

Strangely terrifying...A beautifully written book that greatly expands the limited bounds of what we know about North Korea's ruling class

—— Barbara Demick, author of Nothing To Envy

This superb work of investigative journalism is distinguished by its grave beauty and aching tenderness.

—— Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of Loss

A rare and revealing insight into the world of this closed nation's "priviligentsia", a sector of society about which very little information is available.

—— The Times Online

(Suki Kim) lived under constant surveillance, fearful that she might slip up.

—— Daily Mail

A glimpse into the North Korean mind.

—— Francis Wheen, Mail on Sunday

As one of the women leaders that are changing Africa she is an inspiration to us all

—— Gordon Brown

Wangari Maathai has been a champion of the environment, of women, of Africa, and of anyone concerned about our future security

—— Kofi Annan

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