This modern version of a popular 19th-century book is a great one to dip into before bedtime or at odd moments.
McCartney, a leading TV and radio question setter, has taken 200 "facts" that many people think they know but are actually wrong about.
He ranges widely, across science, literature, history, sport and popular culture, on both sides of the Atlantic. This diversity means that for every entry that makes you think "I didn't realise that!" there's another you've never heard of in the first place.
But even the unknown misconceptions are interesting to read about thanks to McCartney's light wit and fascinating extra detail.
David Knights
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